Key words for the brain and central nervous system

Question 1

Central Nervous System

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Peripheral nerves

Answer 2

Nerves that travel from our skin to our muscles

Contain two types of nerves: sensory and motor neurones

Question 3

Autonomic system

Answer 3

A system that controls and regulates processes such as heart rate and peristalsis.
These actions are automatic (unconsciously controlled)

Question 4

What is the spinal cord?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 5

Transmits information from the brain to the muscles

Question 6

What are motor neurons?

Answer 6

They are nerves that transmit information from the brain to the muscles

Question 7

What are sensory neurons?

Answer 7

Sensory neurones are nerves that transmit information from the senses e.g. the eyes, ears etc. to the brain

Question 8

What is the brain?

Answer 8

The brain is part of the central nervous system and is the control centre of the body alongside the spinal cord

Question 9

What is the cerebal cortex?

Answer 9

The wrinkly outer layer of the brain responsible for thinking and processing sensory information from the body

Question 10

Cerebellum

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what is the role of the Frontal lobes?

Answer 11

Carry out higher level mental processes like thinking, decision making and planning

Question 12

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 12

A bridge of nerve tissue that connects two halves of the brain

Question 13

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Answer 13

Responsible for the maintanance of body temperature

It regulates appetite and thirst signalling to us when we need to eat or drink

Question 14

What is the medulla responsible for?

Answer 14

It automatically carries out and regulates life sustaining functions like breathing, swallowing and heart rate

Question 15

What is the Meninges

Answer 15

The three layers of membrane that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Question 16

What do the meninges provide?

Answer 16

A barrier from the rest of the body and act as protection from infection

Question 17

What is an axon?

Answer 17

It is a long thread like part of a nerve cell, along which impulses are conducted away from the cell body to other cells.

Question 18

How many axons are there per neuron?

Answer 18

One

Question 19

Dendron

Answer 19

Short, branched structures on the neuron, that receive electrical impulses and carry them towards the cell body

Question 20

How many dendrite are there per neuron?

Answer 20

There can be as many as 1000 per neuron

Question 21

What is a myelin sheath?

Answer 21

A fatty white substance that surrounds the axon

Question 22

What does the myelin sheath form?

Answer 22

A protective insulating layer and enables electrical impulses to transmit quickly and effectively along the nerve cell

Question 23

What is a synapse?

Answer 23

A microscopic gap that is found between neurons and muscle cells as well as neighbouring neurons

Question 24

What are the names of the two types of stroke?

Answer 24

Ischaemic and haemorrhagic

Question 25

What is an ischaemic stroke?

Answer 25

It is where a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain and narrows arteries

Question 26

What is a haemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 26

Where a blood vessel in the skull bursts and bleeds into and around the brain

Question 27

What is multiple sclerosis?

Answer 27

It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the brain or spinal cord

Question 28

What happens to the myelin sheath of someone who has multiple sclerosis?

Answer 28

It becomes inflammed in patches which disrupts the messages travelling along nerves.
This disruption leads to the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Question 29

What are the three principle functions of the body?

Answer 29

Sensory input
Integration
Motor output

Question 30

How many lobes are there in the cerebral cortex and what is their job?

Answer 30

There are four lobes which are responsible for processing different types of information.