Nervous System Flashcards
Central Nervous System
Brain and the spinal chord
Peripheral Nervous system
connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body. Also broken down into the somatic and autonomic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
the axons that send messages from organs to CNS and from CNS to the muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Split into sympathetic and parasypmathetic nervous systems
Sympathetic nervous system
prepares the organs for fight or flight; the axons release norepinephrine
Consists of chains of ganglia which have connections within the spinal chord
parasympathetic nervous system
consists of cranial nerves from the sacral spinal chord
Its axons release acetylcholine
The parasympathetic ganglia aren’t linked together so they act more independently than the sympathetic ganglia
The Hindbrain
consists of the medulla, the pons, and the cerebellum
medulla
Extension of the spinal chord. 12 cranial nerves (many of these nerves are associated with the eye and vision) connect the head and organs to the medulla. These nerves control reflexes like breathing, HR, salivation, etc.
Pons
bridge that connects the brain stem to the cerebral cortex. are anterior and ventral to the medulla, Axons from 1/2 of the brain cross to the opposite side of the spinal chord so the left hemisphere controls muscles on the rights side of the brain and vice versa.
Cerebellum
Has deep folds. Controls movement and is important for learning and conditioning
The Midbrain
Vital for processing quick reflexive responses to visual input.made up of the tectum, superior and inferior colliculus, tegmentum, and substantia nigra
tectum
roof of the midbrain
superior and inferior colliculus
swellings on each side of the tectum; inferioir is important for auditory processing, superior is important for visual processing
substantia nigra
conducts dopamine pathway that facilitates readiness for movement
The Forebrain
consists of the left and right hemispheres as well as cerebral cortext (limbic system) structures
Cerebral cortex structures
hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus
Thalamus
processes sensory information and send its output to the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
conveys messages to the pituitary gland which alters its release of hormones
Pituitary Gland
endocrine gland that synthesizes hormones
Basal ganglia
plans motor movements, memory and emotional expression and more. Works with the limbic system to regulate the intensity of emotions and reactions
Basal forebrain
receives input from the hypothalamus and releases acetylcholine to the cerebral cortex. Is important for movement, arousal, wakefulness, and attention
ventricles
4 fluid filled cavities that provides cushioning for the brain on impact.
Is also a reservoir for hormones and nutrition and is important for waste removal
Meninges
membrane that surrounds the spinal chord and the brain. Has blood vessels. Migraines are caused by the swelling of these blood vessels
Dorsal
top of the head
Ventral view
underside
Anterior view
towards the nose
posterior view
back of the head
lamina (part of the nervous system)
layers; helps with separation, nourishment, and efficient processing
tract (part of the nervous system)
projects from the brain to the spinal chord and controls movement
Dorsal root ganglia (part of the nervous system)
cluster of sensory neurons outside of the spinal chord that transmit information about pain, temperature, etc.
Their soma and dendrites make up the gray matter in the dorsal horn
white matter (part of the nervous system)
myelinated axons
gyrus (part of the nervous system)
hills of the brain
sulcus (part of the nervous system)
valleys of the brain
fissures (part of the nervous system)
longitudinal fissure separates the right and left forebrain
amygdala
evaluates emotional information; especially fear
limbic system
border around the brain stem, facilitates the interactions between emotional processing and essential bodily functions
hippocamus
important for memory especially remembering individual events. Can be signaled by the amygdala
