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ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II > APII: Central Nervous System > Flashcards

APII: Central Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the meninges?

A

Connective tissue membranes surrounding the CNS

The meninges consist of three layers: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

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2
Q

What is the dura mater?

A

Outermost layer of tough fibrous connective tissue

It is in direct contact with the skull and separated from the vertebrae by the epidural space.

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3
Q

What does ‘dura mater’ literally mean?

A

‘Tough mother’

The term reflects its tough and protective characteristics.

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4
Q

What are the two layers of the dura mater?

A
  • Periosteal layer
  • Meningeal layer

The periosteal layer is the outer layer, while the meningeal layer is the inner layer.

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5
Q

What are dural sinuses?

A

Cavities between the layers of dura mater where blood and CSF drain into

Dural sinuses return these fluids to venous blood flow.

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6
Q

What is the arachnoid mater?

A

Middle layer of connective tissue that sends down tiny projections

These projections create the subarachnoid space where CSF circulates.

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7
Q

What are arachnoid villi?

A

Tiny one-way valves that drain excess CSF into dural sinuses

They ensure that CSF is returned to the bloodstream.

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8
Q

What is the pia mater?

A

Inner layer of delicate connective tissue in direct contact with the CNS

It follows all folds of the outer layer of the brain.

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9
Q

What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

A

Fluid formed as a filtrate of the blood, very similar to blood plasma

CSF nourishes and cushions the CNS.

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10
Q

What are the ventricles?

A

Four chambers inside the brain filled with CSF

They are involved in the production and circulation of CSF.

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11
Q

What is the role of the choroid plexus?

A

Specialized capillary networks that filter blood to produce CSF

Located in the ventricles, they continuously produce new CSF.

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12
Q

How does CSF circulate?

A

It circulates in the subarachnoid space

CSF nourishes and cushions the CNS while old CSF drains into dural sinuses.

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13
Q

What happens to old CSF?

A

It drains into dural sinuses and is removed as waste

Old CSF re-enters the bloodstream from the dural sinuses.

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14
Q

What are the four main parts of the brain?

A

1) Cerebrum 2) Diencephalon 3) Brainstem 4) Cerebellum

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15
Q

What are the three parts of the diencephalon?

A

a) Thalamus b) Hypothalamus c) Epithalamus

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16
Q

What are the three parts of the brainstem?

A

a) Midbrain b) Pons c) Medulla oblongata

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17
Q

What is the largest part of the human brain?

A

Cerebrum

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18
Q

How is the cerebrum divided?

A

Into right and left hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum

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19
Q

What are the two regions of the cerebrum?

A

Cerebral cortex and white matter tracts

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20
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

The outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum

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21
Q

What are the folds in the cerebral cortex called?

A

Gyri

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22
Q

What are the fissures between the folds in the cerebral cortex called?

A

Sulci

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23
Q

What percentage of all soma (neuron cell bodies) in the human body are located in the cerebral cortex?

A

3/4

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24
Q

What functions does the cerebral cortex control?

A

Thought, reasoning, language, intellect, personality, memory, consciousness, and awareness

