nervous system Flashcards
give a brief overview of the nervous system
Which part of the brain has a blood-brain barrier?
he capillaries of the median eminence of the hypothalamus
the Peripheral Nervous System can be further divided into which two major subdivisions?
- Somatic
- Autonomic
What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?
- controls voluntary muscle movements
- transmits sensory information to the CNS.
What is the role of the autonimic nervosu sytem ?
regulates involuntary functions—heart rate, digestion.
What branches is the Autonomic Nervous System further split into?
- sympathetic
- parasympathetic
- enteric
What are the 4 lobes of the brain/cerebrum and their functions?
Frontal Lobe: Motor control, decision-making, personality.
Parietal Lobe: Sensory perception, spatial awareness.
Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, memory.
Occipital Lobe: Visual processing.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Balance and posture, mental function (e.g. language processing and memory), movement, motor learning, and vision.
What is the function of the spinal cord?
serves as a communication pathway between the brain and PNS
transmits signals for reflexes and voluntary movements
What are the meninges?
3 protective layers of tissue that surround and encase the brain and spinal cord:
Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater
What are the gyrus and sulcus?
gyrus: elevated folds on the brain’s surface
Sulcus: the grooves that separate the gyri
What comprises the diencephalon, and what functions does it serve?
Thalamus: relays sensory information
Hypothalamus: autonomic control, endocrine function.
What comprises the brainstem, and what functions does it serve?
Midbrain: Visual and auditory reflexes.
Pons: respiratory regulation
Medulla oblongata: Cardiac and vasomotor control, respiratory regulation.
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
connects brain hemispheres, allowing communication and coordination of cognitive functions
what compromises the gross structure of the spinal cord?
dorsal vs. ventral horn, dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerves, spinal tracts
location of grey matter vs white matter
grey: cerebral cortex of the brain, H region of spinal cord
white: tracts/bundles of axons deeper in the brain, surround central grey matter in the spinal cord
Why do grey and white matter in the brain have distinct colors?
grey: due to a higher concentration of cell bodies, capillaries, and dendrites
white: due to myelinated axons
what are the functions of grey matter?
Processes information, sensory perception, muscle control, memory
what is the function of white matter?
facilitates communication between different regions of the brain and spinal cord
what are spinal tracts and what is their function?
Bundles of axons in the spinal cord that travel together
either carrying sensory information towards the brain or motor commands from the brain to the muscles
describe the flow of information in the spinal cord.
Afferent neurons carry info into the spinal cord through the dorsal horn
Efferent neurons send commands out through the ventral horn.
Spinal nerves transmit signals bidirectionally to/from body parts.
Dorsal root ganglia house cell bodies of sensory (afferent) neurons.
Spinal tracts organize communication pathways within the spinal cord.
afferent vs efferent neurons
afferent - sensory
motor - efferent
which glial cells are found in the PNS?
- schwann cells
- staellite cells
which glial cells are found in the CNS?
- astrocytes
- ependymal cells
- microglia
- oligodendrocytes
function of microglia
- act as macrophages of CNS
function of astrocytes and where they are found
- maintain an external environment for neurons
- surround blood vessels and form blood-brain barrier
oligodendrocyte location and function
form myelin sheaths in CNS to enhance signal conduction
ependymal cell location and function
line the brain’s ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord
Produce cerebrospinal fluid, providing buoyancy, protection against physical trauma, and nutrient transport in the CNS
satellite cell location and function
Located in PNS ganglia.
Support and regulate the microenvironment around neuron cell bodies within ganglia.
what is ganglia
clusters of nerve cell bodies outside CNS
integrate sensory information and coordinate motor responses in PNS
