Nervous System Flashcards
Diencephalon- Thalamus
Receives input from the visual, auditory, taste, and somatosensory areas, sending to cerebrum
Hypothalamus
Regulates sleeps, thirst, hunger, temperature, blood pressure, and water balance
Produces the hormone ADH
Pineal gland
Secretes hormone melatonin to regulate body’s daily rhythms (sleep and wake cycle)
Brain Stem
Midbrain, Pons, Medulla Oblongata
Midbrain
Relay station between the Cerebrum and Spinal cord
Pons
contain axons that travel from the cerebellum to rest of CNS, working with medulla O. to control breathing
Medulla Oblongata
contains many reflex centres controlling heartbeat and respiration
coughing
swallowing
vomiting
sneezing
hiccuping
Corpus Callosum
A bridge of white matter which passes information between left and right of cerebral hemispheres
Limbic system- func & struc
Hippocampus & Amygdala
Learning and Memory, responds to and displays anger/fear
Peripheral Nervous System
PNS consists of a collection of nerves that project out of brain and spinal cord
Cranial nerves
Serves the brain, face, neck, and internal organs
Spinal nerves
2 short branches (dorsal and ventral) leave spinal cord, joining as one
PNS can be broken into
Somatic (voluntary) and Autonomic (involuntary) nervous systems
Somatic NS
serves skin, skeletal muscles, and tendons. Sensory information is sent to the CNS and sends motor commands to skeletal muscles
NT ACh
Autonomic NS
Functions automatically, innervating the heart, glands, and internal organs. Each signal is passed through 2 motor neurons to an effector
Sympathetic NS
Nerves leave the middle part of the spinal cord. The preganglionic motor neuron is short, while the postganglionic neuron is long. Fight or flight response
Parasympathetic NS
Nerves leave the cranium of the spinal cord. Keeps or returns organs to a relaxed state. Promotes digestion, slows HR after stressful situation, causing pupil to contract
Cerebellum
Receives sensory input from joints and muscles to control balance. Maintains posture
Temporal Lobe
auditory area receives information from ears; Wernicke’s area (L hemisphere): helps understand written and spoken words
Occipital Lobe
Dedicated to sight, visual area
Parietal Lobe
somatosensory cortex receives sensory information (touch, temperature, and pain) from skin and skeletal muscles
Frontal Lobe
motor cortex controls skeletal muscles. Behaviour and emotional control centre (personality). Broca’s area (L hemisphere) associated in refining grammar/controls speech
Cerebral Cortex
Outer layer of the brain, motor cortex sends info out
