Unit 1: Central & Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
Nervous system branches:
- Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
••• - Peripheral nervous system:
- > Autonomic nervous system (communicates with internal organs and glands).
1.1 >Sympathetic division (arousing).
1.1> parasympathetic division (calming). - > Somatic nervous system (communicates with sense organs and voluntary muscles).
1.1 >sensory (afferent) nervous system (sensory input).
1.1 >motor (efferent) nervous system (motor output).
Autonomic:
Automatic.
Somatic:
Senses.
Central nervous system:
•composed of the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system is the site of neural integration and processing.
-damage to the CNS can affect everything from temperament and motor control to the maintenance of homeostasis depending on which region is harmed.
-the CNS consists of two types of nervous tissues: grey & white matter.
The brain:
-the brain is the centre for intelligence, consciousness, and emotion. It also regulates bodily functions without conscious thought (e.g. breathing).
Organizations of the brain (need to know = caps):
•Forebrain:
-CEREBRAL CORTEX.
-basal ganglia.
-hippocampus.
-amygdala.
-thalamus.
-HYPOTHALAMUS.
•midbrain:
-tectum.
-tegmentum.
•hindbrain:
-PONS.
-CEREBELLUM.
-MEDULLA OBLONGATA.
The forebrain: cerebral cortex:
•the cerebral cortex or cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It is divided into left and right hemispheres, and can be further categorized into four main lobes, each of which is responsible for a series of specific functions.
•left and right hemispheres:
-left-hemisphere: analytical & concrete.
-right-hemisphere: creative & abstract.
-communication between the two hemispheres via the corpus callosum is essential for integrating functions.
The cerebrum has:
Lobes.
Cerebrum:
-responsible for sensing, thinking, learning, emotion, conciousness, and voluntary movement.
Corpus callosum:
-group of fibres which connect L & R hemispheres.
Thalamus:
-relay center for the cortex: handles incoming and outgoing signals.
Cerebellum:
-coordinates fine muscle movement & balance.
Reticular formation:
-group of fibres that carries info to the pons.
Spinal cord:
-transmits info between the brain and body.
Medulla/medulla oblongata:
-regulates unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation.
Pons:
-involved in sleep & arousal.
Hippocampus:
-involved in learning and memory.
Pituitary gland:
-regulates hormone release.
Hypothalamus:
-regulates homeostasis (hunger, thirst, temperature control).
Amygdala:
-involved in emotional responses and aggression.
Four lobes of the cerebrum (1. frontal lobe):
-conscious thought.
-intelligence, memory, & personality.
-voluntary muscle movements.
-broca’s area (language production).
Four lobes of the cerebrum (2. Parietal lobe):
-somatosensory functions.
-touch.
-taste.
-processes information about body position.
Four lobes of the cerebrum (3. Temporal lobe):
-auditory reception (hearing).
-wernicke’s area (language comprehension).
Four lobes of the cerebrum (occipital lobe):
-processes visual information.
Broca’s vs. Wernicke’s aphasia:
-brain damage can lead to language impairments, or aphasia.
-broca’s aphasia: patients are unable to produce fluent speech but can understand what others are saying.
-wernicke’s aphasia: patients are able to produce fluent speech, but do not understand what they are saying/what is being said to them.
Peripheral nervous system:
-the PNS consists of nerves that link the CNS to the rest of the body, including sensory organs, muscles, glands, and internal organs.
Two main divisions (PNS):
•the somatic system:
-voluntary control.
-carries info from sensory receptors to skeletal muscles.
•the autonomic system:
-involuntary control.
-maintains homeostasis (breathing, heart rate).
Subdivisions of the autonomic system:
- Sympathetic: “fight or flight” (S for Stress):
-activated during stressful situations.
-release of epinephrine/norepinephrine. - Parasympathetic: “rest and digest”:
-activated when body is calm and at rest.
-release of acetylcholine.
Sympathetic:
STRESS
Parasympathetic:
RELAX
Heart:
-sympathetic: increases heart rate.
-parasympathetic: decreases heart rate.
Digestive tract:
-sympathetic: decreases peristalsis.
-parasympathetic: increases peristalsis.
Liver:
-sympathetic: increased glucose release.
-parasympathetic: stores glucose (glycogen)!!!
Eyes:
-sympathetic: dilates pupils.
-parasympathetic: constricts pupils.
Bladder:
-sympathetic: inhibits urination.
-parasympathetic: promotes urination.
Skin:
-sympathetic: decreases blood flow.
-parasympathetic: increases blood flow.
Respiratory system:
-sympathetic: dilates bronchioles.
-parasympathetic: constricts bronchioles.
The cerebral cortex is also known as the:
Cerebrum.
