WEEK 1: Nervous System Anatomy Flashcards
Which parts of the body make up the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
The spinal cord and the brain ! :)
What is the function of the CNS?
The CNS organises and analyses information gained from the sensory organs.
Which parts of the body make up the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
The PNS resides outside the brain and spinal cord to relay information to the rest of your body.
What is the main function of the PNS?
It passes sensory information to the CNS and transmits motor impulses to the effector organs. Connects the CNS with the rest of the body.
What is the two divisions the PNS is first split into?
The PNS is split into the sensory (afferent) division and the motor (efferent) division.
What is the structure of the afferent division? and what is its function in the PNS?
The afferent (sensory) division’s structure consists of the somatic and visceral sensory nerve fibres. These nerve fibres conduct impulses from receptors to the CNS.
What is the structure of the efferent division? and what is its function in the PNS?
The efferent (motor) division’s structure consists of motor nerve fibres. These motor nerve fibres conduct the impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles and glands).
What systems are within the motor (efferent) division?
The Somatic Nervous System (SNS) and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
What is the SNS?
Somatic motor (voluntary). It is an in-automatic process which controls the function of voluntary behaviours of the body and conveys sensory information to the CNS.
What is the ANS?
Visceral motor (involuntary). An automatic process that is conducted by impulses from the CNS to cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, and glands. Sends and receives messages to regulate the autonomic behaviours of the body.
What are the two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?
Sympathetic division and Parasympathetic division
What is the Sympathetic NS?
The Sympathetic NS mobilises bodily resources by activating the network or nerves that prepares the body/organs for rigorous activity.
What is the Parasympathetic NS?
The Parasympathetic NS conserves bodily resources by facilitating a vegetative, nonemergency response.
What do you call the anatomical direction that is positioned away from the midline of the body?
Lateral e.g., your ears are lateral to your eyes.
What do you call the anatomical direction that is toward the middle.
Medial e.g., your chest is medial to your arms.
Where is the Anterior located?
Toward the front end
Where is the Posterior located?
Toward the rear end
Where is the Dorsal located?
Toward the back away from the ventral side
Where is the Ventral located?
Toward the stomach, away from the dorsal side
Where is the Lateral located?
Toward the side, away from the midline
Where is the Medial located?
Toward the midline, away from the side
What is the function of the spinal cord?
The spinal cord communicated with the sensory organs and muscles, except with those of the head.
What is the sensory nerves in the spinal cord responsible for?
The sensory nerves in the spinal cord are responsible for bringing sensory info from the body to the brain (entering the dorsal roots)
What is the motor nerves in the spinal cord responsible for?
The motor nerves are responsible for transmitting motor info from brain to body (exiting the ventral roots)
What matter does the spinal cord consist of?
Grey matter and white matter
Where is grey matter located?
In the centre of the spinal cord.
What does grey matter consist of?
Grey matter consists of densely packed cell bodies and dendrites.
What does white matter consist of?
White matter consists of myelinated axons and carries information from the grey matter to other areas of the spinal cord other brain.
What is a spinal reflex?
A spinal reflex occurs independently to the brain and is when interneurons in the spinal cord receive sensory input, and excite motor neurons controlling the muscles that withdraw the limb.
What does the brain stem consist of?
The Hindbrain structures, the midbrain, and other central structures of the brain.
What parts of the brain does the hindbrain consist of?
The medulla, pons, and cerebellum
Where is the medulla?
The Medulla is located just above the spinal cord.
What is the medulla responsible for?
The medulla is responsible for vital reflexes such as breathing, heart rate, salivation, vomiting etc.
What is the cranial nerves?
We have 12 pairs of cranial nerves which enter and exit the brain directly. It allows the medulla to control sensations from the head, muscle movements in the head, and many parasympathetic outputs.