Introduction to Neuroscience Flashcards
What is the nervous system divided into?
The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system divided into?
The brain and spinal chord
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
The autonomic nervous system and the somatic (sensory) nervous system
What is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
The parasympathetic division and the sympathetic division
How much of the total body weight does the brain weigh and how much blood circulation is involved in supplying it?
2% of body weight and 20% of blood circulation
How many nerve cells are in the brain and what are they otherwise known as?
100 billion nerve cells called neurons
What are the three components of the neuron?
- The dendrites
- The cell body (soma)
- The axon
What does it mean when you say the neuron is “functionally polarized”
Infomation flows in one direction
Where does the input of information come into the neuron?
The dendrites
Where does the output of information come out of the neuron?
The axon
How do neurons communicate?
Via specialised contact sites called synapses
What are the four cerebral lobes of the brain?
- Frontal
- Parietal
- Temporal
- Occipital
What are the four primary cortical regions
- Motor
- Somato-sensory
- Auditory
- Visual
What anatomical changes occur to the brain in alzheimers disease?
Grey matter becomes thinner, white matter is lost and the ventricles become enlarged
What causes the changes seen in alzheimers disease?
Degeneration of neurons
