The Nervous System Flashcards
Describe all of the neural tissue in the body
neurons: receive and integrate info from sensory receptors and/or other neurones
Transmits info to other neurons and/or target organs
Supporting cells called neuroglia: separates, protects and repairs neurons. Provides supportive framework
What is the CNS?
Consists of brain and spinal cord
Contains the majority of nerves and synaptic connections
Responsible for:
Integrating, processing and coordinating sensory data and motor commands
HF such as intelligence, memory, learning and emotion
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Contains nerves connected to brain and spinal cord, but doesn't inc the brain and spinal cord: Cranial nerves (and their ramifications) Spinal nerves (and their ramifications) Ganglia: Contains peripherally located nerve cell bodies
The PNS functions to:
Transmit sensory info to the CNS from receptors in peripheral tissues (afferent division)
Transmit motor demands from the CNS to peripheral tissue/organs (efferent division)
Draw a diagram to explain the Functional Division of the Nervous System
Label this
Describe the gross anatomy of the spinal cord
Continuation of medulla oblongata of the brain stem
Runs through vertebral/spinal canal initiating at the foramen magnum and terminating at L1. At birth the cord terminates at L3
Two enlargements of grey matter
Cervical: sensory and motor to upper limb
Lumbar: sensory and motor to lower limb
Describe the location of white and grey matter in the spinal cord
Grey matter: Nerve cell bodies and their dendrites and synaptic contacts. Butterfly or H-shaped.
White matter: surrounds grey matter. Myelinated axons
Contains ascending and descending nerve fibres
Bundles arranged in columns (funiculi)
Each column consists of subdivisions called tracts
The tracts carry signals from one part of the CNS to another
Label this internal structure of the spinal cord
Describe the anatomy of the spinal nerves
Rootlets come juntos to form a dorsal and ventral root. The dorsal root=sensory/afferent, ventral root is motor/efferent
The ventral and dorsal root come juntos just beyond the dorsal root ganglion to form a spinal nerve. This has motor and sensory fibres. It divides further to form the anterior and posterior ramus.
The anterior ramus innervates muscles of trunk and limbs. It gives somatic sensory innervation to skin of the anterior lateral region
The posterior ramus innervates intrinsic back muscles. It gives somatic sensory innervation to the skin of the back
Label this
Describe the spinal nerves
The spinal cord gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves
8 Cervical. 12 thoracic. 5 lumbar. 5 sacral. 1 coccygeal
Spinal nerves emerge from the intervertebral foramina before traveling to destination
C1-C7: the cervical nerves travel ABOVE the corresponding vertebrae.
C8 and rest- exits below the corresponding vertebrae
What is labelled here?
This is the intervertebral foramina, and this is where the spinal nerves emerge from
What are Myo and dermatomes?
A skin area supplied by the sensory fibres of a single nerve root is a dermatome
A group of muscles primarily innervated by the motor fibres of a single nerve root is a myotome
Patterns of distribution= quite consistent from person to person
What is a nerve plexus? Give examples
nerve plexus: A network of intersecting nerves.
The great nerve plexus are formed from the anterior rami of the spinal nerves. They transmit somatic sensory and motor innervation to the body:
Cervical plexus
Brachial plexus- supplies the upper limb.
Lumbar plexus
Sacral plexus
Describe elements of the brachial plexus, including its anatomical structure
Label this. What does it show?
Brachial plexus
Label this
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