lecture 23 Flashcards by Emma Dunsworth

thalamus

 Relay station for signal entering the cerebral cortex. It sorts and edits signals, then send them to specific cortical association areas
* The gateway to the cerebral cortex. Important for sensation, learning, memory, and wakefulness

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hypothalamus

 Is the primary visceral control center. Regulates the autonomic nervous system, hunger, thirst, body temperature, sleep and emotions. Controls the pituitary gland
* Our visceral organs often receive this and help the body to maintain homeostasis.
* Link between nervous and endocrine systems.

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epithalamus/pineal gland

 Where melatonin is secreted, which is a hormone that helps to regulate the sleep cycle.
* Helps to maintain the body’s circadian rhythm. The light from a phone or computer screen makes the body not produce as much melatonin, and effects the bodies ability to run through awake and sleeping mode.
* On the dorsal or posterior side

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superior colliculis

vision

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corpus collosum function

connects the two hemispheres of the brain which allows them to share information

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mid brain of the brain stem

 A reflex center for visual and auditory responses, the neck of the seahorse
* Corpora quadrigemina: 2 superior colliculi (visual réflex centers), 2 inferior colliculi (auditory réflex centers)

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pons of the midbrain

 The belly of the seahorse, which bridges the spinal cord, cerebellum, and higher brain centers
* Relays sensory information

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medulla oblongata in the brainstem

 The tail of the seahorse, in charge of the autonomic reflex center which is responsible for
* Heartrate, breathing rhythm, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, etc
 The decussation of pyramids – the area in the medulla oblongata where the signals cross over each other.

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ipsilateral

 Ipsilateral – same side control of the body, right controls right side and left controls left side.
* Coordinates complex somatic motor patterns (makes us less clumsy), maintains posture and equilibrium, may play a role into cognition

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describe the structure and function of Purkinje cells

 Are specialized neurons that are found in the cerebellum
* Have branching dendrites (allows it to receive many signals), most release GABA a inhibitory neurotransmitter

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what does the GABA neurotransmitter do

o The GABA neurotransmitter helps to make movements smoother

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limbic system

a group of brain structures that link primitive emotions with higher functions, such as reasoning and memory

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olfactory bulb of the limbic system

 Process the sensory input of odors, the ends of the olfactory nerves

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amygdala in the limbic system

imparts the emotional overtones
- what makes us have fear

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hippocampus

important in learning and memory

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Henry Gustav Molaison (Case study: H.M.)

after his surgery, yes when his hippocampus was removed his seizures stopped but he was essentially then being stuck in the age 16
- he could not create new memories or remember a lot of old ones

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describe the functions of the reticular activating system (RAS)

continuously sends impulses to the cerebral cortex to keep us conscious and alert
responsible for allowing us to go about our lives without responding to every single thing that touches our body
helps to control some of the very large motor movements.

what are the body’s mechanisms that protect the central nervous system from damage

skull
meninges
cerebrospinal fluid
blood brain barrier

dura mater

is located just deep to the skull, is superficial (tough mother), and is very tough

arachnoid matter

looks like a spider web, is the intermediate layer, and connects to the next layer

pia mater

the deepest layer, is located and attaches directly to the brain, is very thin

Describe the functions of cerebrospinal fluid, how it is produced, and where it circulates

o Protects, supports, and nourishes the brain and spinal cord.
 Is made of synthesized ependymal cells. It flows through ventricles, subarachnoid space, and the central canal of the spinal cord
- the body makes about 500ml per day, and the cilia on the ependymal cells allow for the cerebrospinal fluid to move.

cerebrospinal fluid is

constantly being removed and replaced.
- approximately every 8 hours

is the blood brain barrier fully developed in infants

* Describe the importance of the blood brain barrier

o This is a highly selective diffusion barrier that helps maintain stable conditions with the brain. Like if you inject someone with a dye, it will never actually get into the brain.

identify the 3 components that work together to create this blood brain barrier

 Tight junctions (impermeable junctions between the cells in the brain)  Basal lamina – surrounds the cell (like a basement membrane) and blocks things from getting in  Astrocytes – star shaped glial cell which helps keep the neuron and nervous system healthy by reaching out their little projections to surround the capillaries within the brain

* Describe the structure and function of the spinal cord

 A long bundle of nervous tissue tunning from the medulla oblongata to the upper lumbar region, connects the brain to the PNS

cauda equina

- starts around L1 or L2 and is at the base where the spinal cord separates into smaller portions - has many branching fibers going out from it that looks like the hair from a horse's tail

where is the spinal tap typically done

between L3 and L4

identify the white matter and gray matter in the spinal cord

 White matter is on the outside or superficial part of the bones of the spinal cord - more superficial  Gray matter is on the very middle of the bone and often looks like a butterfly or moth - deep

Identify the regions of the spinal cord that are associated with motor function vs. sensory function

 Dorsal horns and roots: sensory function - smaller, towards the back (posterior)  Ventral horns and roots: motor function - bigger, towards the front (anterior)

central canal of the spinal cord

a very small hole in the middle of the bone

dorsal and ventral horn

 Dorsal horn * More pointed, on the posterior side, goes completely to the edge  Ventral horn * On the anterior side, more rounded, doesn’t go to the edge

dorsal root

* Sensory function, primarily composed of cell bodies of sensory neurons located within the ganglion.

dorsal root ganglion

* A collection of cell bodies outside of the spinal cord, is a blob looking structure.

ventral root

* Motor function, made of motor cell neurons

white columns (funiculi)

* Made of bundles of myelinated nerve fibers, that serve as nerve pathways to transmit sensory information up to the brain

the dorsal and ventral roots form what?

a spinal nerve

what do the dorsal and ventral horns form

they come together to form the gray matter of the spinal cord

* Describe the functional implications of spinal cord damage at different vertebral levels

 The higher up the injury the more damage it typically does, is typically irreversible. o C1 to C6 injury -> quadriplegia or tetraplegia o C6 to C8 injury -> complete paralysis of hand, trunk, and legs o T1 to T12 injury -> arm and hand function, paraplegia o L1 to L5 -> paraplegia o S1 to S5 -> most patient can walk with some function

what of the spine is damaged during polio

the ventral horn