Human Nervous System (Edan) Flashcards
t/f: NS essential for life
false
Describe what is meant by a nerve net?
NS of older phyla (jellyfish) very simple & consists of a nerve net of neurons
that receive sensory information and directly
link to other neurons to move muscles
Describe, in ascending order, key evolutionary features in the development of NS?
- neurons and muscles
- nerve nets
- bilateral symmetry
- segmentation
- ganglia
- spinal cord
- brain
Describe what is meant by segmentation?
repeated series of similar structural arrangement (muscularly)
Why are ganglia considered a key evolutionary feature in the development of NS’?
because - clusters of neurons resemble
primitive brains & function like command
centres (ie. octopuses)
Spinal cords are only found in highly _____ _____
evolved chordates
what is a chordate?
- animals of the phylum chordata
- at some point possess:
1. notocord
2. hollow dorsal nerve cord
3. pharyngeal slits
4. endostyle
5. post-anal tail - Brain Evolution of representative chordates have many structures in common, indicating a single (common) basic
brain plan across chordate species
t/f: The chordate Phylum (frogs, reptiles, birds,
mammals) have a true brain specialized to control of
distinctive behaviour
true
earliest known human ancestor lived in _____ around _______ years ago
africa, 6-7 MYA
Australopithecus:
a. ) lived how many years ago?
b. ) brain size?
c. ) locomotion?
d. ) tool usage?
e. ) example?
a. 3MYA
b. 450cc
c. walked upright bipedal
d. used tools
e. Lucy - indications she used tools
Provide information on the following hominid: neanderthal
had large brains,
advanced tools, burial rituals, lived in complex social groups and physical adaptations to ice age
Provide information on the following hominid: cro-magnon man
Cro-Magnon Man (modern) had large brains, more sophisticated
tools, art & language,
behavioural flexibility and
learning capacity
t/f: neanderthals had a larger cranial capacity
true
draw anatomical organization of human NS
look at M1 lecture slides
draw functional organization human NS
look at M1 lecture slides
functionally, the human NS can be broken down to a 3 part system. Explain the following part: CNS
Brain & spinal cord are at the core of the
system and mediate behaviour
functionally, the human NS can be broken down to a 3 part system. Explain the following part: somatic NS
Spinal and cranial
nerves carrying sensory information to the CNS
from muscles, joints & skin. Also transmits
outgoing motor instructions for movement
functionally, the human NS can be broken down to a 3 part system. Explain the following part: autonomic nervous system
Balances the
body’s internal organs through (i) parasympathetic
nerves which have a calming effect and (ii)
sympathetic nerves which have an arousing effect
When describe anatomy of the brain, dorsal refers to the __
top
what’re the main BV’s supplying the brain?
anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries
describe the difference between gray and white matter - how is it distributed in the brain?
Grey matter contains neuron cell body’s, capillary blood vessels and unmyelinated axons - functioning to collect and modify information.
White matter is comprised of myelinated axons, functioning to form connects between neurons.
The order from out to inside the brain is grey-white-grey
When describe anatomy of the brain, ventral refers to the __
bottom
What are brain ventricles, what are their function? Name them?
4 cavities filled with CSF used to clean the brain
L + R lateral ventricles
third ventricle
fourth ventricle
t/f: the SC produces most movements following
instruction from the brain (motor cortex), but can act independently (reflex)
true
what’re the 3 regions of the brainstem?
hindbrain, midbrain and diencephalon
(did you think it was medulla, pons, and midbrain? Well the
hindbrain contains medulla and pons, and the diencephalon is technically part of the brainstem. Thus, the lecturer’s answer is more comprehensive)
Briefly state the function of the following: neocortex
regulate host mental activity
Briefly state the function of the following: basal ganglia
controls voluntary movement
Briefly state the function of the following: limbic system
regulates emotions & behaviors that create and require memory
Briefly state the function of the following: frontal lobe
cognition - decision making, planning, problem solving
Briefly state the function of the following: parietal
receives and processes sensory information
Briefly state the function of the following: occipital lobe
visual processing
Briefly state the function of the following: temporal
memory
emotion
hearing
language
basal ganglia is composed of what structures?
thalamus
sub-thalamic nucleus
substantia nigra
Parkinson’s disease is neural degenerative starting in the ____ ___ & progressing through brain
substantia nigra
describe the structure and function of the limbic system?
- complex set structures
- located both sides thalamus, right under cerebrum
- strong connection to nucelus accumbens (pleasure center)
- motivation, memory, sexual behaviour, emotion
- significant role in reward: limbic system has dopaminergic projections which play roles in learning
3 parts of somatic NS?
- cranial nerves
- spinal nerves
- association nerves (integrate motor/ sensory)
t/f: cranial nerves are responsible for affarent, but not efferent nerve functions
false - efferent also (control face, tongue)
how many cranial nerves are there?
12 pairs of CN’s
list the name/ functions of CN’s 1-6?
- Olfactory (smell)
- Optic (vision)
- Oculomotor (eye movement)
- Trochlear (eye movement)
- Trigeminal (sensation & chewing)
- Abducens (eye movement)
list the name/ functions of CN’s 7-12?
- Facial (movement & sensation)
- Auditory vestibular (hearing & balance)
- Glossopharyngeal (tongue/pharynx)
- Vagus (heart, vessels, larynx)
- Spinal accessory (neck muscles)
- Hypoglossal (tongue muscles)
t/f: CN’s are mixed nerves which carry motor,
sensory, and autonomic signals
between the spinal cord and the
body
false - what is described here is spinal nerves
how many pairs of spinal nerves exist? How are they grouped?
31 - into 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal
in terms of spinal cord neuronal anatomy, what’re collateral branches of sensory neurons?
collateral branches of sensory neurons may cross to the other side and influence motor neurons there
Dorsal fibers are ______- carry information from _____
Ventral fibers are ______- carry information out of ______
Dorsal fibers are afferent - carry information from receptors
Ventral fibers are efferent - carry information out of spinal cord
dorsal tracts are (motor/ sensory)
sensory
ventral tracts are (motor/ sensory)
motor
the autonomic nervous system is a division of the ________ nervous system that
influences the function of _____ ______
A division of the peripheral nervous system that
influences the function of internal organs
describe the difference in function between the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
The Sympathetic NS’s primary process is to stimulate
the body’s fight-or-flight response. Constantly active at a basic level to maintain homeostasis for survival.
The Parasympathetic NS is responsible for stimulation
of “rest-and-digest” or “feed and breed” activities that
occur when the body is at rest. Primary involvement in sexual arousal, salivation, lacrimation (tears), urination, digestion and defecation.
What’re the 10 principles of the nervous system?
this is a construct made up by our lecturer I believe
- NS produces movement in a perceptual world created by
the brain - Neuroplasticity (re-organization of cortical structures) is
evident in the NS of all mammalians brains - Many of the brain’s circuits (inputs and outputs) crossover
- The CNS functions on multiple levels which are integrated
- The brain is symmetrical and asymmetrical (language)
- Sensory and motor divisions exist throughout the NS
- Sensory input into the brain is divided for object
recognition and motor control (will learn about this in
vision lecture) - Functions in the brain are both localized (specific
language abilities have very specific locations) and
distributed (language itself involves wide regions of the
brain) - NS works by juxtaposing excitation and inhibition
(think of a movement)
(yes they missed 6 lmao)
