L1 review of nervous system Flashcards
what are the 2 parts of the nervous system?
CNS
PNS
what are the basic constituents of the nervous system?
-neurones
-glial cells
-blood vessels
-connective tissue - eg meninges CNS etc
what are examples of glial cells?
-schwann cells
-oligodendrocytes
-microglial cells
-astrocyte
-ependymal cells
define afferent neurones / sensory neurons
carry info from periphery to CNS
define efferent neurons / motor neurons
carry info from CNS to periphery
compare structure of white matter vs grey matter
1.white matter - myelinated axons - conduct, process and send nerve signals up and down the spinal cord within brain
2. grey matter - neural cell bodies, axon terminals, dendrites etc
describe the structure of the cerebrum
-2 cerebral hemispheres separated by a longitudinal fissure, connected by the corpus callosum
-gyri (bumps) on surface
-sulci - grooves between gyro
-lobes - frontal, pariteal, occipital and temporal
what functions is the left hemisphere responsible for?
- analysis
-verbal
-motor planning
-automatised processes
what functions is the right hemisphere responsible for?
-synthesis
-shift/select attention
-novel info
describe the structure % function of the frontal lobe
-divided into prefrontal area, pre-motor area & motor area
-prefrontal area- thought, emotions, creativity
-premotor area - co-ordination of mvt
-motor area- fine tune mvts, specific muscles
-also contains brooks area - production of speech sounds
describe structure and function of parietal lobe
-parietal lobe is involved in sensations eg touch, pressure and temp
- contains primary area (receives signals directly from sensory receptors)
-contains secondary area - receives info from deeper structures & primary area
describe the structure and function of the occipital lobe
-most posterior lobe
-involved in vision
-contains primary visual area (receives input from optic tract)
-contains secondary visual areas - integrates visual info
describe the function of the temporal lobe
-associated w/ auditory processing & olfaction
-involved in semantics or word meaning
-contains wenickes area - understanding and producing meaningful speech
list functions and important areas of all the lobes in the brain
what is the insular cortex?
-sometimes referred to as the 5th lobe
-deep structure within the lateral sulcus between temporal and frontal lobe
-thought to be involved in consciousness and emotion, motor control, self-awareness, cognitive functioning etc
what is the limbic system?
the part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses
describe the basal ganglia
-group of subcortical nuclei and part of the extrapyramidal system
-primary function is motor control
-also involved in timing and scaling and relaying information
-also suppresses unwanted mvt
what is the internal capsule?
-structure located amongst the basal ganglia
-white matter structure carrying fibres from both ascending and descending pathways to and from the cerebral cortex
how many hemispheres are in the cerebellum and what are they separated by?
2 hemispheres separated by the vermis
what are the 3 lobes of the cerebellum?
-flocculonodular lobe
-anterior lobe
-posterior lobe
describe the flocculonodular lobe
-vestibulocerebellum
-connected to the vestibular system and functions in balance mechanisms
describe the anterior lobe
-spino-cerebellum
-corrects mvt errors and receives incoming info from higher centres
describe the posterior lobe
-cerebro-cerebellum
-houses memory of mvt and involved in learning, planning and timing of mvt
what are the functions of the cerebellum?
-coordination
-smooth mvt
-balance
-motor planning
-motor learning
-muscle tone
-speech
=fine tune mvts
-memory
what structure is the mid brain made up of?
-mid brain
-pons
-medulla
what level does the spinal cord end at?
L1/L2
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
how are the spinal nerves divided?
-cervical - 8
-thoracic-12
-lumbar - 5
-sacral - 5
-coccygeal - 1
what are the spinal meninges?
3 layers that surround the spine - dura mater, arachnoid aid mater and Pia mater which contain CSF to protect spinal cord
what are the ascending tracts?
-dorsal column medial lemniscus DCML
-spinothalamic tract
-spinocerebellar
what are the pyramidal descending pathways?
-corticospinal
-corticobulbar
what are the extrapyramidal descending pathways?
-reticulospinal
-vestibulospinal
what is a dermatome?
-area of skin supplied by spinal nerve
what is a myotome?
group of muscles innervated by a particular spinal nerve
how is the PNS divided?
-somatic - conscious sensitivity and movement
-automatic - internal organs
