Lecture 4 - The nervous system

Question 1

The nervous system?

Answer 1

• look at diagram
• somatic = voluntary
• autonomic = involuntary
• sympathetic = fight or flight
• parasympathetic = relaxes the body by decreasing heart rate and increasing blood flow to the digestive system known as the rest and digest system
• the endocrine system works with the nervous system and is involved in regulating hormones

Question 2

What are the brains surface features?

Answer 2

• The brain is composed of 2 hemispheres
• The gyri (hill tops) and sulci (valleys) are visible when the skull is opened
• The surface landmarks of each individuals brain is slightly different but the main wrinkles are common to all and are used as landmarks
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) acts as a cushion between the skull and the brain

Question 3

Cerebral cortex?

Answer 3

• forms a layer of nerve cells that cover the outer surface of the brain
• it has a layered structure that is composed of 6 layers
• the number and variety of neurons varies in different parts of the cerebral cortex based on function of the brain region

Question 4

What are the 4 lobes of the brain?

Answer 4

1. occipital lobe = visual processing
2. parietal lobe = touch, balance, movement
3. temporal lobe = hearing, speech comprehension, memory and visual recognition
4. frontal lobe = movement, thinking + planning
   look at diagram

Question 5

What is the brain stem?

Answer 5

• is composed of nerves that run up from the body into the brain
• clumps of cells in the brainstem control the brain’s general level of alertness and regulate autonomic processes such as breathing, hr + bp
• the brain stem includes:
  -> hindbrain
  -> midbrain
  -> diencephalon
  look at diagram

Question 6

Why is the basil ganglia important?

Answer 6

for control of voluntary movement

Question 7

Why is the limbic system important?

Answer 7

for navigation in space and memory formation

Question 8

What are cranial nerves?

Answer 8

• they are part of the somatic NS
• they allow the brain to communicate with the muscles and sense organs of the head and neck
• e.g. the olfactory nerve is for smell

Question 9

Spinal cord?

Answer 9

• The brain communicates with the rest of the body via the spinal cord and cranial nerves
• Sensory info about touch and pain is relayed to the brain via the spinal cord and the brain sends motor commands via the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement
• Spinal cord = protected by the vertebrae
• Nerve fibres leave the spinal cord through gaps between the vertebrae