Nervous System Flashcards
This deck covers multiple choice questions as well as clinical conditions/terms.
- consists of the brain and spinal cord
- does not regenerate
central nervous system
- consists of nerves
- regenerates
peripheral nervous system
What are the functions of the nervous system?
1) respond to external stimuli
2) respond to internal stimuli
3) coordination
4) higher functioning
What are the functions of a neuron?
1) receive a signal
2) transmit a signal
3) effect to another cell
The supporting cells for neurons
glia cells
- a type of glia cell that makes myelin sheath in the CNS
- one cell myelinates multiple axons in multiple places
oligodendrocyte
- a type of glia cell that makes myelin sheath in the PNS
- one cell myelinates one axon in one place
schwann cell
- a type of glia cell that forms the blood brain barrier
- attaches to capillaries and neurons, filtering what goes through
astrocyte
- a type of glia cell that is a macrophage
microglia
- unmyelinated regions of the CNS
- where information processing takes place
gray matter
- myelinated regions of the CNS
- where signal transmission takes place
white matter
collections of axons in the PNS
nerves
collections of axons in the CNS
tracts
collections of cell bodies in the CNS
nuclei
collections of cell bodies in the PNS
ganglia
a collection of nerves
nerve plexus
What type of neurons go to the CNS?
sensory (afferent) neurons
What type of neurons are within the CNS?
association (inter) neurons
What type of neurons leave the CNS?
motor (efferent) neurons
What occurs when a signal jumps over myelin sheath, along an axon?
saltatory conduction
What is localization of function in the brain?
when each region of the brain has a specific function
What is integration of function in the brain?
when each region of the brain works together
What is contralateral function in the brain?
when the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and vice versa
List the 3 functions that make the brain work properly.
1) localization of function
2) integration of function
3) contralateral function
- a sensory region of the brain located in the post-central gyrus
- responsible for feeling touch/pain/temperature/etc
primary somatosensory cortex
- a sensory region of the brain
- responsible for interpreting information
somatosensory association area
- a sensory region of the brain
- responsible for sight
primary visual cortex
- a sensory region of the brain
- responsible for interpreting sight
visual association area
- a sensory region of the brain
- responsible for hearing sound
primary auditory cortex
- a sensory region of the brain
- responsible for interpreting sound
auditory association area
- located within the auditory association area
- responsible for making speech
Broca’s Area
- located within the auditory association area
- responsible for comprehending speech
Wernicke’s Area
- the part of the brain that is responsible for all complex behavior
- makes up 80% of the brain
cerebrum
- the outside of the cerebrum
- made of gray matter folded into gyri and sulci
cerebral cortex
What is the difference between gyri and sulci?
- gyri are the outer folds
- sulci are the valleys in between gyri
What is the cerebrum divided into?
cerebral hemispheres
The cerebral hemispheres are divided by the _________.
longitudinal fissure
- located in the cerebrum
- divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
central sulcus
- located in the cerebrum
- a bunch of axons that connect the two halves of the brain
corpus callosum
Lobes of the cerebrum correlate with _____________.
bones of the skull
Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the following?
- pre-central gyrus
- motor association area
frontal lobe
Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the following?
- post-central gyrus
- somatosensory association area
parietal lobe
Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the following?
- primary auditory cortex
- auditory association area
temporal lobe
Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the following?
- primary visual cortex
- visual association area
occipital lobe
- located in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum
- responsible for controlling skeletal muscle
primary motor cortex
- located in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum
- responsible for interpreting voluntary movement
motor association area
Which part of the brain contains the following?
- epithalamus
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
diencephalon
What is the function of the epithalamus?
to respond to blue light
- located in the epithalamus
- releases melatonin which controls our circadian rhythym
pineal gland
- located in the diencephalon
- the relay center for all senses except smell
- ensures signals go to the correct part of the brain by filtering them
thalamus
- located in the diencephalon
- responsible for controlling the autonomic nervous system
- maintains homeostasis
hypothalamus
- located in the hypothalamus
- controls the endocrine system (hormones)
pituitary gland
Which part of the brain contains the following?
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla oblongata
brain stem
What is the midbrain responsible for?
visual and auditory reflexes
- located in the midbrain
- responsible for controlling visual reflexes
superior colliculi
- located in the midbrain
- responsible for controlling auditory reflexes
inferior colliculi
What is the functions of the pons in the brain stem?
contains nuclei for most of the cranial nerves
What is the function of the medulla oblongata in the brain stem?
controls breathing and the reticular activating system
What is the function of the reticular activating system?
to control whether you are awake or asleep
Which part of the brain is responsible for coordinating movement?
cerebellum
receptors in muscles, tendons, and ligaments that send information to the brain for spatial awareness
proprioceptors
Which part of the brain is responsible for smoothing motion from the cerebellum?
basal ganglia
Which part of the brain is responsible for the following functions?
