The CNS Flashcards
What does ‘The CNS’ stand for?
The Central Nervous System
What does the central nervous system consist of?
The brain and the spinal cord
What are the two main functions of the the central nervous system?
1: to control behaviour
2: to regulate the body’s psychological processes
What are 3 functions of the spinal cord?
1: to replay info between the brain and body
2: allows the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes (such as digestion, breathing, etc)
3. allows the brain to co-ordinate voluntary movements
What would happen if the spinal cord was damaged?
The areas supplied by spinal nerves below the damage will be cut off from the brain, so they will stop functioning
What are the 4 main areas that the brain can be divided into?
1: the cerebrum
2: the cerebellum
3: the diencephalon
4: the brain stem
What does the cerebrum in the brain do?
It is involved in controlling a person’s motor skills and balance - it co-ordinates a persons muscles to allow precise movement
What problems can abnormalities of the cerebrum (in the brain) cause?
Speech problems, motor problems, and epilepsy
What does the thalamus (in the brain) do?
acts as a relay station for nerve impulses coming from the senses, taking them to the appropriate part of the brain where they can be processed
What are 2 main functions of the hypothalamus in the brain?
1: regulates body temperature, hunger and thirst
2: acts as a link between the endocrine system and the nervous system, controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
What does the brain stem do?
regulates the automatic functions that are essential for life. this includes: breathing, heartbeat, swallowing.
What travels through the brain stem and why?
Motor and sensory neurons travel through the brain stem
This is because they allow impulses to pass between the brain and the spinal cord
