Nervous System Unit Lesson 3: Central Nervous System

Question 1

what is the CNS composed of

Answer 1

the brain and the spinal cord

Question 2

what is the PNS composed of

Answer 2

the nerves that exist outside of the CNS

Question 3

where is sensory information received(which leads to the initiation of motor control)

Answer 3

in the central nervous system

Question 4

what are the brain and spinal cord protected by

Answer 4

meninges and bone

Question 5

what are meninges

Answer 5

protective membrane that wraps both components of the CNS

Question 6

what is the function of cerebrospinal fluid and where is it located

Answer 6

located in spaces between the meninges and nervous structures, it acts as a protective cushioning for the CNS

Question 7

what are ventricles and where are they located

Answer 7

located in the brain, ventricles are hollow, interconnecting cavities

Question 8

what is the function of ventricles

Answer 8

they produce and act as a reservoir for cerebrospinal fluid(extra fluid is drained into the cardiovascular system)

Question 9

what is the spinal cord

Answer 9

the collection of nervous tissue that runs between the vertebra that compose the spine

Question 10

where is the central canal in the spine and what is it responsible for

Answer 10

the central canal is located at the center of the spinal cord and it is responsible for holding cerebrospinal fluid

Question 11

what is the main purpose of the spinal cord

Answer 11

it is to provide a means of communication between the brain and the peripheral nerves. it acts as an intermediary that passes information between the brain and the effector/sensory nerves

Question 12

how can the human brain be broken down into parts

Answer 12

it can be broken down into the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum and the brainstem

Question 13

what is the cerebrum and what is its function

Answer 13

the cerebrum is the largest portion of the brain. its most important ability is to perform conscious thought

Question 14

how can the cerebrum be divided

Answer 14

it can be divided into cerebral hemispheres

Question 15

what is the corpus callosum

Answer 15

a deep longitudinal fissure that separates the two cerebral hemispheres which allows for communication between the two

Question 16

what is the cerebral cortex

Answer 16

the wrinkled outer region of the cerebrum

Question 17

what are the creases in the nervous tissue called

Answer 17

sulci

Question 18

what are the bumps in the nervous tissue called

Answer 18

gyri

Question 19

what is the advantage of the folds in the nervous tissue

Answer 19

increases surface area to greater pack in neurons

Question 20

how can the 2 major sulci along the cerebrum be divided into

Answer 20

4 lobes– frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe

Question 21

what is the cortex responsible for

Answer 21

primary motor and sensory areas, association areas, and processing centres

Question 22

what are association areas and what is it responsible for

Answer 22

areas of the cortex where memories are stored and used in recognition

Question 23

what are processing centres and what is it responsible for

Answer 23

areas of the cortex where higher-level analytical functions are carried out such as reasoning and planning

Question 24

what is white matter in the brain responsible for

Answer 24

movement of signals across and around the brain

Question 25

what are basal nuclei

Answer 25

masses of grey matter responsible for integrating/regulating motor commands

Question 26

what is the diencephalon

Answer 26

the region containing the hypothalamus and the thalamus

Question 27

what is the hypothalamus and what is its function

Answer 27

an integrating centre that helps maintain homeostasis. it serves as a link between the endocrine and nervous system as it controls the pituitary gland

Question 28

what is the function of the thalamus

Answer 28

to receive all sensory input except for smell

Question 29

how does information arrive to the thalamus

Answer 29

information arrives via cranial nerves and tracts from the spinal cord

Question 30

what does the thalamus do with the received information

Answer 30

the thalamus takes the information and sends it to the relevant part of the brain (if sent at all)

Question 31

what is the pineal gland and what is it responsible for

Answer 31

the last part of the diencephalon which is responsible for the secretion of the hormone melatonin

Question 32

what is the cerebellum

Answer 32

the cauliflower-shaped region of brain that lies underneath the occipital love at the posterior end of the skull

Question 33

what is the function of the cerebellum

Answer 33

it functions to coordinate the body– it receives sensory input from joints and muscles as well as motor output from the cortex about where portions of the body should be located

Question 34

describe the structure of the brainstem

Answer 34

it is composed of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata

Question 35

what is the function of the midbrain

Answer 35

works as a relay station between the cerebrum and spinal cord or cerebellum

Question 36

describe the pons and its function

Answer 36

contains axons that travel between the cerebellum and the rest of the CNS, works with medulla oblongata to control breathing

Question 37

what is the function of the medulla oblongata

Answer 37

it is responsible for regulating autonomous vital functions like heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, etc

Question 38

what important system does the brain stem contain

Answer 38

the reticular activating system (RAS) that is responsive to external stimuli

Question 39

describe the RAS

Answer 39

it is a collection of nuclei and fibres that extend the length of the brain stem

Question 40

what happens when a stimulus is received by the RAS

Answer 40

it might cause it to send a signal to the thalamus which may or may not relay the signal to the cerebrum