Introduction Flashcards
What are the functions of the nervous system?
- gather sensory information from external environment
- integrate info for assessment and meaning
- produce motor/behavioural/cognitive responses
- regulate body homeostasis
What are the subdivisions of the nervous system?
nervous system -> CNS -> brain and spinal cord
nervous system -> PNS -> Somatic and ANS -> symp, PS and enteric
What are the seven main components of the CNS?
spinal cord medulla oblangata pons cerebellum midbrain diencephalon cerebral hemispheres
What derives from the embryonic forebrain?
Cerebrum - cerebral hemispheres, cerebral cortex, white matter, basal ganglia
Diencephalon - thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, pineal gland
What derives from the embryonic midbrain?
midbrain part of brainstem
What derives from the embryonic hindbrain?
Pons - cerebellum
medulla oblangata
What are the 3 parts of the brainstem?
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla oblangata
What is the role of the brainstem nuclei?
- breathing, swallowing, balance, autonomic regulation, visual and auditory reflexes
What does the brainstem receive input from?
11 cranial nerves
What is the function of the midbrain?
Visual and auditory reflexes
Orienting reflexes
What is the function of the pons?
Relay of information from the cochlea and vestibular apparatus
Control of movement and sensation from the face
Control of mastication
What is the role of the medulla oblangata?
Integration of breathing and swallowing
Control of respiration
Control of blood pressure
Control of cortical arousal
What are the 12 cranial nerves?
- CN1: Olfactory
- CN2: Optic
- CN3: Oculomotor
- CN4: Trochlear
- CN5: Trigeminal
- CN6: Abducens
- CN7: Facial
- CN8: Vestibulocochlear
- CN9: Glossopharyngeal
- CN10: Vagus
- CN11: Accessory
- CN12: Hypoglossal
Which cranial nerves are sensory and which are motor?
1 - sensory 2 - sensory 3 - motor 4 - motor 5 - both 6 - motor 7 - both 8 - sensory 9 - both 10 - both 11 - motor 12 - motor
What lobes make up the cerebral hemispheres? What are their functions?
- frontal lobe (frontal motor movement)
- temporal lobe (hearing and memory)
- parietal lobe (somatosensory)
- occipital lobe (vision)
What are the sulci in the cerebral hemispheres?
Central
Lateral
What are the primary cortex areas and their functions?
Primary motor cortex - voluntary movement
Primary sensory cortex (behind) - somatic sensations
Primary auditory complex - hearing
Primary visual cortex - vision
What are the secondary cortex areas and functions?
Broca’s - language expression
Wernicke’s - language comprehension
What is the function of the cerebellum?
- Co-ordinates complex somatic motor patterns
What is the function of the cerebrum?
Conscious thought processes
Memory storage and processing
Conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contractions
What arteries are involved in the anterior supply to the CNS? (revise circle of willis)
Internal carotid artery:
- anterior cerebral
- middle cerebral
- anterior choroidal
- posterior communicating
- posterior cerebral
What arteries are involved in the posterior supply to the CNS? (revise circle of willis)
Vertebral/basilar arteries:
- posterior cerebral
- superior cerebellar
- anterior inferior cerebellar
- posterior inferior cerebellar
- anterior spinal
- posterior spinal
What are the 4 spinal tracts and what are their roles?
- DCML (dorsal column medial lemniscus) : made up of cuneate and gracile, discriminative touch
- CSP (corticospinal): motor descending
- SPC (spinocerebellar): proprioception
- SPT (spinothalamic): pain and temperature
Where are the crossover points for each spinal tract?
- DCML - medulla
- CSP - spinomedullary junction
- SPC - no functional crossover
- SPT - spinal cord
