Key words for the brain and central nervous system Flashcards
Central Nervous System
A system of nerve tissues that control the activities of the body and all sensory input . In humans it comprises of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nerves
Nerves that travel from our skin to our muscles
Contain two types of nerves: sensory and motor neurones
Autonomic system
A system that controls and regulates processes such as heart rate and peristalsis.
These actions are automatic (unconsciously controlled)
What is the spinal cord?
It is a cord of nerve fibres that is protected by specialised bones called vertebrae.
These bones have a hollow centre through which the spinal cord runs
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Transmits information from the brain to the muscles
What are motor neurons?
They are nerves that transmit information from the brain to the muscles
What are sensory neurons?
Sensory neurones are nerves that transmit information from the senses e.g. the eyes, ears etc. to the brain
What is the brain?
The brain is part of the central nervous system and is the control centre of the body alongside the spinal cord
What is the cerebal cortex?
The wrinkly outer layer of the brain responsible for thinking and processing sensory information from the body
Cerebellum
Posiitioned at the back of the skull.
It coordinates and regulates muscle activity e.g. fine and gross motor skills.
Involved in the muscles that maintain balance
what is the role of the Frontal lobes?
Carry out higher level mental processes like thinking, decision making and planning
What is the corpus callosum?
A bridge of nerve tissue that connects two halves of the brain
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
Responsible for the maintanance of body temperature
It regulates appetite and thirst signalling to us when we need to eat or drink
What is the medulla responsible for?
It automatically carries out and regulates life sustaining functions like breathing, swallowing and heart rate
What is the Meninges
The three layers of membrane that surround the brain and spinal cord.
What do the meninges provide?
A barrier from the rest of the body and act as protection from infection
What is an axon?
It is a long thread like part of a nerve cell, along which impulses are conducted away from the cell body to other cells.
How many axons are there per neuron?
One
Dendron
Short, branched structures on the neuron, that receive electrical impulses and carry them towards the cell body
How many dendrite are there per neuron?
There can be as many as 1000 per neuron
What is a myelin sheath?
A fatty white substance that surrounds the axon
What does the myelin sheath form?
A protective insulating layer and enables electrical impulses to transmit quickly and effectively along the nerve cell
What is a synapse?
A microscopic gap that is found between neurons and muscle cells as well as neighbouring neurons
What are the names of the two types of stroke?
Ischaemic and haemorrhagic
What is an ischaemic stroke?
It is where a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain and narrows arteries
What is a haemorrhagic stroke?
Where a blood vessel in the skull bursts and bleeds into and around the brain
What is multiple sclerosis?
It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the brain or spinal cord
What happens to the myelin sheath of someone who has multiple sclerosis?
It becomes inflammed in patches which disrupts the messages travelling along nerves.
This disruption leads to the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
What are the three principle functions of the body?
Sensory input
Integration
Motor output
How many lobes are there in the cerebral cortex and what is their job?
There are four lobes which are responsible for processing different types of information.
