MAMMALIAN NERVOUS SYSTEM Flashcards
(39 cards)
What does the mammalian nervous system consist of? (2)
the CNS (central nervous system - brain and spinal cord) and all the peripheral nerves
what is the peripheral nervous system? (1)
consists of neurones carrying impulses from sense organs to CNS.
Neurones carrying impulses to muscles and glands from CNS
What are sensory nerves? (1)
nerves that contain sensory neurone fibres only and convey impulses towards the CNS.
What are motor nerves? (1)
nerves that contain motor neurone fibres only and convey impulses to effector organs
what are mixed nerves? (1)
have fibres of both motor and sensory neurones and carry impulses in both directions
what is a ‘nerve’? (1)
bundles of axons of sensory and motor neurones in tough outer covering
What role does the brain play in the nervous system? (1)
brain coordinates responses (control centre of the nervous system)
What is the structure of the spinal cord? (1)
the spinal cord is a cylindrical structure with a tiny central canal, this canal contains cerebrospinal fluid and is continous with the fluid-filled spaces in the centre of the brain. The cord consists of an inner area of grey matter surrounded by white matter.
what is grey matter? (1)
nervous tissue that is made up largely of the cell bodies of neurones
what is white matter? (1)
nervous tissue made up largely of axons and their fatty myelin sheaths
What protects the spinal cord? (1)
The spinal cord is surrounded by the vertebrae of the backbone.
what is the role of the spinal cord? (1)
to relay action potentials between receptor organs and effector organs of the body (by reflex action) and between them and the brain.
what are receptor organs? (1)
organs that can detect changes caused by a stimulus and initiate action potentials.
what are effector organs? (1)
organs that can respond to a stimulus to bring about a particular action
what is a reflex action? (1)
a rapid nervous reaction in which there is direct connection between the sense organ and the effector organ bringing about a similar response to a similar stimulus.
describe the structure of the brain. (1)
the brain is a highly organised mass of interneurons connected with the rest of the nervous system by numerous motor and sensory neurones.
What is the brain responsible for? (1)
Is responsible for complex patterns of behaviour in addition to many reflex actions.
How does the brain control all bodily functions? (5)
-receiving impulses from sensory receptors
-integrating and correlating incoming information in association centres
-sending impulses to effector organs causing bodily responses
-storing information and building up an accessible memory bank
-initiating impulses from its own self-contained activities
what are some examples of effector organs? (2)
muscles and glands
What is the vertebrate brain? (1)
A mass of nerve tissue in the anterior end of an organism.
where does the vertebrate brain develop? (1)
develops in the embryo from the anterior end of a simple tube, the neural tube.
What does the neural tube do? (1)
this tube enlarges to form three primary structures; the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. These develop by selective thickening and folding processes of their walls and roof.
What are the lobes of the brain? (5)
-frontal lobe
-parietal lobe
-occipital lobe
-cerebellum
-temporal lobe
what is the frontal lobe? (1)
(higher centres of the brain) - personality, thought and reasoning, decision making and association by combining inputs from rest of cortex; also motor cortex, directly linked to spinal cord, sending impulses that trigger movements.
