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Week 8 > structure and function of the CNS > Flashcards

structure and function of the CNS Flashcards

1
Q

composition of CNS

A

brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

function of CNS

A

receives and integrates info from the rest of the body; coordinates activity of body

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3
Q

composition of PNS

A

cranial and spinal nerves
(optic nerve = part of the brain)

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4
Q

longitudinal axis of the brain

A

rostral comes out above eyebrows and caudal just above most posterior portion of the head
i.e. not perpendicular

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5
Q

inferior caudal axis

A

down brainstem
splits the neck/ head into dorsal and ventral

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6
Q

features of grey matter

A

more cell bodies, dendrites, axon terminals; glial cells (e.g. astrocytes); blood vessels

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7
Q

features of white matter

A

more axons (myelinated), glial ells (oligodendrocytes); blood vessels

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8
Q

location of limbic lobe/system

A

deep to cerebrum

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9
Q

function of prefrontal cortex

A

high level functions, personality

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10
Q

function of primary motor cortex

A

voluntary movement

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11
Q

what is the central sulcus

A

midline between the ears

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12
Q

function of primary somatosensory cortex

A

sensation

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13
Q

location of visual cortex

A

occipital lobe

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14
Q

function of temporal lobe

A

hearing (and others)

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15
Q

locations of language/ speech/ hearing

A

Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area

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16
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

can comprehend speech but their speech is impaired (production)

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17
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

fluent speech but no meaning; impaired speech comprehension

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18
Q

composition of limbic system

A

amygdala + hippocampus

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19
Q

function of amygdala

A

emotions and emotional behaviour

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20
Q

function of hippocampus

A

learning and memory

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21
Q

function of basal ganglia

A

control of movement

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22
Q

location of basal ganglia

A

midbrain, coiled structure

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23
Q

function of hypothalamus

A

temperature regulation + other homeostasis

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24
Q

function of thalamus

A

sensory relay centre between spinal cord and cerebral cortex

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25
Q

function of white matter tracts

A

areas of white matter
communication between brain parts
e.g. the corpus collosum

26
Q

split brain

A

cut the corpus collosum in people with severe epilepsy to prevent ‘electrical storm’ that would lead to an epileptic fit
can’t verbally describe (L hemisphere) image shown in LVF (sensed in R hemisphere)

27
Q

regions of the spinal cord

A

cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral
(doesn’t align with vertebral regions)

28
Q

how do spinal nerves exit the spinal cord

A

between vertebrae to PNS

29
Q

spinal nerves C3,4,5

A

contribute to diaphragm movement and so are essential for breathing

30
Q

spinal nerves L3-S1

A

knee and foot movement

31
Q

how are vertebrae names

A

after the spinal nerves that are emerging from them, not where the areas are

32
Q

which spinal nerves are sympathetic tone

A

T1-12

33
Q

spinal cord tracts definition

A

bundles of nerve fibres that run up and down the spinal cord (rostral/ caudal)
- ascending/ descending
- automatic, sensory, motor

34
Q

what is the spinothalamic tract

A

ascending, sensory
pain and temperature

35
Q

what is the corticospinal tract

A

descending, motor
voluntary movement

36
Q

decussate

A

cross over

37
Q

ipsilateral

A

same side

38
Q

contralateral

A

opposite side

39
Q

meninges composition

A

dura mater (‘hard/tough’)
arachnoid mater (‘spider’)
pia mater (‘gentle’)

40
Q

dura mater structure

A

fibrous CT
has 2 layers (they separate to form venous sinuses)

41
Q

arachnoid mater structure

A

membrane

42
Q

pia mater structure

A

membrane

43
Q

epidural (extradural) POTENTIAL space

A

not present in all people (in healthy people with no pathology, no space)
(middle) meningeal arteries supply dura; rupture -> haematoma

44
Q

subdural POTENTIAL space

A

not present in all people (in healthy people with no pathology, no space)
bridging veins connecting to venous sinuses; rupture -> haematoma

45
Q

subarachnoid space

A

relatively large
CSF
cerebral arteries/ veins
arachnoid trabeculae (connective)

46
Q

differences between meninges in brain and in spinal cord

A

dura mater has only 1 layer
epidural space contains fat, venous plexus

47
Q

meningitis general info

A

inflammation of pia mater + arachnoid mater
- subarachnoid space
viral or bacterial
brain damage
- cerebral oedema
- raised intracranial pressure can cause herniation (movement of brain tissue due to pressure/ inflammation)

48
Q

lumbar puncture

A

sample of CSF
insert needle between the L4+5 vertebrae (spinal cord not intact at this level) - pre-spinal nerves
not puncturing the cord
looking for: increased WBCs in CSF (+/- bacteria)

49
Q

what is the ventricular system

A

a series of spaces in the brain, subarachnoid space and meninges (both in the brain and spinal cord_; full of CSF
allows flow of CSF

50
Q

CSF function

A

cushions brain against impact/ movement and own weight (floating)
provides stable chemical environment for brain
nutrient and waste exchange between nervous tissue and blood

51
Q

effect of aging on CSF

A

reduced CSF turnover, metabolic waste build-up may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases

52
Q

CSF synthesis

A

most produced by choroid plexus in lateral and 4th ventricles

53
Q

reabsorption of CSF

A

into venous system via arachnoid granulations

54
Q

what is circulation of CSF driven by

A

mainly new production

55
Q

what is hydrocephalus

A

excess CSF/ flow obstruction

56
Q

CSF composition

A

clear, colourless liquid
similar to plasma but much lower protein; different electrolyte levels
very few cells
CSF levels of ions are optomise3d for transmission of impulses across an axon

57
Q

what is the blood brain barrier

A

not one structure - series of features that prevent harmful substances getting into brain and spinal cord from blood

58
Q

how do capillaries in nervous tissue contribute to the blood brain barrier

A

tight junctions between endothelial cells restrict movement
thick continuous BM
astrocyte’s processes cover vessel (blocks diffusion)

59
Q

how do ependymocyte cells line ventricles and spinal cord

A

tight junctions restrict movement

60
Q

what areas of BBB have higher permeability (CVOs)

A

sensory functions e.g. area postrema (medulla) - toxin detection immediately causes the vomiting reflex
secretory functions e.g. pituitary gland (secretes hormones)

61
Q

function of BBB

A

keeps out toxins, pathogens, etc..
stops fluctuation of ions, nutrient, metabolite concentrations in CNS (e.g. increased K+ levels would affect nerve impulse)
permeable to substances that can diffuse across (water, small lipophilic molecules, gases)
active transport for specific substances e.g. glucose, amino acids
many drugs cannot cross BBB

Week 8 (5 decks)

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