Introduction to BB

Question 1

What are the functions of the nervous system

Answer 1

• Gather sensory information from the external environment
• Integrate information for assessment and meaning
• Produce motor, behavioural and cognitive responses
• Regulate body homeostasis for optimal performance

Question 2

describe the divisions of the nervous system

Answer 2

• Nervous system is divided into central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
• The central nervous system is divided into the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system is divided into the autonomic and somatic nervous system
• Autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous system

Question 3

name the subdivisions of the Central nervous system

Answer 3

1. Spinal cord
2. Medulla oblongata
3. Pons
4. Cerebellum
5. Midbrain
6. Diencephalon
7. Cerebral hemispheres

Question 4

what are the embryonic brain regions divided into

Answer 4

• forebrain
• midbrain
• hindbrain

Question 5

describe what embryonic brain regions become what brain structures present in adult

Answer 5

Forebrain

• Cerebrum(cerebral hemispheres, includes cerebral cortex, white matter, basal ganglia)
• diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, pineal gland)

Midbrain
- midbrain (part of the brainstem)

hindbrain

• pons(part of brainstem)
• cerebellum
• medulla oblongata (part of the brainstem

Question 6

what is the oldest part of the brain

Answer 6

• the brainstem

Question 7

what input does the brainstem receive cranial nerves from

Answer 7

• it receives input from 11 of the 12 cranial nerves

Question 8

what does the brainstem contain

Answer 8

• contains nuclei that control the survival systems sucha s breathing, swallowing, balance, autonomic regulation and visual and auditory reflexes

Question 9

what happens if the brainstem is damaged

Answer 9

• If the brainstem is damaged someone will go into a coma, even if the forebrain (cortex and thalamus) is not injured.

Question 10

what is each part of the brain important for

• midbrain
• pons
• medulla

Answer 10

Midbrain – visual, auditory reflexes, orienting reflexes

Pons – relay of information from the cochlea and vestibular apparatus, control of movement and sensation from the face, control of mastication

Medulla – integration of breathing and swallowing, control of respiration, control of blood pressure, control of cortical arousal

Question 11

name the cerebral hemispheres and there fissures

Answer 11

• Frontal lobe
• Central sulcus
• Parietal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Lateral fissure
• Occipital lobe

Question 12

Name the cortex primary areas and secondary areas and what they supply

Answer 12

• Primary motor cortex – voluntary movement
• Primary sensory cortex – somatic sensations
• Primary auditory cortex – hearing
• Primary visual cortex – vision
• Broca’s area – language expression (secondary area)
• Wernicke’s area – language comprehension (secondary area)

Question 13

What does the cerebrum do

Answer 13

• conscious thought processes, intellectual function
• memory storage and processing
• conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contractions

Question 14

What does the cerebellum do

Answer 14

• coordinates complex somatic motor patterns

- adjusts output of other somatic motor centres in brain and spinal cord

Question 15

What does medulla oblongata do

Answer 15

• relays sensory information to thalamus and to other portions of the brainstme
• autonomic centres for regulation of visceral function

Question 16

What does pons do

Answer 16

• relays sensory information to cerebellum and thalamus

- subconscious somatic and visceral motor centres

Question 17

what makes up the diencephalon

Answer 17

thalamus

hypothalamus

Question 18

What does the diencephalon do

Answer 18

thalamus
- relay and processing centres for sensory for information

hypothalamus
- centres controlling emotions, autonomic functions and hormone production

Question 19

What does the mesencephalon do

Answer 19

• processing of visual and auditory data
• generation of reflexive somatic motor responses
• maintenance of consciousness

Question 20

name the different spinal tracts

Answer 20

• DCML (dorsal column, medial lemniscus)
• corticospinal tract
• spinocerebellar tract
• spinothalamic tract

Question 21

where does DCML crossover and what does it do

Answer 21

Crossover in the medulla

- discriminative touch

Question 22

where does the corticospinal tract crossover and what does it do

Answer 22

crossovers in the spinomedullary tjunction

- motor descending

Question 23

Where does the spinocerebellar tract crossover and what does it do

Answer 23

no functional crossover

- proprioception

Question 24

Where does the spinothalamic tract crossover and what does it do

Answer 24

cross over in the spinal cord

- pain and temperature

Question 25

name the neurotransmitters and what they do

Answer 25

Acetylcholine
- Used by spinal cord neurones to control muscles and by the brain to regulate memory
- Mainly excitatory
Dopamine
- Linked to feelings of pleasure, when released by the brain reward system. Has multiple functions beyond reward.
GABA
- The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glutamate
- The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Glycine
- It has inhibitory and also excitatory effects (as co-agonist with glutamate).
Noradrenaline
- PNS - it is part of the flight-or-flight response.
- CNS - it regulates complex processes, such as mood.
Serotonin
- Involved in mood, appetite and sensory perception. It is involved in pain modulatory pathways.

Question 26

what is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

and what is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

Answer 26

GABA
- The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

Glutamate
- The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

Question 27

where do the basal ganglia and cerebellum project into

Answer 27

• they do not project directly into the spinal cord and brainstem circuits
• they project into the motor cortex and brainstem centres (upper motor neurones)

Question 28

Name the lobes of the brain and what they are responsible for

Answer 28

Frontal – movement
Parietal – somatosensory
Temporal – hearing and memory
Occipital – vision