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25
What are the five lobes of the cerebral cortex?
1) Frontal lobe 2) Parietal lobe 3) Temporal lobe 4) Occipital lobe 5) Insula
26
What fissure separates the frontal and parietal lobes?
Central sulcus
27
What is the precentral gyrus?
The gyrus of the frontal lobe next to the central sulcus, called our motor cortex
28
What is the postcentral gyrus?
The gyrus of the parietal lobe next to the central sulcus, called our sensory cortex
29
What is a homunculus?
An imaginary projection of the body on our motor and sensory cortexes
30
What type of nerve fibers are found in white matter?
Myelinated nerve fibers
31
What type of nerve fibers are found in gray matter?
Unmyelinated nerve fibers
32
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the part of the brain that initiates voluntary movement.
Precentral gyrus
33
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the primary sensory area located in the parietal lobe.
Postcentral gyrus
34
What are white matter tracts?
Myelinated nerve fibers that connect different parts of the brain
35
What is the role of the basal ganglia?
Relay stations from the motor cortex which decrease muscle tone and inhibit muscular activity
36
Why are basal ganglia essential for movement?
They ensure smooth coordinated movement by relaxing antagonistic muscles
37
What happens when a signal is sent to a muscle to contract?
The signal goes through the basal ganglia and another signal is sent to the antagonist to relax
38
What is the reciprocal inhibition method?
A method of cramp management that works by relaxing antagonistic muscles
39
Can the function of the basal ganglia be consciously overridden?
Yes, both agonist and antagonist can contract simultaneously
40
What occurs during isometric contractions?
Both muscles contract with the same intensity, and the angle of the joint does not change
41
Where is nearly all dopamine in the body produced?
In the basal ganglia
42
Why do Parkinson's patients exhibit 'jerky' movements?
Due to the lack of dopamine produced in the basal ganglia
43
What are the three types of white matter tracts?
* Association tracts * Commissural tracts * Projection tracts
44
What is the primary function of the thalamus?
Relay station for sensory input (except smell)
45
What percentage of the diencephalon is made up by the thalamus?
80%
46
What role does the hypothalamus play?
Maintains homeostasis and equilibrium
47
How is the hypothalamus connected to the pituitary gland?
By the infundibulum
48
What does the epithalamus connect to?
The pineal gland
49
What is the function of the epithalamus?
Regulates rhythmic cycles and biological clock
50
Fill in the blank: The thalamus sends impulses to appropriate parts of the _______.
sensory cortex
51
True or False: The hypothalamus has many functions despite being a small portion of the brain.
True
52
What is an example of a function regulated by the epithalamus?
Puberty onset
53
What is the limbic system?
A complex set of structures in the brain involved in emotions, memories, and arousal
54
What is the brainstem?
Region between diencephalon and spinal cord consisting of three parts
55
What are the three parts of the brainstem?
* Midbrain * Pons * Medulla oblongata
56
What is the most superior region of the brainstem?
Midbrain
57
What are the two main components of the midbrain?
* Cerebral peduncles * Corpora quadrigemina
58
What do the cerebral peduncles contain?
Myelinated voluntary motor tracts from the cerebral cortex
59
What is the function of the corpora quadrigemina?
Visual and auditory reflex centers
60
What connects the third and fourth ventricles?
Cerebral aqueduct
61
What is the middle region of the brainstem called?
Pons
62
What is one function of the pons?
Conduction tracts between brain and spinal cord
63
How many cranial nerves originate from the pons?
4 cranial nerves
64
What is the inferior region of the brainstem?
Medulla oblongata
65
What happens in the medulla oblongata regarding nerve fibers?
Most descending motor nerve fibers cross from one side to the other
66
How many cranial nerves originate from the medulla oblongata?
5 cranial nerves
67
What are the three vital centers contained in the medulla oblongata?
* Cardiac * Vasomotor * Respiratory
68
What is the second largest part of the human brain?
Cerebellum
69
What connects the two cerebellar hemispheres?
Vermis
70
What is the branching white matter in the cerebellum called?
Arbor vitae
71
What covers the arbor vitae?
Cerebellar cortex
72
What does the motor area of the cerebellum control?
Subconscious skeletal muscle contractions necessary for coordination, posture, and balance
73
What signals does the cerebellum receive for balance?
Signals from the inner ear
74
What are cerebellar peduncles?
Myelinated nerve fiber connections between the cerebellum and other parts of the CNS
75
What are the components of spinal nerves?
ventral roots + dorsal roots
76
What type of function does the ventral root serve?
purely motor
77
What type of function does the dorsal root serve?
purely sensory
78
From where does the spinal cord extend?
from foramen magnum to L1
79
What is the end of the spinal cord called?
conus medullaris
80
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
81
What structure continues down the vertebral canal after the spinal cord ends at L1?
cauda equina
82
What separates the dura mater from the bone?
epidural space
83
What is the core of gray matter in the spinal cord divided into?
regions called horns
84
What do the horns of gray matter contain?
cell bodies and dendrites of motor neurons, interneurons, and terminal ends of sensory neuron axons
85
What is the outer layer of white matter in the spinal cord called?
columns
86
What do the columns of white matter consist of?
longitudinal bundles of myelinated nerve fibers called tracts
87
What are the ascending tracts responsible for?
sensory functions
88
What are the descending tracts responsible for?
motor functions
89
What additional function does the spinal cord serve?
functions as a center for spinal reflexes
90
What are the types of sensory receptors?
* Chemoreceptors * Mechanoreceptors * Thermoreceptors * Photoreceptors * Nociceptors
91
What is sensory adaptation?
decrease in sensitivity at the receptor level when continuously stimulated
92
What must happen to the strength of impulse to trigger a receptor after sensory adaptation?
must be increased
93
What is the difference between sensory adaptation and the brain's filtering of information?
sensory adaptation occurs at the receptor level
94
How many senses do we have?
more than 5 senses
95
What are special senses?
receptors that are localized
96
What are examples of special senses?
* sight * smell * taste * hearing
97
What are general senses?
receptors that are widespread throughout the body
98
What are examples of general senses?
* touch * pressure * proprioception * temperature * pain
99
100
What are the three types of mechanoreceptors responsible for touch/pressure?
1. Free nerve endings 2. Meissner's corpuscles 3. Pacinian corpuscles
101
Where are Meissner's corpuscles located?
Just beneath the epidermis
102
What is the primary responsibility of Meissner's corpuscles?
Very light touch
103
What type of touch do Pacinian corpuscles sense?
Deep pressure
104
What is proprioception?
Sense of awareness of our body's position relative to itself
105
What do Golgi tendon organs measure?
Length of the area they are responsible for
106
What are thermoreceptors?
Receptors that detect temperature
107
How many types of thermoreceptors are there and what are they?
2 types: hot and cold
108
Which thermoreceptor type is more numerous?
Cold thermoreceptors
109
What occurs at extremes of temperature?
They damage tissue and stimulate pain receptors
110
What is the characteristic of nociceptors?
They do not have sensory adaptation
111
At what temperature do all thermoreceptors fire?
113ºF
112
What happens to nociceptors above 113ºF?
They start firing
113
What happens to nociceptors below 50ºF?
They also start firing
114
Fill in the blank: Proprioception senses the location and ______ of movement of body parts.
rate
115
True or False: There are nociceptors in the brain.
False
116
What type of covering do Meissner's corpuscles have?
None
117
What type of covering do Pacinian corpuscles have?
Many layered connective tissue covering
118
What is the location of Pacinian corpuscles?
Deep dermis
119
What do free nerve endings detect?
Pain and temperature
120
Fill in the blank: Nociceptors are free nerve endings that are widely ______.
distributed
121
How do thermoreceptors respond to stimuli?
They show rapid sensory adaptation

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II (11 decks)

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