Intro to Nervous System Flashcards
What are the 2 components of the Diencephalon of the Forebrain?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Describe the structure of the Cerebrum cortex of the forebrain
Cortex often seen as lumps on surface called Gyri and Sulci on outer shell of brain
What is homeostasis?
The regulation of heart rate, breathing and the internal body environment
What is Receptive Aphasia?
A major impairment in language comprehension despite retaining natural speech rhythm caused by damage to temporal lobe
Give examples of motor movements caused by the brain stem
- reflexes
- fine motor movements of limbs and face in conjunction
with the cortex
What are the 5 major segments of the Spinal column?
- Cervical at top of spinal column
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral
- Coccygeal
What are the different subdivisions of the cerebrum cortex and their functions?
- Occipital lobe: visual processing e.g. colour, orientation
and motion - Parietal lobe: Sensory processing and proprioception
- Frontal lobe: Decision making, Attention, Conciousness,
Emotions & Deliberate movements - Temporal lobe: Auditory processing, Speech &
Language - Corpus Callosum: Connects right & left hemispheres
allowing transfer of information - Hippocampus: Memory formation and retrieval
- Basal Ganglia: Movement, Balance & Posture
What disorder causes basal ganglia damage to occur?
Huntingdons Chorea is a genetic disorder that causes damage to basal ganglia
What is the function of the Cerebellum?
Provides movement precision and coordination
What is the CNS composed of?
Brain
Spinal cord
Describe the structure and function of the Thalamus
Has over 40 different nuclei
Multi-modal functions
Various streams of information integrated
How is the Parietal lobe linked to dyslexia?
Reduced levels of activity in the left parietal lobe detected in Dyslexic patients
What is the function of the Spinal cord?
Transmits signals from the brain to/from the body in reflexive circuits
How does the brain and spinal cord work together to produce an effect?
When stimulated, nerves send signals to the brain
The spinal cord provides an immediate effect
What are the 3 major regions of the brain?
- Forebrain (cerebrum & diencephalon)
- Brainstem (midbrain, Pons, Medulla, Oblongta)
- Cerebellum
What is the PNS?
The peripheral nervous system
Explain why prefrontal lobotomy is no longer a common practise
Approximately 40,000 US patients recieve prefrontal lobotomy to treat personality and
cognitive disorders
However often resulted in impaired voluntary behaviour
What is the role of the PNS?
Connects CNS to limbs and organs
What is the function of the brain stem?
Regulates homeostasis and motor movements
What role does the Occipital lobe play in Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenic patients’ occipital lobe consumes more glucose in disease state than normal
What are the 2 subdivisions of the PNS?
- Autonomic Nervous System (unconscious control of
heart rate, breathing, digestion etc.) - Somatic Nervous System (voluntary control via skeletal
muscle)
What is Parkinsons disease?
Neurodegenerative disease caused by reduced dopaminergic function
What is the consequence of thalamic damage?
Thalamic damage can result in ‘blending’ of info streams - Synasthesia
What is the CNS?
The central nervous system
What is proprioception?
Self awareness - regulated by parietal lobe in cerebrum cortex
Approximately how long is the Spinal Cord?
Spinal cord can extend to ~45cm
