Neurophys Basics Flashcards
What is the brainstem comprised of?
medulla, pons, midbrain
The brainstem is where ________ arise
CN 3-12
Medulla “inner region” of the brainstem
regulate breathing and blood pressure,
swallowing, coughing, and vomiting reflexes
Pons” bridge” of the brainstem
Balance, posture, breathing
Mid brain of the brain stem
Auditory and visual
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Coordination of movement
Planning & execution of mvmt
Posture, head and eye mvmts
Position - integrates info from spinal cord to cerebral cortex and inner ear (vestibular system)
What is the diencephalon “between brain”?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Grand central for sensory and motor info b/n cerebral cortex and spinal cord
What are cerebral hemispheres?
Cerebral cortex,
white matter tracts (all the axons)
3 deep nuclei (BG, Hipp, amyg)
What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
The cerebral cortex is compromised of _______ and ________ systems which provides info encoded neural maps.This ______ coding is preserved at each level of the nervous system. In the cerebral cortex as sensory and motor _________.
- Sensory, motor systems,
- topographic coding
- preserved homunculus
What does Cerebral spinal fluid bathe and what is it made by?
Brain/spinal cord is bathed in fluid
Made by choroid plexus in ventricles
500 mL/day- Drains into venous system
The blood brain barrier consists of
capillary endothelial cells and + basement membrane, + neuroglial membrane, + glial end feet (projections of astrocytes from the brain side of the barrier)
What are the two ways in which the BBB differs from other barriers in tissues?
- The junctions between endothelial cells in the brain are so “tight” that few substances can crossbetweenthe cells.
- Only a few substances can passthroughthe endothelial cells: Lipid-soluble substances (e.g., oxygen and carbon dioxide) can cross the blood-brain barrier, but water-soluble substances are excluded.
T/F is there a lymphatic system in the brain?
True
What are the meninges?
Several connective tissue sheaths
1. pia mater- attached to the brain
2. subarachnoid- between arachnoid and pia- filled with CSF.
3. arachnoid
4. dura mater- thickest, most durable attached to inner surface of skull
Arachnoid and pia are continuous
What is the most caudal portion of the CNS?
Spinal cord
What are the two pathways of the spinal cord?
- Ascending pathway brings sensory info -> brain
- Descending motor commands from brain
What does the spinal cord communicate with the PNS through?
31 pairs of spinal nerves containing
sensory (Afferent) and Motor (Efferent) nerves.
Where is the spinal cord located?
Base of skull to 1st lumbar vertebra in adults
Why does cervical and lumbar have more gray matter than the thoracic?
they have a lot more to take of so they have more gray matter
Dorsal root ganglion is responsible for ______
sensory
Ventral root ganglion is responsible for__________
motor
The spinal cord is divided into segments each segments has a b/l pair of bundled nerve fibers called ____________. The pair= __________ roots and __________ roots accompanied by blood vessels.
- roots
- ventral, dorsal
Afferent = ________ and Efferent =__________
arrive, exit
What are reflexes?
Response between a stimuli and an elicited motor reaction
Reflexes are only between _________, _________, ____ “The reflex Arch”
afferent (sensory) nerve
CNS interneuron,
an efferent (motor) nerve
There are 3 types of reflexes differing in their complexities. Which one is the simplest reflex?
Stretch(myotatic)reflex is simplest of all- ex: knee-jerk
What is a plexus and what are the 4 plexuses (PNS)?
(branching network) of intersecting nerves. A nerve plexus is composed of afferent and efferent fibers that arise from the merging of the anterior rami of spinal nerves and blood vessels.
Cervical, brachial, lumbar and sacral