Introduction to BB Flashcards
What are the functions of the nervous system
- 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
describe the divisions of the nervous system
- 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
name the subdivisions of the Central nervous system
- Spinal cord
- Medulla oblongata
- Pons
- Cerebellum
- Midbrain
- Diencephalon
- Cerebral hemispheres
what are the embryonic brain regions divided into
- forebrain
- midbrain
- hindbrain
describe what embryonic brain regions become what brain structures present in adult
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
what is the oldest part of the brain
- the brainstem
what input does the brainstem receive cranial nerves from
- it receives input from 11 of the 12 cranial nerves
what does the brainstem contain
- contains nuclei that control the survival systems sucha s breathing, swallowing, balance, autonomic regulation and visual and auditory reflexes
what happens if the brainstem is damaged
• If the brainstem is damaged someone will go into a coma, even if the forebrain (cortex and thalamus) is not injured.
what is each part of the brain important for
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla
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
name the cerebral hemispheres and there fissures
- Frontal lobe
- Central sulcus
- Parietal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Lateral fissure
- Occipital lobe
Name the cortex primary areas and secondary areas and what they supply
- 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)
What does the cerebrum do
- conscious thought processes, intellectual function
- memory storage and processing
- conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contractions
What does the cerebellum do
- coordinates complex somatic motor patterns
- adjusts output of other somatic motor centres in brain and spinal cord
What does medulla oblongata do
- relays sensory information to thalamus and to other portions of the brainstme
- autonomic centres for regulation of visceral function
What does pons do
- relays sensory information to cerebellum and thalamus
- subconscious somatic and visceral motor centres
what makes up the diencephalon
thalamus
hypothalamus
What does the diencephalon do
thalamus
- relay and processing centres for sensory for information
hypothalamus
- centres controlling emotions, autonomic functions and hormone production
What does the mesencephalon do
- processing of visual and auditory data
- generation of reflexive somatic motor responses
- maintenance of consciousness
name the different spinal tracts
- DCML (dorsal column, medial lemniscus)
- corticospinal tract
- spinocerebellar tract
- spinothalamic tract
where does DCML crossover and what does it do
Crossover in the medulla
- discriminative touch
where does the corticospinal tract crossover and what does it do
crossovers in the spinomedullary tjunction
- motor descending
Where does the spinocerebellar tract crossover and what does it do
no functional crossover
- proprioception
Where does the spinothalamic tract crossover and what does it do
cross over in the spinal cord
- pain and temperature
name the neurotransmitters and what they do
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.
what is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
and what is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA
- The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glutamate
- The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
where do the basal ganglia and cerebellum project into
- they do not project directly into the spinal cord and brainstem circuits
- they project into the motor cortex and brainstem centres (upper motor neurones)
Name the lobes of the brain and what they are responsible for
Frontal – movement
Parietal – somatosensory
Temporal – hearing and memory
Occipital – vision
