Lecture 15: Central Nervous System

Question 1

function and components of the central nervous system?

Answer 1

brain and spinal cord, and integrates signals and performs higher cognitive functions.

Question 2

function and components of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 2

cranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia.

Question 3

what is nervous system split into?

Answer 3

central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

Question 4

neurons and neuroglia?

Answer 4

neurons are excitable cells that transmit electrical signals for communication. neuroglia are more abundant than neurons and support and insulate neurons.

Question 5

what is white and grey matter?

Answer 5

white matter is myelinated axons/fibres. grey matter is cell bodies (somas) and dendrites.

Question 6

what seperates the left and right hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 6

longitudinal fissure

Question 7

what seperates the frontal and parietal lobe?

Answer 7

the central sulcus

Question 8

function of precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus?

Answer 8

precentral - site of the primary motor cortex
postcentral - site of the primary sensory cortex

Question 9

function of cerebrum?

Answer 9

sensation, conscious thought and intellect, memory and complex movements

Question 10

what are the three primary regions of the brains hemispheres?

Answer 10

the cerebral cortex (outer grey matter), internal white matter, basal nuclei (grey matter located deep within the white matter)

Question 11

what are the three types of functional areas in the cerebral cortex? +function of each

Answer 11

motor areas - controls voluntary movement
sensory areas - conscious awareness of sensation
association areas - multiple inputs and outputs

Question 12

compare dominant and non-dominant brain hemispheres.

Answer 12

one hemisphere is dominant as it contains language and logical skills. whereas, the right side is responsible for spatial and pictorial concepts (recognition of faces and music).

Question 13

what are the three types of white matter?

Answer 13

association fibres - connect different parts of the same hemisphere
commisural fibres - connect grey areas of two hemispheres (corpus callosum)
projection fibres - vertical tracts that connect cerebral cortex with subcortical structures.

Question 14

function of basal nuclei?

Answer 14

functional group of grey matter that receives input from the entire cerebral cortex. involved in control of skeletal muscles, cognition and emotion.

Question 15

what are the three parts and functions of diencephalon?

Answer 15

thalamus - many groups of nuclei that relay different types of sensory information.
hypothalamus - homeostasis, autonomic, emotions, body temp, food intake, thirst, sleep-wake cycle, control of hormones
epithalamus - pineal gland (melatonin), day/night cycles

Question 16

What are the three components of the brainstem?

Answer 16

midbrain (mesencephalon) - contains nuclei for visual/auditory information and controls reflexes associated with these senses
pons - ascending, descending, and transverse tracts, involved in control of respiration
medulla oblongata - most inferior, joins to spinal cord at foramen magnum of skull.

Question 17

what is the cerebellum?

Answer 17

referred to as the little brain, an important role in equilibrium, balance, and coordination of movement.

Question 18

what are the roots connected to the spinal cord and what are they associated with?

Answer 18

dorsal - motor, ventral - sensory

Question 19

what are the various things protecting the CNS?

Answer 19

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater.
Blood-brain barrier
Cerebrospinal fluid - protects the brain and spinal cord against chemical and physical injuries, and carries oxygen, glucose, and other substances from the blood to nervous tissue cells.

Question 20

what produces cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 20

choroid plexus