the brain Flashcards
what percentage of oxygen consumption does the brain need?
~20%
how long (without oxygen) before the brain suffers permanent damage?
4 minutes
other than oxygen what else does the brain need constantly?
glucose
what substance helps protect the brain?
the blood brain barrier
what does the blood-brain barrier allow into the brain?
O2
CO2
alcohol
anaesthetic agents
what does the blood-barrier do?
controls the entry of materials
what are the parts to the brain stem
medulla
oblongata
pons
midbrain
where is the medulla oblongata in the brain?
inferior/lower part of the brainstem
what is the medulla oblongata made up of?
white matter expending between spinal cord & other parts of the brain
where is the brain stem at?
continuous with spinal cord
does it contain nuclei/clusters of cell bodies
yes
how many vital reflex centres are there in the medulla?
3
what are the three vital reflex centres
cardiovascular centre (heart rate)
medullary rhythmicity area (respiratory rhythm)
vasomotor (vasoconstriction)
anything else? in the medulla
has other sensory & reflex motor areas
-sneezing, coughing & vomiting
where is the brain stem - pons located
above/superior to the medulla oblongata
how does Pons connect within the brain?
connects the spinal cord with the brain
links one part of the brain with another by way of tracts/groups of nerve-axons
which one of the brain stems have the nerve tract cross?
Pons
what is the nerve tract cross
nerves supplying left side of the body cross to right side of the brain and right side of the body to left side of brain
what does the midbrain do?
connects pons to the diencephalon
conveys motor impulses from cerebrum to the cerebellum and spinal cord
contains the substantia nigra
conveys sensory impulses from spinal cord to thalamus