Central Nervous System Flashcards
(20 cards)
Name the 3 main parts of the brain.
Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem
What is the cerebrum responsible for?
Thinking, memory, movement, senses
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
Balance and coordination
What does the brainstem control?
Vital functions: heart rate, breathing, BP
What connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
Corpus callosum
What is the function of the thalamus?
Relay station for sensory information
What does the hypothalamus regulate?
Homeostasis, hormones, body temp
What protects the brain and spinal cord?
Bone, fat, meninges (dura, arachnoid, pia)
What is CSF and its function?
Fluid that protects, floats, and cushions the CNS
Where is CSF made?
In the choroid plexus of the brain ventricles
What is the difference between gray and white matter?
Gray: cell bodies, reflexes; White: myelinated axons for signals
How many spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
What is a dermatome?
Skin area supplied by a single spinal nerve
Name two major nerve plexuses.
Brachial plexus, lumbosacral plexus
What does the somatic nervous system control?
Voluntary skeletal muscles
What does the autonomic nervous system control?
Involuntary muscles (heart, glands, smooth muscle)
What are the two branches of the ANS?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?
Fight or flight: increases HR, BP, energy
What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Rest and digest: slows HR, digestion
What is the difference between somatic and autonomic motor pathways?
Somatic: one neuron, fast; Autonomic: two neurons, slower
