Unit 1 - The Central Nervous System

Question 1

What is the Spinal Cord?

Answer 1

Column of nervous tissue, extends from bottom of brain through the spine.
–>Important link between brain and PNS (carries sensory messages to CNS and sends info from CNS to muscles and glands)
–>Primary reflex centre

Question 2

What is the Spinal Cord protected by?

Answer 2

1) Vertebrae/Spinal Column
2) Cerebrospinal fluid
3) Menings (soft tissue layers)

Question 3

What are the parts of the Spinal Cord?

Answer 3

1) Outer White Matter: myelinated nerve fibres from sensory and motor neurons.
2) Inner H-shaped core: unmyelinated neurons, cell bodies and dendrites of spinal neurons.
3) Dorsal: brings sensory info to Spinal Cord.
4) Ventral: carries motor information away from Spinal Cord.

Question 4

What are the Brain’s Functions?

Answer 4

1) Maintain homeostasis.
2) Centre for intelligence, consciousness, emotions.

Question 5

What are the Regions of the Brain?

Answer 5

1) Forebrain: hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebrum.
2) Midbrain: found above the pons.
3) Hindbrain: cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata.

Question 6

What Protects the Brain?

Answer 6

1) The Skull.
2) Cerebrospinal fluid.
3) Meninges

(Basically the same things as what protects the Spinal Cord)

Question 7

Cerebrum (Forebrain)

Answer 7

Divided into left and right hemispheres.
–> Largest part of the brain.
–>Centre for sensory information and motor actions
–> Speech, reasoning, memory.

Question 8

Cerebral Cortex (Forebrain)

Answer 8

Surface of the cerebrum, where grey matter is.
–>Deep folds/fissures.

Question 9

Grey Matter (Unmyelinated) in CNS

Answer 9

Outside layer of brain, inside of spinal cord.

Question 10

White Matter (Myelinated) in CNS

Answer 10

Inside layer of brain, outside of spinal cord.

Question 11

Frontal Lobe (C)

Answer 11

Controls voluntary muscles (walking, speech).
–>Linked to intellectual activities and personality, emotions, decision making.
–>Primary motor area

Question 12

Temporal Lobe (C)

Answer 12

Plays essential role in hearing, organization, and comprehension of language.
–>Linked to memory and interpretation of sensory information.

Question 13

Occipital Lobe (C)

Answer 13

Responsible for vision and interpreting vision and interpreting visual information.

Question 14

Parietal Lobe (C)

Answer 14

Plays a major role in touch and temperature awareness, pain reception, spatial awareness, and perception.

Question 15

Corpus Collosum (FB)

Answer 15

Connects and shares information between two hemispheres.

Question 16

Thalamus (FB)

Answer 16

Provides connection between various parts of the brain.
–> Connections between FB and HB, and between areas of the sensory system (except of smell) and the cerebellum.

Question 17

Hypothalamus (FB)

Answer 17

Link between nervous and endocrine system.
—>Located below thalamus.
—>Produces hormones which are stored and released by PITUITARY GLAND.
—>Has neurons that control temperature, thirst and hunger.

Question 18

Cerebellum (HB)

Answer 18

Responsible for muscle coordination and balance.

Question 19

Medulla Oblongata (HB)

Answer 19

Controls autonomic nervous responses.
—>Regulates sympathetic and parasympathetic response, along with hypothalamus.
—>Ex. heart rate, constriction/dilation of blood vessels, breathing rate, swallowing, coughing

Question 20

Pons (HB)

Answer 20

Relay centre between both sides of cerebrum, the cerebellum, and rest of the brain.
—>Located above medulla oblongata.

Question 21

Broca’s Area (FB)

Answer 21

Coordinates speech muscles and translates through into speech.
–>Located in frontal lobe.

Question 22

Wernicke’s Area (FB)

Answer 22

Stores information involving language comprehension.
–>Located in temporal lobe.

Question 23

Brainstem (MB)

Answer 23

Connects cerebrum to spinal cord and cerebellum
—>Midbrain + Pons + Medulla Oblongata