- emotions
- behavior, planning, and memory
- controlling physiological function (homeostasis)
limbic system
- located in the limbic system
- responsible for controlling sense of smell
olfactory bulb
All of the functions of the limbic system are affected by _________.
pheromones
- an degenerative autoimmune disease
- occurs when the immune system attacks oligodendrocytes
- CNS
multiple sclerosis
- typically caused by brain swelling
- occurs when swelling pushes on the medulla oblongata
- CNS
coma
What occurs when you retain existing memories but can’t make new ones?
- CNS
anterograde amnesia
What occurs when you forget existing memories but can make new ones?
- CNS
retrograde amnesia
- an autoimmune disease
- occurs when the immune system attacks Schwann Cells
- extremely rare but not degenerative
- PNS
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Degeneration of the brain that can cause a loss of memory, personality, and/or physiological function
- CNS
Dementia
- the most common type of dementia
- associated with Beta-Amyloid Plaques
Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia
- a type of dementia associated with Lewy Bodies
Lewy Body Dementia
- a type of dementia caused by TIAs
- More common with age because the heart gets weaker
Vascular Dementia
- mini-strokes that cause small pieces of the brain to die off
- can be cumulative, resulting in one large stroke
Transient Ischemic Attacks
- a type of dementia when the brain deteriorates due to damage
trauma dementia
Why is damage from trauma cumulative?
because neurons don’t regenerate
What occurs when you hit the brain with enough force to lose consciousness?
concussion
What occurs when a lot of trauma to the brain causes regions of the brain to die?
Chronic Trauma Encephalopathy
What occurs when there is a blockage in the cerebral aqueduct?
- CSF is being made but can’t flow
- The lateral and third ventricles fill up with CSF which puts pressure on the brain and skull
- Caused by a congenital defect in children or a tumor in adults
hydrocephalus
How is hydrocephalus treated?
a shunt is placed in the ventricle so that CSF can drain
What occurs when the meninges are inflamed?
meningitis
What occurs when swollen meninges push down on the brain?
encephalitis
How is meningitis diagnosed and where?
- lumbar puncture
- a sample of CSF is taken from under the end of the spinal cord
How is meningitis treated?
- antibiotics
- removing a piece of the skull to allow the brain to swell
What is it called when there is bleeding in the subdural space?
- Typically caused by damage to the dura mater
subdural hemorrhage
What are the two conditions that can cause encephalitis?
1) Meningitis
2) Subdural Hemorrhage
How is a subdural hemorrhage treated?
By drilling holes in the skull so blood can drain
What is an epidural injection? What occurs after the injection?
- When numbing solution is injected into the epidural space
- All nerves below the catheter will be numbed, no longer receiving sensory signals and sending motor signals
Cell bodies don’t regenerate, but _______ do.
axons
What is the condition when high levels of glucose in blood damage nerves?
- presents as pins and needles in the feet before moving up the leg
- Causes a loss of sensation
- Sores and ulcers are treated via antibiotic creams/ointments
diabetic neuropathy
Regions of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve
dermatomes
- caused by the chicken pox virus, which remains dormant in the posterior root ganglion
- the chicken pox virus re-activates and moves down a nerve
- presents as a painful, striped nerve rash
shingles
What is it called when areas of the body hurt in response to an organ hurting?
referred pain
Why isn’t organ pain localized?
because of unmyelinated neurons
What is it called when temporary paralysis occurs due to the facial nerve getting inflamed and pinched?
- typically presents in half of the face
Bell’s Palsy
- an infection of the conjunctiva
- AKA pink eye
- appears pink because blood vessels in the areolar CT dilate
conjunctivitis
- a blurry spot in the eye due to a cornea that isn’t flat
- treated with Lasik
astigmatism
- when you can’t focus on things that are close
- occurs with age because the lens loses elasticity
presbyopia
- when too much aqueous humor causes high pressure in the eye
- too much pressure on the blood vessel layer can destroy the retina
- can lead to blindness if untreated because neurons aren’t getting oxygenated
glaucoma
- this occurs when the lens gets cloudy
- occurs naturally with age
- treated with a lens replacement
cataract
- occurs when fluid builds up between the macula and choroid
- the fluid prevents the choroid from nourishing the macula, so photoreceptors start to die
- results in peripheral vision, with a blind spot in the center
macular degeneration
- normally due to an injury but can occur spontaneously
- Retina must be surgically reattached
- can cause permanent damage if not treated immediately because the choroid can’t nourish the retina
detached retina
- nearsightedness
- occurs when the eye is slightly elongated
- when you are unable to focus on things that are far away
myopia
- farsightedness
0 when the eye is too short to focus on things that are close up
hyperopia
- what occurs when hair cells in the semicircular canals randomly send signals?
- makes you feel like you’re moving when you aren’t
- typically caused by an infection
vertigo
- what occurs when hair cells in the semicircular canals randomly send signals?
- makes you feel like you’re moving when you aren’t
- typically caused by an infection
vertigo