The Nervous System Flashcards
Identify the 2 main divisions and subdivisions of the nervous system
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral nervous system
What are neuroglial cells?
They are cells found in the nervous system and help accommodate nerve cells and provide support. They are not involved in the carrying of impulses
What are the 4 main neoroglial cell?
- Oligodendrocytes
- Astrocytes
- Microglial cells
- Ependymal cells
What are the 5 main protection and support features of the central nervous system?
- Blood - Brain Barrier
- Cranium
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Spine
- Meninges
What is the function of CSF?
to cushion the brain and spine and maintain uniform pressure
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
- The Frontal lobe
- Temporal Lobe
- Occipital Lobe
- Parietal Lobe
What proportion of cardiac output does the brain receive?
15%-20%
How many pairs of spinal nerves do we have?
31 pairs
What are the 5 groups of spinal nerves?
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral
- Coccygeal
How many cranial nerves are there?
12
What are oligodendrocytes?
Glial Cell that helps to produce the myelin sheath in the CNS
What are astrocytes?
Neuroglial cells which help develop and maintain the Blood Brain Barrier
May also be responsible for transporting ions from the brain to blood.
What is a microglial cell
?
Neuroglia that has the ability to phagocytose material.
What is an epindymal cell?
Neuroglial cells that line the cavities of the central nervous system. Their role is to circulate CSF using their cilia
Where is CSF produced?
Chloroid plexus by specialised epyndymal cells.
What are meninges?
Three layers of tissue that cover and protect the central nervous system (dura, arachnoid and pia maters).
What are the three layers of the meninges?
Dura Mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
What is the subarachnoid space?
The space bewteen the arachnoid and pia mater layer where csf runs through
What is the name for the outer layer of the cerebrum called?
cerebral cortex
List the 12 cranial nerves and their general functions
- Olfactory (Sensory)
- Optic (sensory)
- Oculomotor (Motor)
- Trochlear(Motor)
- Trigeminal(Both)
- Abducens (Motor)
- Facial (Both)
- Vestibulocochlear (Sensory)
- Glossopharyngeal (Both)
- Vagus (Both)
- Accessory (Motor)
- Hypoglossal (Motor)
What is the function of the blood brain barrier?
Gives Neurons an extra layer of protection from any toxic substances within the blood.
How much CSF on average circulates the brain, ventricle and spinal cord?
150ml
What are Dendrites?
Branching structures on neurons which receive information
What are Axons
The part of the neuron in which Impulses travel in the form of action potentials
What is the Cell body?
Where the nucleus is held. Clusters of cell bodies form grey matter. In the CNS they’re called Nuclei, in the PNS they’re called Ganglia
What is the axon terminal?
Another Branched structure where information is released/ passed on to another cell of effector.
What is Axon Hillock?
Where an action potential begins
What is the the primary motor area responsible for?
Responsible for contraction of skeletal muscles
What is the the premotor area responsible for?
Involved in fine skeletal muscle movement creating the manual dexterity associated with repetitive or learned motor movement
What is the the Broca’s area responsible for?
Responsible for the motor movement required to produce speech
What is the the frontal eye field responsible for?
Controls voluntary movement of the eyes.
What is the the primary somatosensory area responsible for?
Receives sensory information from the skin and also from proprioreceptors in skeletal muscles
What is the the somatosensory association area responsible for?
Integrates the sensory information being relayed to the primary somatosensory area and provides information about size, texture, previous experience
State the main function of the basal nuclei
Paired masses, of nerve cell bodies lying deep in the brain; concerned with the control of movement
State the main function of the Thalamus
Part of the diencephalon and is responsible for relaying sensory information going to the cerebral cortex for integration and motor impulses entering and leaving the cerebral hemispheres.
List the main roles hypothalamus
Closely associated with the pituitary gland and produces ADH and oxytocin.
Chief autonomic integration centre and is part of the limbic system (emotional brain)
regulates homeostatic functions
Coordinates ANS
State the main functions of the cerebellum
Coordinates voluntary muscle movement, balance and posture.
Ensures muscle movemements are smooth, coordinated and precise.
State the main functions of the medulla
Relay station for sensory nerves going to th cerebrum
Contains autonomic centres (i.e. cardiac respiratory etc.)
State the main functions of the pons
conduction pathway communicating with the cerebellum
Works with medulla to control depth and rate of respiration.
State the main functions of the midbrain
Conduction pathway that connects the cerebrum with the lower brain structures and spinal cord
What is grey matter?
Consists of mostly cell bodies
What is white matter?
Consists of mostly myelinated axons
What 3 structures make up the diencephalon?
Thalumus, Hypothalamus and epithalamus
