Lesson 12: CNS Flashcards
Identify the major regions of the developing (primary and secondary vesicles) and adult brain.
Developing Brain: -Primary Vesicles: Prosencephalon(forebrain), Mesencephalon(midbrain), Rhombencephalon(hindbrain) -Secondary Vesicles: Forebrain becomes telencephalon (gives rise to cerebral hemispheres) and diencephalon(epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and retina), midbrain remains undivided, and hindbrain becomes metencephalon(pons and cerebellum) and myelencephalon(medulla oblongata) Adult Brain: 1.Cerebral hemispheres 2.Diencephalon 3.Brain stem-Midbrain, Pons, Medulla 4.Cerebellum
Identify and locate the ventricles of the brain.
Paired lateral ventricles are C-shaped chambers that reflect the pattern of cerebral growth. Each lateral ventricle is connected to the third ventricle(surrounded by diencephalon) via the intraventricular foramen. The third ventricle is continuous with the fourth ventricle via a cerebral aqueduct that runs through midbrain. Three openings mark the walls of the fourth ventricle: the paired lateral apertures in its sidewalls and the median aperture in its roof. These apertures connect the ventricles to the subarachnoid space
Describe the gray and white matter of the brain and the spinal cord
Brain: Gray matter found on outside, white matter found inside
Spinal cord: gray matter makes up butterfly core, white matter is the outer portion
Identify the major lobes, fissures, and functional areas of the cerebral cortex.
Major lobes: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital, sometimes Insula
Major fissures: Longitudinal fissure-separates cerebral hemispheres; Transverse cerebral fissure-separates cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum
Functional areas of the cerebral cortex:
-Motor areas: control voluntary movement, lies in the posterior part of frontal lobes- primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, Broca’s area, and the frontal eye field
-Sensory areas: concerned with conscious awareness of sensation, occur in parietal, insular, temporal, and occipital lobes-primary auditory cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and primary visual cortex
-Association areas: allow us to give meaning to information that we receive, store in memory, tie to previous experiences, and act
Describe the structure and function of the cerebellum.
2nd largest part of the brain called arborvitae because of branch-like appearance; important for equilibrium, vision centers, smooth, coordinated voluntary muscle movements, responsible for balance and posture
Differentiate between the Broca’s and Wernicke’s area.
Broca’s area: speech production
Wernicke’s area: understanding spoken & written words
Identify the chief homeostatic roles of the Hypothalamus.
Regulating body temperature, food intake, water balance, and biological drives
Identify the three major regions of the brain stem and the functions of each.
Midbrain: contains visual/auditory reflex centers
Pons: relays information from the cerebrum to the cerebellum
Medulla: relevant in containing control center for the cardiovascular system and respiratory system, can also control vomiting, coughing, swallowing, and hiccupping
Define contralateral, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, EEG, tract.
Contralateral: relating to the opposite side
Precentral gyrus: the anatomical location of the primary motor cortex, which is responsible for controlling voluntary motor movement on the body’s contralateral side.
Postcentral gyrus: the primary somatosensory cortex and receives the majority of the somatic sensory relay information from the thalamus.
EEG: Graphic record of the electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain
Tract: A collection of axons in the central nervous system having the same origin, termination, and function
Describe the location of the diencephalon and name its subdivisions and function
Diencephalon is located at the central core of the forebrain. It includes the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the epithalamus.
- Thalamus: makes up 80% of the diencephalon, the relay station for info coming into the cerebral cortex, plays a key role in mediating sensation, motor activities, cortical arousal, learning, and memory. It is truly the gateway to the cerebral cortex.
- Hypothalamus: main visceral control center(chief integration center) of the body and is vitally important to overall body homeostasis(controls autonomic NS, biological drives, etc)
- Epithalamus: The pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin and, along with hypothalamic nuclei, helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
Distinguish between the brain waves found on an EEG.
Alpha waves- awake but relaxed
Beta waves-awake and alert
Theta waves-common in children
Delta waves-deep sleep
Compare and Contrast the types of sleep and the importance.
REM: Skeletal muscles are actively inhibited; most dreaming occurs
NREM Stage 1: Relaxation begins; EEG shows alpha waves, arousal is easy
NREM Stage 2: Irregular EEG with sleep spindles; arousal is more difficult
NREM Stage 3: Sleep deepens; theta and delta waves appears; vital signs decline
NREM Stage 4: EEG is dominated by delta waves; arousal is difficult; bed-wetting, night terrors, and sleep walking may occur
Describe the meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood-brain barrier.
Meninges: cover and protect CNS, protect blood vessels and enclose venous sinuses, contains CSF, and form partitions in the skull
1) dura mater-outermost, in contact with the skull
2)arachnoid mater-middle layer(CSF)
3)pia mater-contact with brain
CSF: reduces the weight of brain by 97%, protects CNS from trauma, nourishes the brain, and carries chemical signals
Blood-brain barrier: Mechanism that inhibits the passage of materials from the blood into brain tissues; reflects relative impermeability of brain capillaries. Tight junctions and astrocytes
Describe the gross anatomy of the spinal cord.
enclosed in the vertebral column, extends from the foramen magnum of the skull to the first or second lumbar vertebra, just inferior to the ribs; major reflex center; provides 2-way communication to and from the brain
