Structure of the Nervous system (neuro) Flashcards

1
Q

Human nervous system

A
  • the human nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
  • CNS is comprised of brain and spinal cord
  • PNS is made up of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Human brain

A
  • the brain is the most complex organ in the human body
  • controls basic fundamental life processes such as breathing, organ function and movement
  • controls more complex processes such as thought, behaviour and emotion, and creating memories
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Major brain regions

A

1) Forebrain: telencephalon (or cerebrum) and diencephalon
2) Brainstem: midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
3) Cerebellum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Axes of the brain

A
  • Anterior-posterior: anterior (front), posterior (behind)
  • Rostral-caudal: rostral (nose), caudal (tail)
  • Dorsal-ventral: dorsal (top), ventral (bottom)
  • Superior-inferior|: superior (above), inferior (below)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Planes of the brain

A
  • Coronal: divide the brain into a front (anterior) and a back (posterior) section
  • Horizontal: divide the brain into an upper (superior) and lower (inferior) section
  • Sagittal: divide the brain into two hemispheres, further characterised as midsagittal (midline) or parasagittal (more lateral)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Hippocampus

A
  • the hippocampus is a region of the cerebral cortex embedded deep within the temporal lone
  • function: learning, memory formation and retrieval, regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
  • dysfunction: virus can cause damage to hippocampus such as anterograde amnesia (unable to create new memories) and retrograde amnesia (generally unable to recall past memories)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Coronal sections

A
  • coronal sections can reveal important regions with the forebrain, including various sub-cortical structures (eg the hippocampus)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Horizontal sections

A
  • horizontal sections can reveal important regions with the forebrain, including various sub-cortical structures (eg the hippocampus)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sagittal sections

A
  • sagittal sections can reveal important regions with the forebrain, including various sub-cortical structures (eg the hippocampus)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Cranial nerves

A
  • cranial nerves describe the twelve (l-Xll) pairs of nerves arising from the brainstem that perform a diverse range of functions:
    l. Olfactory
    ll. Opric
    lll. Oculomotor
    lV. Trochlear
    V. Trigeminal
    Vl. Abducens
    Vll. Facial
    Vlll. Auditory-vestibular (verstibulocochlear)
    IX. Glossopharyngeal
    X. Vagus
    Xl. Spinal accessory
    Xll. Hypoglossal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cranial nerves (l-ll)

A

Cranial nerve l (Olfactory):

  • special sensory - sensation of smell
  • olfactory receptor cells to olfactory bulb
  • leads to frontal cortex (conscious perception of smell), hypothalamus amygdala (motivational and emotional aspects of smell) and hippocampus (odour memory)

Cranial nerve ll (Optic):

  • special sensory - sensation of vision
  • retinal ganglion cells to lateral geniculate nucleus (thalamus) to visual cortex (occipital lobe)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Cranial nerves (lll- lV)

A

Cranial nerve lll (Oculomotor):

  • somatic motor - eye and eyelid movement
  • visceral (autonomic) motor - parasympathetic control of pupil size

Cranial nerve lV (Trochlear):
- somatic motor - eye movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Cranial nerves (V-Vl)

A

Cranial nerve V (Trigeminal):

  • somatic sensory - sensation of touch to the face
  • somatic motor - movement of muscles of mastication (chewing)

Cranial nerve Vl (Abducens):
- somatic motor - eye movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Cranial nerves (Vll-Vlll)

A

Cranial nerve Vll (facial):

  • somatic sensory - movement of muscles of facial expressions
  • special sensory - sensation of taste in anterior tongue

Cranial nerve Vlll (Vestibulocochlear):

  • auditory-vestibular (vestibulocochlear) nerve
  • special sensory - hearing and balance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Cranial nerves (lX-X)

A

Cranial nerve lX (glossopharyngeal):

  • special sensory - sensation of taste in posterior tongue
  • visceral sensory - detection of blood pressure changes in aorta
  • somatic motor - movement of muscles in throat
  • visceral motor - parasympathetic control of salivary glands

Cranial nerve X (vagus):

  • visceral sensory - sensation of pain associated with viscera (internal organs)
  • somatic motor - movement of muscles in throat
  • visceral motor - parasympathetic control of heart, lungs and abdominal organs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Cranial nerves (Xl-Xll)

A

Cranial nerve Xl (spinal accessory):
- somatic motor - movement of muscles in throat and neck

Cranial nerve Xll (hypoglossal):
- somatic motor - movement of tongue (eg swallowing and speech)

17
Q

Protection and support of the brain

A
  • meninges
  • ventricular system
  • vasculature sustem
18
Q

The Meninges

A
  • the meninges describe the 3 membranous layers that cover the brain (and spinal cord)
  • from superficial to deep, it comprises of: dura mater, arachnoid mater and Pia mater
  • function: primary function is in protection of brain and spinal cord
  • passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - ventricular system
  • support of cerebral and spinal blood vessels - vasculature system
19
Q

Ventricular system of the brain

A
  • ventricular system comprises of a series of interconnected, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled spaces that lie at the core of forebrain and brain stem
  • comprises of lateral ventricles, third ventricle and fourth ventricle
  • choroid plexus is responsible for producing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that fills these ventricular spaces
  • function: protection of brain (eg cushion of physical shocks)
  • transport (eg nutrients, waste products)
  • other functions include regulation of buoyancy
20
Q

Vasculature of the brain

A
  • two pairs of arteries supply blood to the brain: the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries
  • anterior circulation is derived from the internal carotid arteries - supplies the forebrain (cerebrum and diencephalon)
  • posterior circulation is derived from the vertebral arteries -supplies the brainstem, cerebellum and upper
    1) Verterbral arteries:
  • converge near base of pons to form the basilar artery
  • basilar artery splits into right and left superior cerebellar arteries and the posterior cerebral arteries at level of midbrain
  • posterior cerebral arteries send branches - posterior communicating arteries - that connect to internal carotid arteries
    2) Internal carotid arteries:
  • branch to form middle cerebral arteries and anterior cerebral arteries
  • anterior cerebral arteries are connected by the anterior communicating artery
  • ring of connected arteries from circle of Willis at base of brain
    functions:
  • delivery of O2
  • removal of CO2
  • transport (eg nutrients, waste products)