Overview of the nervous system Flashcards
What nervous system are there in the body?
- Central nervous system
2. Peripheral nervous system which is broken down into the autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system
What does the CNS consist of?
- Brain
2. Spinal Cord
What are the axis and planes of the brain?
- Horizontal
- Frontal (Coronal)
- Sagittal
Longitudinal axis of the forebrain and longitudinal of the brainstem and spinal cord.
Dorsal and ventral
What is the ventricular system of the brain?
What are the 3 functions of the ventricular brain stem?
The ventricular system of the brain comprises of a series of interconnected fluid-filled spaces (cerebrospinal fluid) that lie at the core of the forebrain and brain stem.
- Protection
- Transport
- Chemical stability
What are the 3 functions of the vasculature of the brain and what are the 3 cerebral arteries?
What happens if there is damage to the brains blood supply?
Delivery of oxygen (O2)
Removal of carbon dioxide (CO2)
Transport (e.g. nutrients and waste products)
A, Central and Posterior
Stroke
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) refers to all parts of the nervous system other than the brain and spinal cord – comprises the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
What does the somatic nervous system provide and permit?
Provides innervation to skin, joints and skeletal muscle
Permits voluntary, coherent movement and locomotion
What does the ANS provide and permit?
Provides innervation to cardiovascular system, internal organs and smooth muscle
Controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion
What are the 3 major brain regions?
- Forebrain.
- Brainstem
- Cerebellum
What is the cerebrum and what lobes make up the cerebral cortex?
The cerebrum is the largest part of the forebrain – comprises the cerebral cortex and a number of subcortical structures.
Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
Decision making, attention, consciousness, emotions and voluntary movement.
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
Auditory processing, language and speech.
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
Processing sensory information and proprioception (i.e. equilibrium and balance of the body).
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Visual processing (e.g. colour, orientation and motion).
What is the function of the corpus callosome?
Connects right and left hemispheres, allowing information to be passed between them.
What is the function of the hippocampus
Memory formation and memory retrieval.
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
Comprised of the caudate, putamen and globus pallidus.
Initiation and maintenance of movement.
What is the Diencephalon?
The diencephalon is a division of the forebrain situated between the cerebrum and midbrain – comprises the thalamus and hypothalamus.
What is the function of the thalamus?
A large collection of nuclei with various functions.
Relay between sensory and motor systems and the cerebral cortex.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A smaller collection of nuclei with various functions.
Homeostatic, reproductive and other diverse functions (e.g. “fight-or-flight” response).
What is the brainstem?
The brainstem is the portion of the brain that lies between the diencephalon and the spinal cord – comprises the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.
What are the functions of the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata?
Eye movements, auditory and visual processing.
Relays motor information from cerebral hemispheres to the medulla, spinal cord and the cerebellum.
Cardiovascular (e.g. blood pressure) and respiratory homeostasis.
Reflexive actions including vomiting, swallowing, coughing and sneezing.
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
Prominent hindbrain structure –recognisable due to shape and location.
Producing precise and co-ordinated movement.
What are the functions of the spinal cord?
Transmits motor information (via motor neurons and tracts) from the brain to the body (skeletal muscles).
Receives sensory information from the body and transmits this to the brain.
