Lecture 5

Question 1

What is the central nervous system? (CNS)

Answer 1

-the division of the nervous system that is located within the scull and spine
-composed of brain and spinal chord
-one of two divisions

Question 2

What is the peripheral nervous system? (PNS)

Answer 2

-division of the nervous system that is located outside the scull and spine
-composed of all of the nerves outside the brain and spinal chord
-one of two divisions
-composed of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Question 3

What is the somatic nervous system?

Answer 3

-division of the peripheral that interacts with the external environment
-includes afferent nerves which carry sensory signals from the skin, skeletal muscles, joints, eyes, and ears to the central
-includes efferent nerves which carry motor signals from the central to skeletal muscles
-one of two divisions of periferal

Question 4

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 4

-division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the body’s internal environment
-includes afferent nerves which carry motor signals from the central nervous system to internal organs
-one of the two divisions of the peripheral
-includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

Question 5

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 5

-on the the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system
-stimulates, organizes, and mobilizes energy resources in threatening situations
-produces a series of changes in the body called the “fight-or-flight-response”
-causes blood to be directed away from the digestive system to the arms and legs, pupils dilate, and heart and breathing increase

Question 6

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

-one of two divisions of the autonomic
-acts to conserve energy
-generally keeps the internal functioning of the body running smoothly in a “rest-and-digest’ mode of operation

Question 7

What is anterior?

Answer 7

-anatomical direction that means toward the nose end
-anatomical direction in the head that is towards the face end
-anatomical direction in the body that is towards the head end

Question 8

What is posterior?

Answer 8

-direction that means towards the tail end
-towards the back of the head
-towards the rear end

Question 9

What is dorsal?

Answer 9

-towards the surface of the back
-towards the top of the head

Question 10

What is ventral?

Answer 10

-towards the surface of the chest
-towards the bottom of the head

Question 11

What is medial?

Answer 11

-toward the midline of the body

Question 12

What is lateral?

Answer 12

-away from the midline of the body toward the body’s lateral surfaces

Question 13

What is the medulla?

Answer 13

-hindbrain structure that is located at the base of the brain, where the spinal chord arises
-consists of numerous nuclei that act as control centers for the autonomic nervous system
-the proper functioning of the autonomic depends on the general level of arousal of this hindbrain structure
-has control centers that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, muscle tone, and even reflexes such as vomiting

Question 14

What is the reticular formation?

Answer 14

-a complex network of nuclei that occupies the central core of the brainstem from the posterior boundary of the medulla to the anterior boundary of the midbrain
-a brain structure sometimes referred to as an activating system because parts of it seem to play a role in arousal
-when damaged, will cause the organism to fall into a coma

Question 15

What are pons?

Answer 15

-hindbrain structure that is a large bulbous structure located above the medulla
-contains nuclei that play a role in sleep and arousal
-contain the locus coeruleus - a group of neurons that are the primary source of norepinephrine for the brain
-contains the raphpe nuclei - a group of neurons that are the primary source of serotonin for the brain

Question 16

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 16

-hindbrain structure that is located at the back of the brainstem
-functions primarily as a component of the brains extensive motor system by integrating, coordinating, and refining actions into fluid movements
-damage to this brain structure eliminates the ability to precisely control ones movements and to adapt them to changing conditions

Question 17

What is the midbrain?

Answer 17

-division of the brain that contains two further divisions: the tectum and the tegmentum
-contains structures such as the periaquaductal gray, the substantia nigra, and the ventral tegmental area

Question 18

What is the superior colliculus?

Answer 18

-midbrain structure that has a visual-motor function
-specifically functions to direct the body’s orientation toward or away from particular visual stimuli

Question 19

What is the Periaqueductal gray (PAG)

Answer 19

-midbrain structure that is involved in pain sensation and in defensive behaviour
-stimulation of opioid receptors in this midbrain structure causes an immediate loss of pain sensation (analgesia)
-contains a punishment system, where electrical stimulation appears to have a punishing effect on the organism

Question 20

What is the Substantia Nigra

Answer 20

-midbrain structure that is a motor area of the brain which is highly interconnected with another motor region: the basal ganglia
-contains cells that produce dopamine and whose degradation is associated with parkinsons disease

Question 21

What is the ventral tegmental area (VTA)?

Answer 21

-midbrain structure that is a vital component of the brains reward circuit and is the site of origin of the mesolimbic pathway
-contains dopamine-producing neurons that project to and release dopamine in multiple regions of the brain, such as the limbic system and prefrontal cortex