CNS - Lecture 1

Question 1

The central nervous system comprises of

Answer 1

The brain and spinal cord

Question 2

3 main components of the brain:

Answer 2

cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem

Question 3

corpus callosum

Answer 3

nerve axons that link the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum, so the 2 halves may communicate

Question 4

cerebral cortex

Answer 4

outer layer of gray matter of cerebrum

Question 5

4 lobes that make up the cerebral cortex (each hemisphere has these 4 lobes)

Answer 5

frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobe

Question 6

parietal lobe functions

Answer 6

mediates skin and muscle sensation

Question 7

frontal lobe functions

Answer 7

personality, emotions, control of movement

Question 8

occipital lobe functions

Answer 8

vision

Question 9

temporal lobe functions

Answer 9

hearing and memory functions

Question 10

the forebrain comprises of the

Answer 10

cerebrum and diencephalon

Question 11

Cerebellum location and function

Answer 11

located at the base of cerebrum; controls balance and voluntary movement (may have cognitive functions as well)

Question 12

Brainstem is composed of:

Answer 12

• composed of the midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata

Question 13

Brainstem functions

Answer 13

• supplys neurotransmitters to different parts of the brain
• control of the respiratory and cardiovascular muscles
• controls transmission in sensory, motor, reflex and pain pathways
• Initiation of locomotion

Question 14

Basal ganglia functions

Answer 14

movement initiation, inhibition of muscles antagonistic to the desired movement

Question 15

Thalamus functions

Answer 15

selects and relays sensory signals to cortex

Question 16

Hypothalamus functions

Answer 16

homeostasis, emotions (head ganglia of the ANS)

Question 17

spinal cord function

Answer 17

locomotor pattern generator

Question 18

What is the meninges

Answer 18

membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord

Question 19

what are the 3 layers of the meninges

Answer 19

• dura mater: tough outer layer
• arachnoid mater: spidery middle mesh
• pia mater: delicate inner layer

Question 20

Meningitis is

Answer 20

infection of the meninges

Question 21

Where is cerebrospinal fluid produced

Answer 21

in brain ventricles

Question 22

What does the cerebrospinal fluid do

Answer 22

• maintains electrolyte balance around neurons
• bathe and support neural tissue

Question 23

where does the cerebrospinal fluid go after being produced

Answer 23

reabsorbed into the blood in the veins at the same rate as it is produced

Question 24

What are the 4 types of glial cells

Answer 24

Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Ependymal cells
Microglia

Question 25

Astrocytes

Answer 25

• form a scaffold that holds neurons together
• forms the blood-brain barrier
• forms scar tissue which inhibits regeneration of axons
• recycles neurotransmitter molecules
• maintains electrolyte balance

Question 26

Oligodendrocytes

Answer 26

forms the myelin sheath around neuronal axons

Question 27

Ependymal cells

Answer 27

produce cerebrospinal fluid

Question 28

microglia

Answer 28

ingest bacteria and cellular debris

Question 29

Gliomas is

Answer 29

A brain tumour arising from glial cells

Question 30

Meningioma is

Answer 30

A brain tumour arising in the meninges

Question 31

How is glucose transported from the capillaries to the neurons?

Answer 31

Carrier-mediated transport systems

Question 32

capillaries of the BBB are tightly joined and therefor can protect..

Answer 32

neurons from chemical fluctuations and large molecules

Question 33

Afferent

Answer 33

sensory input signals sent to CNS by sensory afferent nerve axons of the peripheral nervous system

Question 34

Efferent

Answer 34

motor commands sent from CNS to muscles & glands by efferent (motor) axons

Question 35

Vertebra column

Answer 35

boney structure that supports the trunk and the head on the legs; within the vertebrae is the spinal canal where the spinal cord is found

Question 36

What does the spinal cord do

Answer 36

conveys signals from sensory receptors to the brain, as well as signals from the brain to effector organs

Question 37

How many pairs of spinal nerves convey signals to and from the spinal cord?

Answer 37

31 pairs

Question 38

Each spinal nerve innervates a specific area of the skin called a __________ and a specific set of muscles called a __________

Answer 38

dermatome
myotome

Question 39

Posterior or dorsal means

Answer 39

towards back of body

Question 40

Anterior or ventral means

Answer 40

towards the front of the body

Question 41

Dorsal root ganglion (posterior root ganglion) is

Answer 41

A cluster of neurons in a dorsal root of a spinal nerve

Question 42

Sensory afferent axons enter the spinal cord through the

Answer 42

dorsal roots

Question 43

sensory afferent axons bifurcate meaning..

Answer 43

they split into ascending (carry info to the brainstem) and descending (travel caudally, towards the tail) axons

Question 44

Motor neurons are located in the

Answer 44

ventral horn

Question 45

Efferent axons of the motorneurons leave the spinal cord through the _______ _______ to innervate the muscles

Answer 45

ventral roots

Question 46

what is central grey matter comprised of

Answer 46

motorneurons, interneurons, dendrites and axons

Question 47

what is surrounding white matter comprised of?

Answer 47

bundles of axons (called tracts), which convey sensory signals and motor commands

Question 48

The tracts (bundles of axons) are responsible for carrying

Answer 48

motor and sensory stimuli to and from the periphery

Question 49

Cervical nerves mediate sensory input from

Answer 49

from the arms

Question 50

thoracic nerves mediate sensory information from

Answer 50

the abdomen (trunk)

Question 51

Lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerves mediate sensory information from

Answer 51

the legs and feet