Nervous System 2 Flashcards
What 3 major portions can the brain be divided into?
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Brainstem
What is brain size proportional to?
Body size only and can be divided into three major portions
Cerebrum appearance
- 83% of brain volume
- consists of 2 cerebral hemispheres
- divided into multiple lobes each marked by gyri and sulcus
Sulcus
shallow groves (slits)
Fissure
DEEP groves (deep slits)
Gyrus
Convolutions (ridges that stick out)
Longitudinal fissure
Separates the left and right hemispheres, although they remain connected through the corpus callosum
Central sulcus
Separate front and back of cerebrum
Cerebellum location
Lies inferior and posterior to the cerebrum; more delicate surface markings
(Below and to the back of cerebrum)
Brainstem parts
Base of brain Thalamus Hypothalamus Midbrain (top of brains stem/middle of brain) Pons (bump) Medulla oblongata (slight bump)
Cerebrospinal fluid location
Make in ventricles (lined with epithelium- ependemial cells)
-fills 4 hollow spaces in brain
Gray matter
Consisting of non-myelinated soma and dendrites
White matter
Myelinate nerve fibers (myelin is on axon)
**Location of gray matter in brain and spinal cord
Gray matter forms outer cortex* in brain, but is an inner core* in the spinal cord
White matter location in brain and spinal cord
White matter is inside brain and outside spinal cord
Meningitis
Very courageous and very deadly inflammation/infection in brain. Perform spinal tap to detect
Meninges
(Singular=meninx)
3 protective fibrous coverings that separate the brain and spinal cord from the skull and vertebrae
What separates brain and spinal cord from the skull and vertebrae
Meninges
Dura mater
Outermost meninx, really rough, consists of a periosteal layer and an inner meningeal layer
What part of and what does the dura mater form within the vertebral canal?
The meningeal layer (inner layer of dura mater) forms a dural sheath
Dural sheath
Same thing as the meningeal layer (inner layer) of the dura mater just the name for when it’s in the vertebral canal!
Epidural space location
Between the dural sheath and surrounding bone
Space is between the skull and the dura mater
Arachnoid mater
The second meninx that adheres to the dura and sends spider like extensions out to the #3 pia mater (highly vascular)
3 pia mater
Highly vascular, closely follows the contour of the brain
Subdural space
Between (below) dura mater and (above) arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid space
Separates arachnoid and pia mater
Cerebrospinal fluid appearance and function
Clear, colorless liquid that functions to lend buoyancy, for protection, in waste removal, and in providing a stable chemical environment
What is CSF produced by
The choroid plexus (area with ependymal cells) within each of the 4 ventricles
What do the ventricles in brain consist of?
Capillaries covered by simple cuboidal epithelium (ependymal cells that make CSF)
Blood-CSF fluid barrier
Tight junctions within capillaries in the choroid plexus form this that protects the brain; regulates substance entering the brain
Lateral ventricle
(2) located in each cerebral hemisphere; communicates with a third ventricle through an inter ventricular foramen
Interventricular foramen
How 2 lateral ventricles in each cerebral hemisphere communicate with a third ventricle
Cerebral aqueduct
Connects the third ventricle with the fourth ventricle
Circulation of CSF
Originated in choroid plexus, circulated through ventricles, makes its way into central canal of spinal cord, exits the fourth ventricle through two apertures (openings)
Does spinal cord go whole length of vertebrae?
NOOOO
Hydrocephalus
Hydro=water
Cephalus= head
“Water on the brain”- results from blockage of the route of CSF and its absorption
-causes- injury, rumors, infections, etc.
What fills up in hydrocephalus
The ventricles causing pressure and displacement
Blood supply in brain
Very metabolically active (demand for oxygen and glucose). Stopping blood supply for as little as 4 minutes can cause irreversible damage!!
Where is the blood-brain barrier NOT located?
It’s absent in areas of the brain (called circumventricular organs) that monitor blood glucose, pH, salinity, etc.
