Structure and function of the human nervous system- Part 1

Question 1

Rostral

Answer 1

anterior- ‘toward the beak’

Question 2

Caudal

Answer 2

posterior- ‘toward the tail’

Question 3

Dorsal

Answer 3

superior- ‘toward the back’

Question 4

Ventral

Answer 4

inferior- ‘toward the belly’

Question 5

Lateral

Answer 5

toward the side

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

toward the midline

Question 7

Ipsilateral

Answer 7

structures on the same side of the body (in Latin ‘ipse’ means same)

Question 8

Contralateral

Answer 8

structures on the opposite side of the body (in Latin ‘contra’ means against)

Question 9

Central Nervous System

Answer 9

includes the brain and spinal cord

Question 10

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 10

includes the cranial nerves, spinal nerves and peripheral ganglia

Question 11

PNS the somatic system

Answer 11

connects the CNS to voluntary muscles

Question 12

PNS autonomic nervous system

Answer 12

connects the CNS to non-voluntray muscles and glands

Question 13

Sympathetic system

Answer 13

arousing; prepares the body for activity and therefore expends energy

Question 14

Parasympathetic system

Answer 14

calming; prepares the body for restoration of energy

Question 15

The meninges

Answer 15

Three layered sheath surrounding the brain and spinal cord

1. Dura mater (‘tough mother’)- the thick outer layer which is very smooth
2. Arachnoid mater (‘spider like mother’)- the middle layer, which has a weblike appearance due to the protrusions called arachnoid trabeculae, and is soft and spongy
3. Pia mater (‘pious mater’)- delicate inner layer, which follows every fold of brain tissue

Question 16

subarachnoid space

Answer 16

between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater is the subarachnoid space, which holds the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord, and which contains the main arteries that cover the surface of the brain and spinal cord

Question 17

cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 17

1. protects the brain
2. reduces weight and shock
3. flows through the ventricles
4. the choroid plexus is constantly in production of this fluid

Question 18

cerebrospinal fluid pathway

Answer 18

1. CSF is produced by the choroid plexus located in the lateral ventricles
2. From the lateral ventricles CSF flows down to the third ventricle then through the cerebral aqueduct to the fourth ventricle
3. exits via a set of openings in the subarachnoid space, before being reabsorbed back into the bloodstream via the arachnoid villae

Question 19

Development of the CNS

Answer 19

Forebrain- develops into the two lateral ventricles and the third ventricle
Midbrain- narrows to form the cerebral aqueduct
Hindbrain- becomes the fourth ventricle

Question 20

neural migration

Answer 20

1. founder cells in the ventricular zone of the neural tube give rise to cells of the CNS
2. radial glia guide neurons during development
3. cortical development ceases with apoptosis

Question 21

Primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 21

a vertical strip of cortex located immediately prosterior to the central sulcus, called the post central gyrus. It receives sensory information from the skin (temperature, touch and pain). Different regions of the skin surface are represented by different areas along the strip of cortex, forming a somatotopic map

Question 22

Primary visual cortex

Answer 22

an area of cortex that occupies the medial and lateral parts of the occipital cortex at the back of the brain. It receives sensory information from the retina (the photosensitive layer at the back of the eye). Different regions of the retina are represented by different areas within the primary visual cortex, forming a retinotopic map

Question 23

Primary auditory cortex

Answer 23

an area of cortex that occupies the superior part of the temporal lobe. It receives sensory information from the cochlea. Sounds of different frequencies (e.g. low versus high tones) are represented by different areas within the primary auditory cortex, forming a tonotopic map

Question 24

Primary motor cortex

Answer 24

a vertical strip fo cortex located immediately anterior to the central sulcus, called the pre central gyrus. Different parts of the primary motor cortex sends signals that control different groups of voluntary muscles (e.g. hands, feet, lips). Like the primary sensory cortices, the primary motor cortex controls muscles on the opposite (contralateral) side of the body