Neuro 7 Flashcards
gray matter
consists of unmyelinated somas, dendrites and axons
white matter
mainly myelinated axons
meninges
cerebral spinal fluid
spinal cord
major pathway for info flow between brain and skin, joints and muscles
spinal cord divided into what four regions
cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral
Each segment of the four spinal cord regions give rise to bilateral pair of nerves which then split into what two roots?
ventral and dorsal
ventral root
carries efferent info to muscle and glands
dorsal root
carries afferent info to CNS
gram matter consists of…
sensory and motor nuclei
nuclei
clusters of cell bodies in CNS
ganglia
clusters of cell bodies in PNS
tracts
bundles of neurons in CNS
where are tracts found
white matter in spinal cord
ascending tracts
carry sensory info to brain
descending tracts
carry commands to motor neurons
spinal reflex
initiates a response without input from brain
6 major divisions on the brain
cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, medulla, midbrain, pons
oldest and most primitive region of the brain
brainstem
Brain contains _______
11 of 12 cranial nerves
brainstem involved in…
arousal and sleep, muscle tone and stretch reflexes, breathing, blood pressure regulation and modulation of pain
nuclei in medulla controls…
many involuntary functioning including cardio, respiratory, and vomiting center, deglutition, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping
pons
contain nuclear and tracts and relays info between cerebellum and cerebrum; assists in breathing
midbrain
junction between lower brain stem and diencephalon; primary function is eye movement and relays auditory and visual reflexes and body’s response to them (BOO!)
reticular formation
small clusters of neuronal cells bodies interspersed among tracts
reticular formation function
important in consciousness, arousal, attention, alertness, regulates muscle tone and assists in vital functions
reticular activating system
RAS; projections to cerebral cortex
cerebellum is the…
second largest brain structure
cerebellum is in…
two cerebellar hemispheres
cerebellum function
processes sensory info and coordinates execution of movement; regulates posture and movement
diencephalon lies between
brain stem and cerebrum
two primary structures of the diencephalon
thalamus and hypothalamus
two endocrine structures of the diencephalon
pineal and pituitary gland
thalamus
receives sensory info from cerebellum and projects to cerebrum for processing
pineal gland
cyclically releases melatonin
hypothalamus
center for homeostasis
output of hypothalamus is through…
pituitary
posterior pituitary
neural tissue
anterior pituitary
endocrine tissue