Organisation of the Nervous System

Question 1

what does the central nervous system consist of?

Answer 1

brain and spinal cord

Question 2

what does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

Answer 2

sensory and motor systems (voluntary & automatic)

Question 3

what are the ridges between fissures of the cortex called?

Answer 3

gyri

Question 4

describe the embryonic development of the brain

Answer 4

neural tube (1-2 weeks)
primary brain (3-4 weeks)
secondary brain (6-8 weeks)
adult brain structure; telencephalon = cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, diencephalon = thalamus, hypothalamus and retina, mesencephalon = midbrain, metencephalon = pons and cerebellum, my encephalon = medulla oblongata

Question 5

what are cranial nerves?

Answer 5

there are 12 pairs of nerves at the base of the brain which pass through holes in the cranium

Question 6

comparative brain structures

Answer 6

adult brain weight = 1.4kg
rat brain weight = 2g

Question 7

describe cortical organisation

Answer 7

the cerebral cortex is divided into 2 hemispheres, left and right - the 2 hemispheres are connected via the corpus callosum. in each hemisphere there are 4 lobes: frontal, partial, occipital and temporal

Question 8

what are the deep separating unfolds on the cortex called?

Answer 8

sulci

Question 9

what is the role of the frontal lobe?

Answer 9

controls aspects of higher cognitive function; planning, calculation, reasoning, mood and personality

Question 10

what is the role of the temporal lobe?

Answer 10

auditory and gustatory sensory cortices, learning and memory, recognition