nervous system Flashcards
nervous system function
receives and processes information from sense organs and brings about responses to the information received
nervous system divisions
central and peripheral
what does the central nervous system consist of?
brain and spinal cord
parts of the brain
- cerebrum (cerebral cortex, corpus collosum)
- cerebellum
- medulla oblongata
- hypothalamus
function of CNS
incoming messages are processed, outgoing messages are initiated
structures that protect the CNS
- bone
- membranes called meninges
- cerebrospinal fluid
protection - bones
- cranium - houses brain, part of skull
- vertebral canal
both bones provides strong, rigid structure to protect underlying structures
protection - meninges
- three layers of connective tissues forming membranes
- underneath the bones
- covers the surfers of the brain and spinal cord
three layers of connective tissues forming membranes
- dura mater (outer layer) (durable): tough and fibrous
- arachnoid mater (middle layer): loose mesh of fibre
- pia mater (inner layer): delicate, contain blood vessels and sticks closely to the surface of the brain’s and SC, needs lot of oxygen
cerebrospinal fluid location and description
- occupies space between the middle and inner layers of meninges
- circulates through cavities of the brain and canal in centre of the spinal cord
- clear, watery fluid contain a few cells and some glucose, protein, urea and salts
CSF functions (3)
PST
- protection: shock absorber (cushion blows to CNS)
- support: brain is suspended inside cranium, floats in surrounding fluid
- transport: csf formed from blood, csf circulates around and through CNS before re-entering blood capillaries, takes nutrients to the cells of brain and SC, carries away waste
what is the cerebrum
biggest part of brain
cerebrum consists of:
- outer surface = cerebral cortex, thick grey matter = neuron cell bodies, dendrites and unmyelinated axons
- below the cortex, white matter = myelinated axons (myelin gives the white layer is colour and textures
- deep inside cerebrum = basal ganglia (not often discussed). consists of a group of never cell bodies associated with control of skeletal muscles, role in initiating desired movements
cerebral cortex
- vascularised
folded into patterns → greatly increase surface area
70% of all the neurons in CNS
folding produces rounded ridges called convolutions (gyri) separated by sulci (shallow downfolds) or fissures (deep downfolds)
deepest fissure + function
deepest fissure = longitudinal fissure
- separated cerebrum into left and right hemispheres
corpus callosum
corpus callosum joins two hemispheres at base of longitudinal tissue, large bundle of transverse fibres, allows two sides of cerebrum to communicate with each other
how are the cerebral hemispheres divided into lobes?
patterns of folding differs for each oerson
certain fissures and sulci are fairly constant → used to subdivide each cerebral hemisphere into lobes (frontal, temporal, occipital, parietal)
fifth lobe + location
fifth lobe = insula (located deep inside brain)
frontal lobe function
thinking, problem solving, emotions, personality, language, and control of movement
parietal lobe function
processing temp, touch, taste, pain and movement, body orientation
temporal lobe function
processing memories and linking them with senses, receiving auditory info, language comprehension
occipital lobe function
vision (visual reception and interpretation)
insula
recognition of different senses and emotions, addiction and psychiatric disorders
where are all impulses from sensory organs are carried to?
cerebral cortex
cerebral cortex can be divided into three functional areas
SAM
- sensory areas: receives and processes impulses from the senses
- motor areas: send impulses to muscles for voluntary movement
- association areas: interpret information from the senses and make it useful
bundles of nerve fibres (names)
- within CNS, bundles of nerve fibres are called tracts
- outside CNS, bundles of nerve fibres held together by connective tissue are called nerves
between the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia is…
between the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia is white matter composed of nerve fibres
nerve fibres are surrounded by…
surrounded by sheath of white fatty material called myelin
three types of tracts occur in white matter
- tracts that connect various areas of the cortex within the same hemisphere
- tracts that carry impulses between the hemispheres
- tracts that connect the cortex to other parts of CNS
cerebellum location
lies under the rear part of the cerebrum
cerebellum structure (inside and outside)
surfaces is divided into a series of parallel ridges
- outer folded part = grey matter
- inside = white matter that branches to all paths of cerebellum
role: cerebellum
- control over posture, balance and fine coordination of voluntary muscle movement
- receives sensory info from:
- inner ear (info about posture and balances
- stretch receptions in the skeletal muscles info about length of muscles
- all functions offer below conspicuous level
hypothalamus location
middle of brain
hypothalamus function
- controls bodily activities
- homeostasis: maintaining a constant internal environment
- functions include regulations: autonomic NS (hr, bp, secretions of digestive juices, movements of alimentary canal, dilation of pupil), body temp, food and water intake, patterns of waking and sleeping, contractions of the urinary bladder, emotional responses, secretion of hormones
medulla oblongata
- continuation of SC
- nerve fibres pass through the medulla going to or from other parts of the brain
what does the medulla oblongata contain?
- cardiac centres: regulate rate and force of the heartbeat
- respiratory centres: control rate and depth of breathing
- vasomotor centre: regulates the diameter of blood vessels
- other centres regulate reflexes of swallowing, sneezing, coughing and vomiting
spinal cord length
- 44cm long in adults
- Extends from foramen magnum (large opening at base of skull) → second lumbar vertebrae
how is spinal cord heavily protected?
Cord enclosed in vertebral canal
what are inside ring of bone (spinal cord)
three meningeal layers
- Outer layer isn’t joined to bone like in the skull
- instead, Space containing fat, connective tissue and blood vessels serves as padding around SC and allows cord to bend when spine is bent
grey matter
nerve cell bodies and unmyelinated nerve fibres
white matter
myelinated fibres
grey and white matter of the SC
Grey matter of the SC is at the centre, surrounded by white matter
Myelinated fibres of white matter arranged in
bundles
Grey matter is roughly the shape of letter H
central canal
In cross bar of the H is small space called the central canal
Runs length of SC and contains CSF
ascending tracts
Sensory axons that carry impulses upwards towards the brain
descending tracts
Motor axons that conduct impulses downwards, away from the brain
function of spinal cord
- carry sensory impulses up to the brain, and motor impulses down from the brain
- Integrate fast, autonomic responses called reflexes
peripheral nervous system function
- takes messages from receptors → CNS
- from CNS → muscles and glands
PNS composed of:
- Nerve fibres that carry info to and from the CNS
- Groups of nerve cell bodies called ganglia which lie outside of the brain and spinal cord
nerves
Nerve fibres arranged into nerves which arise from the brain and spinal cord
types of nerves
cranial nerves and spinal nerves
cranial nerves
- 12 pairs that arise from the brain
- most are Mixed nerves = contain fibres that carry impulses into the brain, and fibres that carry
impulses away from the brain- Sensory fibres = carry impulses into CNS
- Motor fibres = carry impulses away from CNS
Spinal nerves
- 31 pairs arise from SC
- All are mixed nerves containing both sensory and motor fibres
- Each nerve is joined to the SC by two roots
- Ventral root = axons of motor neurons that have cell bodies in the grey matter
- Dorsal root = axons of sensory neurons that have cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglion (big boy)
DIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
sensory (afferent): conducts signals from receptors to CNS
motor (efferent): conducts signals from CNS to effectors
motor (efferent) DIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Autonomic nervous system and Somatic nervous system