CNS and PNS Flashcards
(38 cards)
CNS
part of the nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord
bone
provides a strong rigid structure to protect the brain and spinal cord
cranium - brain, vertebrae - spinal cord
meninges
layers of connective tissue covering the brain and spinal cord
dura mater
tough and fibrous, attached to the skull closely but not so close fitting on the inside of the vertebral canal
arachnoid mater
loose mesh of fibres
pia mater
contains many blood vessels, sticks closely to the surface of the brain and spinal cord
cerebrospinal fluid structure
- clear watery fluid containing some cells and glucose protein fats salts
- occupies space between middle and inner layers of meninges
- formed from blood, circulates through CNS (cavities in brain and through centre of spinal cord) before reentering blood capillaries
CSF function
shock absorber, brain suspended in it, provides nutrients to and removes wastes from CNS
cerebrum
- thinking reasoning memory intelligence
- coordinating body’s voluntary activities in response to information from sensory receptors
- highly folded to increase SA
convolutions/gyri
rounded ridges formed by folding of cerebral cortex
sulci and fissures
shallow/deep downfolds between convolutions in cerebral cortex
grey matter made of
neuron cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons
basal ganglia
inner surface, consists of nerve cell bodies associated with control of skeletal muscle, plays a role in initiating desired and inhibiting unwanted movement
3 functional areas of cerebral cortex
sensory areas - receives and processes impulses from sensory receptors
motor areas - sends impulses to effectors via efferent pathway
association areas - intellectual, emotional interpret info from senses and make it useful
lobes
frontal - thinking, problem solving, emotion, personality
insula - recognition of different senses and emotions, addiction, psych disorders
temporal - processing and linking memories with senses/ auditory
occipital - vision
parietal - every other receptor
white matter
myelinated axons, fatty nature of myelin sheath causes white colour
tracts
myelinated nerve fibres between cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, make up white matter
- connect various areas of cortex within same hemispheres
- carry impulses between right and left hemispheres
- connect cortex to other parts of brain and spinal cord
nervous system
system involved with the control and coordination of the body
corpus callosum structure
wide band of nerve fibres that lie underneath the cerebrum at the base of the longitudinal fissure
corpus callosum function
nerve fibres in the corpus callosum cross between 1 cerebral hemisphere to the other so there is communication between the 2 hemispheres
cerebellum structure
under the rear of the cerebrum, surface is folded into a series of parallel ridges
cerebellum function
controls posture, balance, fine coordination of movement, receives sensory info from inner ear about posture and balance, and stretch receptors in skeletal muscles for info about length of muscles
all functions take place below conscious level, nerve impulses do not originate from it, can still move, jerky uncontrolled spasmodic movements
hypothalamus function
maintains homeostasis (constant internal environment), regulates autonomic, food water intake temp secretion of hormones and part of endocrine system
medulla oblongata stucture
continuation of spinal cord, extends from just above point where spinal cord enters skull