Circumventricular organs
Circum= around
Ventricular= ventricles
Monitor blood glucose, pH, salinity etc. Blood-brain barriers absent here **
3 functions of spinal cord
Locomotion, conduction, and reflex activity control
Where does the spinal cord begin and end?
Begins at the foramen magnum and ends and the FIRST lumbar vertebrae
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
How many cranial nerves are there
12 pairs
where does the spinal cord enlarge?
Cervical and lumbar areas; nerves to the appendages arise
Conus medullaris
Cord tapers to a point and end
Cauda equina
Nerve bundle exits the bottom of spinal cord (nerve fibers coming off conus medullaris)
*cauda-caudal-tail
Filum terminale
In addition to cauda equina
Lumbar puncture
Between vertebrae through fibrocartilage, punctures dura mater to get fluid; gives idea of what’s going on in brain
Fissure and sulcus in spinal cord cross section
Anterior median fissure (deep) and posterior median sulcus (not so deep)
Horns of spinal cord
Divided regions of a central area of gray matter in the spinal cord; 2 dorsal or posterior horns and 2 ventral or anterior horns
Gray commissure
Connects the right and left halves of horns in spinal cord
Central canal
Center of central gray matter (horns) in spinal cord
Route of sensory fibers **
Enter dorsal horn, synapse with an interneuron and somatic motor neurons exit via the central root of the spinal nerve.
How do nerves come out of spinal cord
In pairs (two roots)
Are tracts white or gray matter?
White matter
They are axons !!!
Ascending tracts
Spinal tracts that carry sensory information UP the spinal cord
Descending tracts
Spinal tracts that carry motor information DOWN the spinal cord
Decussation
a crossed tract of nerve fibers passing between centers on opposite sides of the nervous system
Left/right, right/left
What is the most important part of the brain?
Medulla oblongata
What does the medulla oblongata (hindbrain)control?
Coughing, hiccuping, sneezing, sweating, vomiting etc.
What 3 centers are in the medulla oblongata (hindbrain)
Cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory centers
Hindbrain
Consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata
Brain stem
How does info get from the cerebrum to the cerebellum
Must go through pons
What does the pons (hindbrain) control
The gray matter of the pons contains nuclei (gray matter masses) concerned with sleep, posture, respiration, swallowing, and bladder control.
Nuclei in brain
Little areas of gray in inside (gray is usually outside of brain)
Cerebellum physical features
Largest of the hindbrain !!
Right and left cerebellar hemispheres connect via the vermis; three paired cerebellar peduncles (nerve tracts) connect the cerebellum to the brainstem
What connect he cerebellum (hindbrain) to the brainstem
3 paired peduncles (nerve tracts)
Peduncles
3 paired peduncles= nerve tracts that connect the cerebellum to the brainstem
What does the cerebellum (hindbrain) control?
Modulates and coordinates VOLUNTARY movement of the limbs, maintains muscle tone and posture, coordinated eye movements, and helps in learning motor skills
Tectum
Midbrain!
Consists of 4 nuclei called the corpora quadrigemina
What does the tectum (mid-brain) control
The corpora quadrigemina of the tectum function in visual attention, tracking objects, and visual reflexes
Reticular formation location
A group of 100 nuclei scattered throughout the medulla, midbrain, and pons
What does the reticular formation do?
Function in somatic motor control, autonomic control, arousal, and pain modulation.
What does the thalamus consist of (top of brain stem)
Two oval masses of gray matter, underneath each cerebral hemisphere
Function of the thalamus (top of brain stem)
It’s the gateway to the cerebral cortex, nearly all info heading to the cerebrum passes through the thalamus, EXCEPT for sensory input from smell
What is the one thing that does not pass through the thalamus?
Sensory input from smell
What does the hypothalamus (brains stem) control
Major control center for ANS and endocrine; also homeostasis (involuntary and hormones)