Unit 3: Chapter 5 - The Central Nervous System Flashcards
Gyri
Folded ridges of the brain often called convolutions.
Sulci
Shallow downfolds of the brain
Fissures
Deep downfolds of the brain
Meninges
Protective layer around the brain and spinal cord. Consists of 3 layers:
Outer (dura mater)- tough, fibrous, stuck to the bone.
Middle (arachnoid layer)- loose mesh of fibres.
Inner (pia mater) - delicate blood vessels close to surface of CNS.
Cerebrospinal fluid
In space between the middle and inner layers of meninges, and circulates through cavities in the brain and spinal canal. It is a clear watery fluid with few cells and it cushions the brain from any blows or shocks.
Cranium
Bone that surrounds the brain
Vertebral canal
Where the spinal cord runs through
Brain stem
Consists of medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain.
Diencephalon
The posterior part of the forebrain, containing the epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and ventral thalamus and the third ventricle.
Cerebellum
Lies under the rear part of the cerebrum.
Function: Controls posture, balance, and fine voluntary motor movement. Receives sensory information from inner ear and stretch receptors in skeletal muscles. Without the cerebellum our movements would be spasmodic, jerky and uncontrollable. Writing and smooth movements eg playing a musical instrument would be impossible.
Cerebral cortex
Outer layer of the cerebrum about 2-4mm thick. Largest region of the cerebrum in the mammalian brain and plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. The cerebral cortex is the most anterior (rostral) brain region and consists of an outer zone of neural tissue called gray matter, which contains neuronal cell bodies.
Basal ganglia
Masses of grey matter inside each hemisphere. They consist of groups of nerve cell bodies associated with the control of skeletal muscles.
Cerebral hemispheres
The left and right sides of the brain looking down on it.
Corpus collosum
Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain with transverse fibres (white matter) and allows them to communicate with each other.
Frontal lobe
Involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior.
Main- reasoning and problem solving
Occipital lobe
Sight and visual input
Temporal lobe
Language and hearing, recognising faces
Parietal lobe
Sensory
Involving the the management of taste, hearing, sight, touch, and smell. It is home to the brain’s primary sensory area, a region where the brain interprets input from other areas of the body. … Integrating sensory information from most regions of the body.
Tracts
Bundles of nerve fibres within the CNS
Sensory area
These areas of the brain receive and process nerve impulses from the senses. (perception of sight, hearing, taste, smell, etc.)
Motor areas
These areas of the brain send impulses to muscles, especially for voluntary movement. (movement and speech – muscular movements)
Association area
These areas of the brain interpret information from the senses and make it useful. Concerned with intellectual and emotional processes. (awareness, memory, emotions, etc.)
Three types of tracts that occur in the white matter….
- Tracts that connect various areas of the cortex within the same hemisphere.
- Tracts that carry impulses between left and right hemispheres.
- Tracts that connect the cortex to other parts of the brain or you the spinal cord.
Cerebrum
Biggest part of the brain. Consists of an outer surface of grey matter about 2-4mm thick known as the cerebral cortex. Divided into 4 lobes that control thoughts, senses and movements.
Autonomic nervous system neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine and acetylcholine
Neurotransmitters of the somatic system
Acetylcholine
