Section 11.2 - The Central Nervous System Flashcards
Grey Matter
Unmyelinated axons, contains mostly cell bodies, dendrites. Found around outside of the brain, and in the inside of spinal cord.
- Can’t regenerate.
White Matter
Contains myelinated axons. Forms inner area of some of the brain, and the outer area of the spinal cord.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Protects the spinal cord and the brain
- transports hormones, white blood cells, and nutrients across the blood-brain barrier.
- shock absorber for the brain
Regions of the brain
The hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain.
Meninges
Three layers of tough, elastic tissue within the skull and spinal column,
Enclose the brain and spinal cord.
What does the hindbrain include?
Cerebellum, medulla oblongata, pons.
Where is the Midbrain located?
- found above pons in the brain stem
Cerebellum
- walnut shaped structure
- coordinates limb movements, posture, and balance.
Specifically:
- involved in unconscious coordination of posture, reflexes, and body movements.
- voluntary motor skills.
- receives info from preprioreceptors
Medulla oblongata
- sits at base of brainstem, connects brain with spinal cord.
- controls basic body functions.
Specifically:
automatic, involuntary responses, such breathing, heart rate, digestion, constriction/dilation of blood vessels, swallowing, coughing, etc
Pons
- found above and in front of the medulla oblongata
- serves as a relay centre for information movies between the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the medulla.
Function of midbrain
Relays visual and auditory info between areas of hindbrain and forebrain.
Eye movement
Control of skeletal muscles
What does the Forebrain include?
Thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebrum
Thalamus
Sits at base of the forebrain.
- directs incoming sensory information
Hypothalamus
- lies below thalamus
- regulates body’s internal environment (maintain homeostasis) and aspects of behaviour.
Brain
Made up of the Cerebrum, the Cerebellum, and the Brain Stem.
Cerebral Cortex
- the surface of the cerebrum.
- Outer gray matter layer. Surrounds the inner layer of white matter.
Wernicke’s Area
- in temporal lobe
- comprehension of speech
Broca’S Area
- in frontal lobe
- coordinates muscles for speaking and translates thoughts into speech.
What is the CNS composed of?
- The brain and the spinal cord
What does the CNS do?
It coordinates information related to it by the PNS, and responds with outgoing information.
What is the spinal cord?
It’s a tube of nerves that runs through the backbone.
- it runs down the back from brain to hip area, and protected by backbone.
What does the spinal cord do?
Provides communication between the brain and the PNS.
Where is the midbrain found?
Above the pons in the brainstem.
Cerebrum
Largest part of brain.
- divided into right and left cerebral hemispheres
- interprets and controls response to sensory information
Corpus Callosum
- The hemispheres are linked by white matter called corpus callosum.
- communication between hemispheres
Blood-brain Barrier
The separation of blood and the CNS.
- protects the brain and supplies brain with oxygen.
Right Hemisphere
- non-verbal, spatial tasks.
- facial recognition
- artistic abilities
Left hemisphere
- writing, speaking
- LANGUAGE
- logic, math skills.
Occipital Lobe
Vision
- Receives and analyzes visual information.
- memories of visual stimuli
Temporal Lobe
Auditory Reception, hearing
- understanding speech
- visual and verbal memories
- hearing sounds, pitch, and frequency
- contains Wernicke’s area.
Parietal Lobes
Taste, touch
- Receive and process sensory information from the skin.
- somatosensory: touch, pain, temperature, pressure.
- spatial awareness
- memory of somatic sensation
Frontal Lobes
Largest lobe, located at front of brain.
- comprehension, speaking
- mental and physical actions
- voluntary muscle movement: speaking, writing
- integrate information from other lines
- critical thinking, reasoning , memory; personality, behaviour.
- contains Broca’s area.
A person kicks a soccer ball with their left leg. What part of the brain is this movement initiated in?
Initiated in right frontal lobe.
- brain controls muscles on the opposite side of the body.
Motor Cortex/Primary Motor Area Location?
Located at the back of the frontal lobe
Motor Cortex/Primary Motor Area FUNCTION?
- Initiates voluntary movement
Somatosensory Cortex Location?
Located at the front of the parietal lobe.
Somatosensory Cortex FUNCTION
- somatic sensation
- sensory information goes to opposite hemisphere.
What is the brain stem composed of?
The midbrain, the pons, the medulla oblongata.
