The CNS Flashcards
What does the CNS consist of
Brain and spinal chord
What is the difference between grey and white matter
Grey matter contains cell bodies of neurones and a lot of glial cells
White matter contains myelinated neuronal axons
Describe the cerebrum/cerebral cortex
Grey matter outside, white inside
70% of grey matter hidden in sulci
Compare the primary and association cortex
Primary cortex - has a distinct function
Association cortex – more complex function, ‘higher processing’
What are the 4 lobes and what are they involved in
frontal - primary motor cortex + motor association area responsible for voluntary movement
temporal - Primary somatosensory cortex responsible for interpretation of sensory info
parietal - Primary auditory cortex and auditory association cortex responsible for hearing
occipital - Primary visual cortex and visual association area responsible for vision
What is the corpus callosum
white matter tract
interconnects corresponding parts of 2 hemispheres
What is the function of the basal ganglia
Controls posture and movement
What are the cerebral hemispheres made up of
cortex and basal ganglia
What is the function of the cerebellum
Coordinating movement
Learning fine motor skills
Describe the structure of the cerebellum
Attached to the brainstem posteriorly via 3 penduncles
Grey cortex and white matter
connected to the vestibular system for balance
Spinal cord and muscles
Motor cortex and thalamus
What is the diencephalon made up of
Hypothalamus and thalamus
What is the function of the diencephalon
hypothalamus: homeostasis - temp. hunger, thirst, hormone
thalamus: integration of somatic and special senses
relays info between the cerebral cortex and lower structures
Emotional status and consciousness
What are the functions of the brain stem
Controls vital functions (breathing, HR, BP)
Controls consciousness and sleep-wake cycles
Responsible for protective reflexes (cough, sneeze, gag)
Site of origin of cranial nerves innervating head and neck
Ascending and descending tracts connect forebrain and spinal cord
What is the corpus striatum made up of
caudate and putamen
What structures form the lentiform nucleus
Putamen and globus palladus
What is the brain stem made up of
midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
Describe the structure of the spinal cord
Grey matter on the inside
White matter on the outside
Contained within the vertebral column
Surrounded by meninges
What is contained in the grey matter
dorsal horns - interneurones for sensory function
ventral horns - motor neurone cell bodies for motor function
What are the connections in the cerebrum
Short connections between adjacent segments
Long tracts that connect all levels of the spinal cord
Commissural fibres go between hemispheres
What are the functions of the spinal cord
Supplies motor, sensory and autonomic innervation to body through spinal nerves
Mediates reflexes
Contains ascending and descending tracts to communicate with the brain
What are the three layers of the meninges from the outermost layer and describe them
Dura mater - tough and protective, adherent to bone, space between forms sinuses
Arachnoid mater - thin membrane attached to the dura
Pia mater - delicate membrane closely adherent to the brain and spinal cord
Which layer of the meninges contains CSF
Subarachnoid space between arachnoid mater and Pia mater contains the CSF
Describe epidural haemorrhage
arterial bleeding
headache, drowsiness, vomiting, seizure
promptly after injury
between dura mater and skull
Describe subdural haemorrhage
venous bleeding
headache, drowsiness, vomiting, seizure
symptoms delayed by days or weeks
between Pia mater and dura mater
