The Nervous System Flashcards
What does the nervous system include?
The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
What are the two pathways in the brain?
Simple or complex
What does the central nervous system consist of?
3
The spinal cord and brain
Contains neural tissue (neurons and glia), connective tissues, and blood vessels
Is protected by bone and meninges (CT)
What is the CNS protected by?
The meninges
What does the CNS contain?
4
Neurons
Glia
Connective tissues
Blood vessels
List the functions of the CNS
To process and coordinate sensory data, motor commands, higher functions of brain
How does the CNS process and coordinate sensory data?
It does so from inside and outside the body
How does the CNS process and coordinate motor commands?
It controls activities of peripheral organs (via muscles, glands)
How does the CNS process and coordinate higher functions of brain?
It coordinates intelligence, memory, learning, emotion
What are the four main regions of the brain?
Cerebrum
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Brainstem
What does the deincephalon consist of?
The thalamus and hypothalamus
What regions of the brain form the subconscious brain?
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Brainstem
What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?
2
All neural tissue outside the CNS
Consists of bundles of axons
What does the PNS do?
2
It delivers sensory information to CNS
It delivers motor commands from the CNS
Where are cranial nerves connected?
They are connected to the brain
Where are spinal nerves connected?
They are connected to the spinal cord
How many pairs of spinal nerves do we have attached to the spinal cord?
31 pairs of spinal nerves
What is each spinal nerve composed of?
Sensory and motor axons
What are the spinal nerves names after?
They are named after the spinal cord segment they are connected to
How many cranial nerves are attached directly to the brain?
12
What do the cranial nerves connect?
They connect parts of the face, neck and chest to the brain
What do cranial nerves consist of?
Sensory, motor or mixed (sensory and motor) nerves
Give an example of a mixed cranial nerve.
The optic nerve
What is the conscious region of the brain?
The cerebrum
What fraction of the brain is the cerebrum?
7/8
What processes is the cerebrum associated with?
4
Voluntary movement
Creative
Intellectual abilities
Scientific abilities
What are the four key areas of the cerebrum?
Primary sensory cortex
Primary motor cortex
Visual cortex
Auditory cortex
What is the primary sensory cortex?
This is where sensory information we become aware of is sent
What is the primary motor cortex?
This is where motor nerve signals leave the brain to direct conscious muscle movement
What is visual cortex?
This is where sensory information from the eye is sent
What is auditory cortex?
This is where sensory information from the ear is sent
What is the diencephalon divided into?
2
The thalamus
The hypothalamus
What is the thalamus?
The thalamus is a relay station for sensory signals
What is the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus is a major subconscious regulatory centre
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties like temperature, pressure, glucose, O2 and pH
