The Anatomy of the Central Nervous System

Question 1

What are the three main layers of meninges surrounding the central nervous system?

Answer 1

Dura matter, pia matter, and the arachnoid matter.

Question 2

What is the first layer of the Central Nervous System?

Answer 2

The dura matter which is thick and leathery. Between the skull and the dura, there is the epidural space which is full of fat to absorb shock from sudden blows to the head

Question 3

What is the second layer of the Central Nervous System?

Answer 3

The arachnoid membrane, which features long stringy components that look like spider webs. Between the dura and arachnoid layers, there is a very thin space called the subdural space

Question 4

What is the third layer of the Central Nervous System?

Answer 4

Below the arachnoid space is the subarachnoid space which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions and protects the brain.

Question 5

What is the innermost layer of the Central Nervous System?

Answer 5

The last layer is the pia mater, which is a thin layer that protects the brain matter from the cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space.

Question 6

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 6

Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Occipital Lobe

Question 7

What does the Frontal Lobe do?

Answer 7

The frontal lobe is located in the front of the brain (hence its name). Its responsible thinking, decision making, problem solving, reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language.

Question 8

What does the Parietal Lobe do?

Answer 8

Located just behind the frontal lobe, it is the region of the brain that processes the sense of touch, as well as temperature, pain, and body position. Also important for understanding where a person’s body is within a certain environment (like a classroom).

Question 9

What does the Temporal Lobe do?

Answer 9

2nd largest lobe. They sit behind the ears. They process auditory, speech, music, memory, and object recognition

Question 10

What does the Occipital Lobe do?

Answer 10

Located at the back of the cerebrum and works to process and analyze visual information coming in from the eyes.

Question 11

What is the limbic system?

Answer 11

The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses.

Question 12

What is the amygdala?

Answer 12

This is a small part of your brain. It’s a major processing center for your emotions. The primary job is to regulate emotions, such as fear, motivation, and aggression.

Question 13

What is the hippocampus?

Answer 13

It has a major role in learning and long term memory.

Question 14

What is the thalamus?

Answer 14

A relay station of all incoming motor (movement) and sensory information — hearing, taste, sight and touch (but not smell) — from your body to your brain.

Question 15

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 15

Its main function is to keep your body in a stable state called homeostasis.

Question 16

What is homeostasis?

Answer 16

A self-regulating process by which an organism can maintain internal stability while adjusting to changing external conditions.

Question 17

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 17

This is known for releasing important growth hormones.

Question 18

What is the pineal gland?

Answer 18

The pineal gland produces melatonin, a serotonin-derived hormone which modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles.

Question 19

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 19

The “basal ganglia” refers to a group of subcortical nuclei responsible primarily for motor control, as well as other roles such as motor learning, executive functions and behaviors, and emotions.

Question 20

Where and what is the brainstem?

Answer 20

The brainstem is located at the very bottom of the brain and is the stalk that connects the rest of your brain to the spinal cord.

Question 21

What are the three subdivisions of the brainstem?

Answer 21

There are three subdivisions of the brainstem: the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla.

Question 22

Where is and what does the midbrain do?

Answer 22

The topmost part. Helps control eye movements and the pupillary light reflex, integrate visual information from the eyes with auditory information from the inner ear.

Question 23

Where is and what does the pons do?

Answer 23

Middle portion. The pons contains nuclei for coordinating facial movements, chewing muscles, hearing, and balance.

Question 24

Where is and what does the medulla do?

Answer 24

The bottom-most part. The medulla contains nuclei dedicated to relaying touch sensations from the face, swallowing food, and vomiting, as well as regulating blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and other functions.

Question 25

Describe the location of the spinal cord in relation to the brain.

Answer 25

The spinal cord is located below the brainstem.

Question 26

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

Answer 26

The main function of the spinal cord is to conduct information between the brain and the body.

Question 27

What is the role of the white matter in the spinal cord?

Answer 27

The white matter in the spinal cord contains the axons of the pathways that transmit information.

Question 28

Explain the role of the grey matter in the spinal cord.

Answer 28

The grey matter in the spinal cord contains cell bodies that help relay sensory information and control spinal reflexes.

Question 29

What are some examples of information that the spinal cord transmits between the brain and the body?

Answer 29

The spinal cord transmits information regarding touch, pain, temperature, body position, and motor commands.

Question 30

What is the top section of the spinal cord called?

Answer 30

The top section of the spinal cord is called the cervical spinal cord.

Question 31

What body parts does the cervical spinal cord innervate?

Answer 31

The cervical spinal cord innervates the arms, neck, and shoulders.

Question 32

What is the function of the thoracic spinal cord?

Answer 32

The thoracic spinal cord carries information to and from the chest and torso.

Question 33

Which section of the spinal cord innervates the hips and fronts of the legs?

Answer 33

The lumbar spinal cord innervates the hips and fronts of the legs.

Question 34

What body parts does the sacral spinal cord innervate?

Answer 34

The sacral spinal cord innervates the buttocks, backs of the legs, bladder, and genitals.

Question 35

How are nerves connected to the spinal cord?

Answer 35

Nerves run between each vertebra and carry information to and from specific sections of the spinal cord.

Question 36

Why are the cervical and lumbar areas of the spinal cord enlarged?

Answer 36

The cervical and lumbar areas are enlarged to accommodate the increased amount of skin and muscle they target, as they carry information to and from the arms and legs.

Question 37

Describe the ventricular system.

Answer 37

The ventricular system is a series of open holes or cavities inside the central nervous system that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It includes the lateral ventricles, third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, and fourth ventricle.

Question 38

What is the function of the ventricular system?

Answer 38

The ventricular system serves to circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) throughout the central nervous system, providing buoyancy, protection, and waste removal for the brain.

Question 39

Define cerebral aqueduct.

Answer 39

The cerebral aqueduct is a narrow passage in the midbrain that connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle, allowing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricular system.

Question 40

What is the function of the choroid plexus?

Answer 40

The choroid plexus produces new cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Question 41

How does CSF help protect the brain?

Answer 41

CSF helps the brain float, preventing it from being pulled downward by gravity or resting on the floor of the skull.

Question 42

Describe the role of CSF in flushing out signaling chemicals in the brain.

Answer 42

CSF helps get rid of old signaling chemicals in the brain to prevent them from building up over time.

Question 43

What is the purpose of CSF in washing away toxins or infectious particles?

Answer 43

CSF helps wash away toxins or infectious particles in the central nervous system.