Nervous System Overview & CNS (1 more Q)

Question 1

Function of Corpus callosum?

Answer 1

• attaches L & R hemispheres of Brain! So they can communicate with each other

Question 2

Function of Frontal lobe

Answer 2

-Prefrontal cortex: Solves issues, planning, judging, memory, & social behavior
- Primary motor cortex: Motor output for movements that can be consciously controlled
- Broca’s Area of L Hemisphere: Has control over mechanical elements of speaking

Question 3

Function of Parietal lobe

Answer 3

• Primary somatosensory cortex: Manages sensory input from inner organs of the body’s main cavities, muscle, and skin

Question 4

Function of Temporal lobe

Answer 4

• Auditory cortex & association areas: Manages & stores sound input
• Olfactory cortex: Manages info about smell

Question 5

Function of Occipital lobe

Answer 5

• Visual cortex & association areas: Manages & stores visual input from the eyes

Question 6

Wernicke’s area (Location & Function)

Answer 6

• In Left Hemisphere junction of Occipital, Parietal, & Temporal lobe
• Manages written & auditory input that are related to language

Question 7

Function of Hippocampus

Answer 7

Helps with learning and memory
- Ex: Remembering people’s names

Question 8

Function of Amygdala

Answer 8

• Helps with emotional learning, behavior, & memory
  
  • Ex: Anger and aggression & fear
  • Ex: Provides emotional overtones (like or dislike)
• Imp for making memories & process of learning

Question 9

Function of Hypothalamus

Answer 9

• Affects behavior & emotions
  
  • Ex: anger and aggression, fear, feeding, sex drive and behavior, & goal-directed behavior (reward and punishment system

Question 10

Function of Thalamus

Answer 10

Transmission center where majority of sensory info passes through and goes to the Cerebrum

Question 11

Function of Cerebellum

Answer 11

Helps with motor learning/muscle memory & coordination of balance and movement
- Involuntary (Reflexive kind of learning)

Question 12

Function of Brain stem

Answer 12

Several imp functions of life like:

• breathing
• consciousness
• blood pressure
• heart rate
• sleep

a. Midbrain:
i. Cerebral peduncles: nerve tracts attaching Cerebrum with other parts for motor coordination (Ex: Red nucleus and Substantia nigra)
ii. Corpora quadrigemina (superior & inferior colliculi): Visual/auditory
reflexes centers

Question 13

What is Memory ?

Answer 13

• Stored & received info that can be recovered/ recalled in the future
• A collection of groups of neuron’s activities

Question 14

What does the left hemisphere of the brain generally specialize in? Right hemisphere?

Answer 14

• Left Hemisphere: Math, logic, Language
  
  • Gets input from & has control over Right side
• Right hemisphere: Spatial relations, Pattern/face recognition, Nonverbal thinking
  
  • Gets input from & has control over Left side

Question 15

What are the differences between the types of memory?

Answer 15

• Working memory: Short storage of specific information needed for a task immediately
  
  • Lasts only a few seconds to minutes
  • Frontal cortex is mostly involved;
    
    • Ex: Remembering phone
      number to type it into the phone
• Short-term memory: stored memory that lasts for minutes to days but vanishes quickly; Long term potentiation is included, which increases Synaptic transmission
  and hippocampus (Ex: Remembering factual info, while cramming for an exam)
• Long-term memory: Stored memory that’s more stable & lasts days to years;
  Achieved with active practice and rehearsal, bigger capacity

Question 16

What are the structural elements of the CNS ?

Answer 16

Spinal Cord & Brain
- Medulla oblongata
- Pons
- Midbrain
- Cerebral hemispheres
- Diencephalon

Question 17

What are the structural elements of the PNS ?

Answer 17

Nerves that transfer to & from the CNS
- Surrounds entire body, but is outside of Brain & Spinal cord

Question 18

What are the major parts of a Neuron and their function?

Answer 18

• Cell body: gets input; area for the majority of organelles (Ex: nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, etc); dendrites and axon are connected to the cell body; this is where graded potentials happen
• Dendrites: highly branched extensions that get input; graded potentials occur here
• Axon: long extension that carries electrical signals away from the cell body to the axon to a target cell; action potentials happen here
• Axon hillock: the part of the axon that’s close to the cell body where the action potential comes from
• Axon terminals: bulges at the end of the axon that frees neurotransmitters to interact with the target cell

Question 19

What are the Major Glial cells of PNS & their tasks?

Answer 19

• Satellite cells: Gives support to Neurons’ cell bodies inside of the Ganglia of the PNS
• Schwann cells: Wrap around a short section of a single axon, which makes a sheath around the axon. On certain axons, the these cells wrap around the axon several times, creating insulation called myelin, which increases the speed of conduction of the signal. If the axon of a peripheral neuron gets damaged, these cells make a tube to give a route to support with the regeneration (fixing) of the neuron.

Question 20

What are the Major Glial cells of CNS & their tasks?

Answer 20

• Oligodendrocytes: Cells with octopus-like appearance, that wrap around parts of many, as a way to make the myelination. This increases the speed of conduction in the CNS
• Microglia: resident immune cells that relocate through the CNS to absorb debris, waste, and pathogens
• Ependymal cells: Spinal Cord’s & Brain’s Line ventricles; Its Cilia supports by spreading cerebral spinal fluid
• Astrocytes: Helps with controlling the CNS’ neuron environment by getting rid of extra K+, collecting neurotransmitters, developing the blood brain barrier (tight junctions between endothelial cells of blood vessels to block/limit possibly dangerous substances from entering) and “nourishing” the CNS neurons by absorbing glucose and giving the glucose to the Neuron

Question 21

Apply the different components of a positive feedback system to a concrete example related to the Nervous System

Answer 21

Positive feedback:

Stimulus: Head of baby pushes against cervix

Sensor: Cervix

Afferent pathway (Sensory neurons): Nerve impulses from Cervix transferred to Brain

Integrating center: Brain stimulates pituitary gland to secrete oxytocin

Efferent pathway (Motor neuron): Oxytocin carried in bloodstream to uterus

Target/effector: Uterus

Response: Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and pushes baby towards cervix

Question 22

Apply the different components of a negative feedback system to a concrete example related to the Nervous System

Answer 22

Stimulus: Body temperature exceed 37 degrees C

Sensor: Nerve cells in skin & brain

Afferent pathway (Sensory neurons):

Integrating center: Temperature Regulatory center in Brain

Efferent pathway (Motor neuron):

Target/effector: Sweat glands throughout body

Response: More heat loss