Module 3 - Structure of the Nervous System Flashcards
Nervous System Terminology: Neuaxis
An imaginary line drawn through the CNS from the spinal cord to the front of the brain
Nervous System Terminology: Rostral
The location of the brain that is towards the face
Nervous System Terminology: Caudal
The location of the brain that is away from the face
Nervous System Terminology: Anterior
Relative to the neuraxis, towards the top end (face)
Nervous System Terminology: Posterior
Relative to the neuraxis, towards the bottom end (feet)
Nervous System Terminology: Dorsal
Relative to the neuraxis, towards the back
Nervous System Terminology: Ventral
Relative to the neuraxis, towards the belly
Nervous System Terminology: Lateral
Towards the outside of the body
Nervous System Terminology: Medial
Towards the middle fo the body
Nervous System Terminology: Ipsilateral
Structures located on the same side of the body
Nervous System Terminology: Contralateral
Structures on the opposite side of the body
Nervous System Terminology: Sagittal Plane
Slicing the brain parallel to neuraxis and perpendicular to the ground (front view)
Nervous System Terminology: Coronal Plane
Slicing the brain parallel to the forehead to make front and back sections (side view)
Nervous System Terminology: Horizontal Plane
Slicing the brain parallel to the ground, to make top and bottom sections (top view)
Nervious System Protection
- Meninges
- Ventricular System & Cerebrospinal Fluid
Meninges
The layers of connective tissue covering nervous system to provide structure and protection
Meninges
________________ - Dura Mater
———————- - Arachnoid Membrane
########### - Subarachnoid space
———————- - Pia Mater
& & & & & & & - Brain Surface
CNS - Dura mater, arachnoid membrane & pia mater
PNS - onlt have dura & pia mater layers which are fused together to cover the nerves
Dura Mater
Forms a thick outer layer which is thick, tough and flexible
Arachnoid Membrane
Forms the middle layer which is soft and spongy
Pia Mater
Shaped to the brains surface which is think and delicate
Subarachnoid Space
Filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced by the ventricular system. Located between the arachnoide membrance and the pia mater
Ventricular System & Cerebrospinal Fluid
CSF has 2 main jobs.
1 - Shock absorber - reduced net weight of brain as it floats in CSF
2 - Material exchanger - helps provide nutrients to the brain and removes waste
Ventricles
Small hollow spaces in the brain
Connected to one another and produce, store and circulate the cerebrospinal fluid
Choroid Plexus
A highly vascular tissue found in all the ventricles.
Forebrain
Located rostrally (towards the nose) and has two main subdivisions; telencephalon & diencephalon
Telencephalon
Forebrain - Lateral - Telencephalon
- Cerebral cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Limbic system
Diencephalon
Forebrain - Third - Diencephalon
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
Cerebrum
Left and right of the cerebral hemispheres
Contains;
Cerebal cortex
Limbic system
Basal Ganglia
Cerebral Hemispheres
Cerebral Cortex - Cortial
Surrounds the two cerebal hemispheres
Convoluted (folded) to increase overall surface area which helps with comple cognition
Limbic System - Subcortical (Beneath the Cortex)
Basal Ganglia - Subcortical (Beneath the Cortex)
Sulci
Small grooves in the cerebral cortex
Fissures
Large grooves in the cerebral cortext
Gyri
Bulges in between grooves in the cerebral cortex
White Matter
Made up fpr glia and myelinated axons which have a while colour
Grey Matter
Names after its colour, contains glia and lots of cell bodies which have a grey colour
Cerebral Cortex - Frontal Lobe
Rostal to parietal lobe and dorsal to the temporal lobe
Cerebral Cortex - Parietal Lobe
Caudal to the frontal lobe and dorsal to the temporal lobe
Cerebral Cortex - Temporal Lobe
Rostral to the occipital lobe and ventral to pariental and frontal lobes
Cerebral Cortex - Occipital Lobe
Caudal to parietal and temporal lobes
Cerebral Cortex Functions - Sensory Cortex
Three areas of the cerebral cortex receive information from sensory organs for processing
Primary Visual Cortex
Located in the occipital lobe around the calcarine fissure
Processes sensory information sent from the eyes
Primary Auditory Cortex
Located in the temporal lobe near the lateral fissure
Processes sensory information sent from the auditory system
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Located in parietal lobe near the central sulcus
Processes information sent from the somatosensory system (pressure)
Insular Cortex
Helps process taste information
Contralateral Sensory Connections
Primary Motor Cortex
Movement control
Located in the posterior part of the frontal lobe
Association Cortex
Help accomplish everything between sensation and action
This is what most the cerebal cortex is made up of
Sensory Association Cortex
Each primary sensory area if the cerebral cortex sends information to adjacent regions for futher processing
Regions further away receive information from more than one sensory systems which allows to connect information across senses
Motor Assoiation Cortex (Premotor Cortex)
Helps control the primary motor cortex
Basal Ganglia
Collection of nuclei below the cerebal cortex (subcortical)
Involved in motor control
Nuclei
An identifiable group of cell bodies in CNS
Limbic System
Widespread group of brain nucle that form a network
Involved in learning, memory and emotions
Includes the limbic cortex, amygdala, hippocampus
Hippocampus
Involved with learning and memory processing
Amygdala
Helps with emotion processing
Lateralization
Functions localised to one side of the brain
Corpus Collosum
A large bundle of axons that interconnect corresponding regions of association cortex on each side of the brain
Allows the two sides to talk to another
Thalamus
The largest part of the diencephalon which sit above the hypothalamus
Acts as a relay station
The nucleio (groups of cell bodies) have axons which are widespread throughout the cortex
Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Gets information from the eye and sends it on to the primary visual cortex for detailed processing
Hypothalamus
Sits below the thalamus
Controls the endocrine system (hormones) and the autonomic nervous system (regulates bodily functions)
Important for survival behaviours including reproduction, fighting and eating
Pituitary Gland (anterior & posterior)
Hormones which influence the endocrine system through the pituitary gland
Anterior - Eventually cause the anterior to release its own hormones
Posterior - Does not make its own hormones.
Neurosecretory cells of the Hypothalamus
Release hormones which enter blood vessels
Mesencephalon (midbrain)
Tectum
Tegmentum
Superior Colliculi
Inferior Colliculi
Reticular Formation
Periaqueductal Grey Matter & Red Nucleus
Substantia Nigra
Hindbrain
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon
Pons
Cerebellum (Cerebellar Cortex & Cerebellar Nuclei)
Medulla
Spinal Cord
Vertebral Column
Spinal Roots
Dorsal Spinal Roots
Ventral Spinal Roots
Nerves
Crainal Nerves
Spinal Nerves
Afferent Axons
Efferent Axons
Autonomis Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Preganglionic Neuron
Postganglionic Neuron
Ganglia
