Nervous System - 11.2 Flashcards
What is the central nervous system?
Structural and functional Centre of the entire nervous system
Site of neural integration and processing - receives information from senses - evaluates information - initiates outgoing response
What can damage to the nervous system affect?
Temperament, motor control, and homeostasis
What is Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)?
Disease that causes sponge like holes in the brain - often called “mad cow disease”
Initially causes nervousness and over sensitivity to touch
What causes BSE?
an infectious protein
What are the two main types of tissue that the nervous system is composed of?
Grey matter and white matter
Describe grey matter.
Grey matter is grey - contains mostly cell bodies, dendrites, and short, unmyelinated axons (nerve fibers)
Contains many spinal neurons
Where is grey matter found?
Found around the outside areas of the brain - Forms H shape core of spinal cord
Describe white matter?
White matter is white - contains myelinated axons that run together in tracts
Where is white matter found?
Forms in the inner region of some areas of the brain - outer area of the spinal cord
What is the spinal cord?
The spinal cord is a nerve tissue - extends out of the skull from the brain - and downward through a canal within the backbone
Why is the spinal cord important?
It is the vital communication center between the brain and PNS
Within spinal cord - sensory neurons carry messages to the brain for interpretation
- Motor neurons relay messages from the brain to effectors
Primary reflex center - coordinating rapid incoming and outgoing neural information
What are the delicate tissues of the spinal cord protected by?
Cerebrospinal fluid
Soft tissue layers
Spinal column ( a series of backbone - vertebrae)
What happens if you injure the spinal column?
You can damage the spinal cord - resulting in paralysis
Greek philosopher Aristotle knew that directly touching the brain did not cause any sensations to owner, what did he conclude?
He concluded that the heart must be in control of human intelligence - sensations - and body functions
What is the Centre for intelligence, consciousness, and emotion?
The Brain!
What are the three regions of the brain?
The hindbrain, mid brain, and forebrain
Describe the brain.
Brain is fragile - has gelatin like consistency
skulls form bony, protective layer around brain
Meninges
What are meninges?
Three layers of tough, elastic tissue within spinal cord and brain - directly encloses the brain and spinal cord
What is the cerebellum and describe it.
It is a walnut shaped structure
Located below and largely behind cerebrum
Involved in unconscious coordination ( reflexes and body movements)
- Voluntary motor skills (hitting tennis ball, playing piano)
Receives information from specialized sensors (proprioceptors - located within skeletal muscles and joints)
What is the medulla oblongata and describe it.
Sits at base of the brain stem - connects brain with spinal cord
Contains centers that control autonomic, involuntary movements (heart rate, breathing, dilation and constriction of blood vessels)