Intro to Nervous System Flashcards
What are the functions of the Nervous System?
-Sensory functions,
-motor output (reflexes, posture, voluntary movement, neuroendocrine activity),
-information storage (memory),
- intrinsic activities (circadian rhythms, drives, motivation, arousal).
What does ‘Somatic’ refer to?
Pertains to skin, joints, muscles.
What does ‘Visceral’ refer to?
Refers to internal organs, blood vessels, glands.
What is White Matter?
Myelinated axons (tract, lemniscus, fasciculus, column, peduncle, capsule).
What is Gray Matter?
Unmyelinated nerve tissue (cortex in brain, nuclei in CNS, ganglia in PNS).
What are the two regions of the brain?
Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
What are the components of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
The Brain and the Spinal Cord.
What is the function of the Spinal Cord?
Relay site for information to/from the brain, transmits sensory info, and integrates reflexes.
What are the three components of the Brainstem?
Medulla Oblongata, Pons, Midbrain.
What does the Medulla Oblongata do?
Regulates respiration, heart rate, digestion; sensory relay point.
What is the function of the Pons?
Communicates with cerebellum; controls somatic/visceral functions.
What is the role of the Midbrain?
Visual and auditory relay; controls eye movements and skeletal muscles.
What is the function of the Cerebellum?
Coordinates movement; receives motor input, sensory info, and balance info.
What does the Thalamus do?
Relays sensory info to the cerebral cortex; motor activity, emotion, memory, arousal.
What is the role of the Hypothalamus?
Autonomic control; links nervous and endocrine systems.
What is the function of the Epithalamus (Pineal Gland)?
Secretes melatonin; controls circadian rhythms.
What does the Subthalamus control?
Motor control.
What structures are included in the Cerebrum?
Cerebral cortex, white matter, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and amygdala.
What are the two parts of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Somatic Division and Autonomic Division.
What does the Somatic Division control?
Controls voluntary movements.
What are the three parts of the Autonomic Division?
Sympathetic, Parasympathetic, Enteric.
What is the role of the Sympathetic division?
Stress response (fight or flight).
What does the Parasympathetic division do?
Rest and conserve resources.
What does the Enteric division control?
Controls gut smooth muscle.
