Structure of the Nervous System

Question 1

What are the neuraxis terms in reference to the spinal cord?

Answer 1

Dorsal = top
Ventral = bottom
Anterior = front (rostral)
Posterior = back (caudal)
Medial = in the middle
Lateral = left and right (to the outside)

Question 2

What are the divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 2

Central nervous system = brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system = everything outside of brain and spinal cord

Question 3

What are the meninges and where are they?

Answer 3

Dura mater = next to the skull
Arachnoid membrane = in between dura mater and pia mater
Pia mater = next to the cerebral cortex

Question 4

What are nerves, tracts, nucleus, and ganglion?

Answer 4

Nerve: bundle of AXONS OUTSIDE of CNS
Tract: bundle of AXONS INSIDE the CNS
Nucleus: bundle of CELL BODIES INSIDE the CNS
Ganglion: bundle of CELL BODIES OUTSIDE of CNS

Question 5

What are the cerebral ventricles, where are they, and what is their function?

Answer 5

Cerebral ventricles are hollow chambers in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF nourishes and cushions the brain and removes waste products from the brain. CSF is made in the choroid plexuses (capillary-rich tissue that protrudes into each ventricle). CSF circulates through the ventricles, travels to the subarachnoid space, through the central nervous system, into the arachnoid granulations at the top of your head and then returns to the blood stream.
There are 4 ventricles; 2 lateral, 3rd and 4th ventricles are connected by the cerebral aqueduct.

Question 6

What is the spinal cord? Describe the parts of the spinal cord (vertebrae and nerves).

Answer 6

The spinal cord is a long nervous tissue structure that extends from the base of the brainstem all the way down the back. It is protected by individual vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) and fused vertebrae (sacral and coccygeal)