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Biology MCAT > Nervous System Divisions and Parts of the Brain > Flashcards

Nervous System Divisions and Parts of the Brain Flashcards

1
Q

Central Nervous System:
Comprises ___ and ___
Processes ___ information and initiates ___ movement
Protected by ___, ___, and bones

A

Comprises BRAIN and SPINAL CORD
Processes SENSORY info and initiates MUSCLE movement
Protected by CSF, MENINGES, and bones

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2
Q

Peripheral Nervous System:
Includes all ___ tissue outside the CNS
Includes ___ and ___ fibers

A

Includes all NEURAL tissue outside CNS
Includes AFFERENT and EFFERENT fibers

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3
Q

Afferent fibers

A

Carry sensory information to the CNS

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4
Q

Efferent fibers

A

Transmit fibers from the CNS to the periphery

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5
Q

Neural tube differentiates into:
___
___
___

A

Prosencephaleon
Mesencephalon
Rhombencephalon

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6
Q

Prosecencephalon

A

Forebrain: further develops into diencephelaon and telencephalon

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7
Q

Mesencephalon

A

Midbrain: contains structures for motor control and sensory processing

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8
Q

Rhombencephelon

A

Hindbrain: develops into metenecphalon and myelencephalon

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9
Q

Diencephalon

A

Thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary gland

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10
Q

Thalamus

A

Relays sensory and motor signals; regulates sleep

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11
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Mediates homeostasis and links nervous and endocrine systems

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12
Q

Pineal gland

A

Produces melatonin for sleep regulation

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13
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Produces and secretes hormones

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14
Q

Telencephalon

A

Cerebrum + subcortical structures

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15
Q

Cerebral cortex:

A

Outer layer, involved in higher-order functioning
Frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes

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16
Q

Frontal lobe

A

Cognition, executive functions, memory processing, planning, attention

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17
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Sensory processing

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18
Q

Temporal lobe

A

Sound, language processing, memory consolidation

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19
Q

Occipital lobe

A

Primary visual cortex

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20
Q

Hippocampus

A

Memory consolidation

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21
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Motor control

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22
Q

Limbic System

A

Emotion, motivation, memory; includes amygdala

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23
Q

Midbrain structures

A

Inferior and superior colliculus, substantial nigra; together with the medulla oblongata and pons referred to as brainstem

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24
Q

Inferior colliculus

A

Processes auditory signals, sends to thalamus

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25
Superior colliculus
Processes visual signals, controls eye movements
26
Substantia Nigra
Coordinates voluntary motor control (affected in Parkinsons disease)
27
Hindbrain structures
cerebellum, medulla oblongata and pons
28
Cerebellum
Coordination of voluntary movement
29
Medulla Oblongata
Controls autonomic functions (breathing, heart rate)
30
Pons
Relay station between different parts of the brain
31
Somatic vs Autonomic Nervous System
Somatic: controls voluntary movement, innervates skeletal muscles, directly manage conscious activities Autonomic: manages involuntary bodily functions; divided into sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric
32
Sympathetic Nervous System
Fight or flight Activated during acute stress Accelerates heart rate and respiration Shifts blood flow to skeletal muscles Dilates pupils Epinephrine and norepinephrine
33
Parasympathetic nervous system
Rest and digest Decreases heart rate and respiration Normalizes bodily functions (digestive_ Constricts pupils
34
Enteric nervous system
Semi-autonomous Responsible for regulating digestive functions
35
Preganglionic neurons
From CNS to ganglion Sympathetic: short, preganglionic fibers, synapse in the sympathetic trunk Parasympathetic: long preganglionic fibers, synapse near/on the target organ
36
Postganglionic neurons
From ganglion to target organ
37
Acetylcholine
Primary neurotransmitter for parasympathetic responses and preganglionic sympathetic responses; released at neuromuscular junction, intitates muscle contraction
38
Norepinephrine
Primary neurotransmitter for postganglionic sympathetic responses
39
Somatosensation (touch) processing
Processed in the partial lobe at the primary somatosensory lateral cortex, specifically the post central gyrus
40
Vision processing
Initial processing in the geniculate body of the thalamus and superior colliculus; final processing in the occipital lobe at the primary visual cortex
41
Hearing (auditory) processing
Pathway through the thalamus (medial geniculate body) to the inferior colliculus and the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe
42
Taste processing
Pathway to the thalamus, then the cortex
43
Smell processing
Direct pathway to the olfactory cortex, bypassing the thalamus
44
Premotor cortex
Initiates the planning of motor control
45
Primary motor cortex
Executes movement, located in the frontal lobe on the precentral gyrus
46
The central sulcus
Separates the frontal and parietal lobes, dividing motor and sensory processing areas
47
Cerebellum and basal ganglia in terms of motor function
Coordinate muscle groups for unified movement
48
Essential NT for motor coordination
Dopamine
49
Glutamate
Primary excitatory NT, induces depolarization and action potentialsGABA
50
GABA
Primary inhibitory NT, reduces likelihood of neuron firing
51
Dendrites
Receives signals from other neurons or sensory receptors
52
Soma (cell body)
Contains nucleus and cellular organelles
53
Axon
Long cable like structure that transmits electrical signals
54
Axon hillock
Junction bt the soma and axon; critical for initiating action potentials
55
Axon terminals
End of the axon where NT are released
56
Astrocytes
CNS Transport nutrients, form BBB, maintain a constant glucose supply
57
Satellite cells
PNS Provide supportive functions similar to astrocytes
58
Microglia
CNS Act as immune cells, clear waste and debris and prune unnecessary neurons
59
Oligodendrocytes
CNS Produce myelin to insulate axons, speeding up signal transmission via saltatory conduction
60
Schwann Cells
PNS Produce myelin
61
Ependymal cells
CNS Produce and circulate CSF which cousins and nourishes CNS

Biology MCAT (2 decks)

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