Week 2 Flashcards
midbrain/Mesencephalon
serves important functions in motor movement and serves as the pathway between the spinal cord, cerebellum, and forebrain.
Principle structures of the tectum (2)
superior colliculi & inferior colliculi
Tegmentum “the covering”
raps around the cerebral aqueduct (connects 3rd and 4th ventricles
Principle structures of the Tegmentum (3)
– Periaqueductal gray matter (PAG)
– Raphe (red) Nucleus
– Substantia Nigra (black)
Periaqueductal gray matter
(PAG)
Pain modulation (endogenous and exogenous opioids act here)
Raphe (red) Nucleus
synthesizes serotonin, but not the only structure that does this. SSRIs are believed to largely impact the raphe nuclei
Substantia (black) Nigra
key role in dopamine production
The Hindbrain contains:
Metencephalon and Myelencephalon
Metencephalon (“afterbrain”) is made of three parts:
Pons & Cerebellum
Cerebellum “little brain”
Attached to pons by cerebellar peduncles Posture, balance, fine motor movement (ataxia), motor learning (works w/BG), proprioception (knowing where you are in space)
Pons “bridge”
Translates signals b/t the cerebellum and cerebrum (e.g., sensory cues, motor information)
Regulates breathing and arousal
what does damage to the Pons cause?
locked-in syndrome (stroke, trauma, late-stage ALS)
Medulla Oblongata/Myelencephalon
Controls basic functions of the autonomic nervous system:
* Respiration
* Cardiac function
* Vasodilation
* Reflexes like vomiting, coughing, sneezing, and swallowing
Damage or enlargement of the Medulla Oblongata causes (3):
respiratory failure, paralysis, loss of sensation.
Brainless the Salamander
They took our everything but the medulla oblongata and he lived. confirmed the function of the medulla oblongata
Reticular Formation (3)
- Complex network of neurons located in the brain stem
- Connections to the hypothalamus and thalamus.
- Helps support wakefulness/alertness & filters incoming information.
Spinal Cord is made of what three parts?
- The cervical spinal cord sends nerves to the face and neck.
- The thoracic spinal cord sends nerves to the arms, chest, and abdomen.
- The lumbar-sacral spinal cord sends nerves to the lower body.
Spinal Cord main function
Sends motor commands from the brain to the body, send sensory information from the body to the brain, and coordinate reflexes
Spinal Nerves
Relay sensory information to the brain from the body and vice versa – also control reflexes.
Sensory neurons
carry signals from the outer parts of your body (periphery) into the central nervous system.
Motor neurons
carry signals from the central nervous system to the outer parts (muscles, skin, glands) of your body.
Interneurons
connect various neurons within the brain and spinal cord.
3 neurons of the Somatic NS
Sensory, motor, and interneurons
Spinal nerves:
Afferent and Efferent. They are mixed nerves that carry sensory information into and motor commands out of the spinal cord.
Cranial nerves:
They are the nerve fibers that carry information into and out of the brain stem.
Afferent axons
bring information inward, toward the CNS
Efferent axons
send information outward
Dermatome
areas of skin on your body that rely on specific nerve connections on your spine.
Myotome
A group of muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve
ASIA impairment scale
A = Complete
E = Normal
typically can only improve by one letter