The Brain And Spinal Cord Flashcards
The central nervous system encompasses what?
- The brain
- The spinal cord
- Cavities (containing cerebrospinal fluid)
- Nerves
The brain is enclosed by what?
White matter and grey matter
The brain can be divided into three main sections, what are they?
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Brain stem
What is white matter?
- Composed of nerve axons, which are covered in myelin
What does axons do?
Carry the nerve impulses between neurons
What is Grey matter?
Composed of nerve cell bodies which is unmyelinated.
The nerve cell bodies of the grey matter are what?
Control centres
The route sensory and motor stimuli of grey matter do?
Creates a response
What is the cerebrum?
Largest part of the brain
How do we divide the cerebrum?
Into left and right hemispheres
The hemispheres are connected in the midline by what?
Corpus callosum
The hemispheres are separated from one another by what?
Fall cerebri
Each hemisphere can be divided into what?
Another 4 lobes
The cerebrum consists of what materials?
Both white and grey matter
Where does the grey matter lie in the cerebrum?
The Cortex and basal nuclei
Where does the white matter lie in the cerebrum?
Lies deep in the cortex
What are the four cerebral lobes?
- Frontal lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Occipital lobe
- Temporal lobe
The cerebrum has numerous what?
Folds and grooves
What are gyri?
Small folds
What are sulci?
Shallow grooves
What are fissues of the cerebral?
Deep grooves, booth longitudinal and lateral
What is the corpus callosum?
- Bundle of white matter located in the midline
- Connection between R and L cerebral hemispheres
- Forms the roof of the lateral ventricles
What are the basal nuclei or ganglia?
- Distinct regions of grey matter deep (Deep within we have cerebral white matter)
- Relay stations for sensory stimuli
Where does the basal nuclei or ganglia lie?
Adjacent to lateral ventricles
What is included in the basal nuclei or ganglia?
- Caudate nucleus
- Lentiform nucleus (includes the putamen and globes pallidus)
What is the thalamus?
- Ovoid masses of grey matter
- At the base of cerebral hemispheres
- Relay station for nerve impulses
Where is the R and L thalami located?
On either side of the 3rd ventricle
1. Form the lateral walls of the third ventricle
2. Massa intermedia
What is the massa intermedia?
- Tissue bridge between right and left thalamus
- Passes through the third ventricle in the midline
What is the brain stem?
- Connects the brain to the spinal cord
- Controls vital function such as breathing and heart rate
What are the major parts of the brain stem?
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla oblongata
What is the midbrain?
- Superior and smallest portion of the brain stem?
- Located superior to the pons
- Surrounds the cerebral aqueduct
What are the Pons?
- Prominent anterior bulge
- Between midbrain and medulla oblongata
- “Bridge” between cerebrum and cerebellum
- Forms Anterior wall of the fourth ventricle
What does the Pons do?
Controls involuntary functions
1. Sleep
2. Hearing
3. Balance
What is the medulla oblongata?
- Inferior portion of brain stem
- Extends from pons to foramen magnum
- Continuous with the spinal cord
What does the medulla oblongata do?
Regulates vital functions
1. Heart rate
2. Respiratory rhythm
3. Blood pressure
4. Breathing
Where is the cerebellum located?
- Right and left hemispheres
- Sits posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata
- Forms the posterior wall of fourth ventricle
What does the cerebellum do?
Centre for motor functions
What is the tentorium cerebelli?
Separates the cerebrum and cerebellum
What is the vermis?
- Midline structures
- Connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum
What is the cerebella peduncles?
- Nerve tracts that connect the cerebellum to other parts of the brain stem
- Superior, middle, and inferior
What are the ventricles?
- Fluid filled cavities in the brain
- Production and pathway of CSF