Lecture 2 - Overview of the Nervous System Structures

Question 1

historically, investigations into the structure of the nervous system relied on:

Answer 1

postmortem dissection and neuronal tracing

Question 2

newer recording and imaging approaches have increased accessibility to the nervous system of “intact” humans and can provide:

Answer 2

functional information on the activity of specific brain regions

Question 3

what does electroencephalography (EEG) do?

Answer 3

enables electrophysiological activity to be recorded from specific regions of the CNS (measures electrical activity in the brain during behaviour)

Question 4

what does positron emission topography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do?

Answer 4

imaging that can be used to observe the brain in action during behaviour to identify regions that are active

Question 5

what are the two main parts of the nervous system?

Answer 5

the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 6

ganglia and nerves that are connected to the CNS

Answer 6

the PNS

Question 7

provides the CNS with information about muscle, limb position and sensory stimuli

Answer 7

somatic division of the PNS

Question 8

provides information and control of viscera and smooth msucles

Answer 8

autonomic division of the nervous system

Question 9

what are the three major components of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 9

sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric system

Question 10

the CNS can be broken up into seven main regions along the rostro-caudal and dorso-ventral axes:

Answer 10

• spinal cord
• medulla
• cerebellum
• pons
• midbrain
• diencephalon
• cerebral hemispheres

Question 11

the caudal-most part of the CNS extending from the base of the skull

Answer 11

spinal cord

Question 12

what are the major functions of the spinal cord?

Answer 12

• receives sensory information from the trunk and limbs
• contains motor neurons responsible for movement
• contains interneurons which mediate activity of the descending tracts
• receives sensory information from visceral organs
• contains neurons that control visceral organs

Question 13

the human spinal cord is divided into ____ spinal segments, each receiving ____ information from, and sending ____ information to specific regions of the periphery

Answer 13

30, afferent, efferent

Question 14

sensory information travels into the spinal cord via the:

Answer 14

dorsal root

Question 15

efferent information exits the spinal cord via the:

Answer 15

ventral root

Question 16

where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 16

between L1 and L2

Question 17

the sack of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord which which provide the ability to move and feel sensation in the legs

Answer 17

cauda equina

Question 18

what is the purpose of the enlargements in the spinal cord?

Answer 18

enlargements contain motor neurons and interneurons for the arms and legs

Question 19

the region of the CNS immediately rostral to the spinal cord (the most caudal part of the brainstem)

Answer 19

medulla

Question 20

what are the four major functions of the medulla?

Answer 20

1) acts as an important conduit between the cortices and spinal cord
2) contains the reflex centres for vomiting, coughing, sneezing, and swallowing
3) important in regulating blood pressure
4) houses neural circuitry responsible for respiration

Question 21

which cranial nerves are associated with the medulla?

Answer 21

CN IX, X, and XII

Question 22

the region of the CNS immediately rostral to the medulla

Answer 22

pons

Question 23

what are the two major functions of the pons?

Answer 23

1) important relay centre between the cortex and the cerebellum
2) contains tracts that carry the sensory signals from the spinal cord to the thalamus

Question 24

which cranial nerves are associated with the pons?

Answer 24

CN V, VI, VII, VIII

Question 25

dorsal to the pons and medulla, divided into three lobes

Answer 25

cerebellum

Question 26

what kind of information does the cerebellum receive?

Answer 26

input from the spinal cord, motor info from the cortex, and vestibular information

Question 27

coordinates planning, timing, and patterning of skeletal muscles during movement (refines movement), and is involved in motor learning

Answer 27

cerebellum

Question 28

cells of the vermis are responsible for:

Answer 28

posture, coordination, and speech patterns

Question 29

the cells of the vermis are susceptible to:

Answer 29

alcohol

Question 30

region of the brain immediately rostral to the pons

Answer 30

midbrain

Question 31

acts as an important relay station for auditory signals on the way to the cortex

Answer 31

midbrain

Question 32

houses the substantia nigra and the mesencephalic locomotor region

Answer 32

the midbrain

Question 33

part of the basal ganglia which produces dopamine and plays a role in movement and movement planning

Answer 33

substantia nigra

Question 34

an essential relay point which transmits locomotor initiation commands from higher centres to the spinal circuitry (integrates inputs from higher brain regions)

Answer 34

mesencephalic locomotor region

Question 35

what are the two major parts of the diencephalon?

Answer 35

the thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 36

processes and distributes virtually all sensory (other than olfactory) and motor information on the way to the cortex

Answer 36

thalamus

Question 37

part of the limbic system which is linked with emotion and behaviour, regulates the autonomic nervous system, and regulates the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland

Answer 37

hypothalamus

Question 38

is the hypothalamus ventral or dorsal to the thalamus?

Answer 38

ventral

Question 39

what are the major parts of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 39

the cerebral cortex, underlying white matter, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and amygdala

Question 40

primary processing areas for motor, sensory, visual, and auditory information receive input from:

Answer 40

secondary and tertiary areas which process complex aspects of a single sense

Question 41

the association areas of the cortex are involved in:

Answer 41

planning and motivation (putting together motor and visual info)

Question 42

regulates movement, receives input from all four lobes of the cortex, and provides output to the frontal cortex

Answer 42

basal ganglia

Question 43

part of the brain essential for memory consolidation

Answer 43

hippocampus

Question 44

part of the brain which coordinates the actions of the autonomic and endocrine systems, and regulates emotion

Answer 44

hippocampus