Nervous system - CNS and PNS Flashcards
(33 cards)
Effector
Organs that act upon the information carried for example by efferent neurons (e.g. motor neurons) from nervous system
Efferent neuron
Neurons which carry information from CNS and innervate (supply with nerves) effectors to act upon that information
Afferent neuron
Sensory neurons which carry information toward CNS
Central Nervous System
Consists of:
1) Brain
2) Spinal chord
Peripheral Nervous System
Consists of:
1) Cranial nerves
2) Spinal nerves
Divided into two systems:
1) Somatic - Voluntary control of skeletal muscle
2) Autonomic - involuntary control of glands and smooth muscle
Nervous system
Three functions:
1) Sensory function or receiving information –> PNS
2) Integrative function (processing) –> CNS
3) Motor function; acting on the information after being processed –> PNS
Monosynaptic reflex arc
Reflex involving only two neurons and one synapse:
1) Sensory neuron detects stretching of muscle
2) Transmits impulse to motor neuron cell body in spinal cord
3) Motor neuron’s long axon synapses with muscle that was stretched and causes contraction
Reflex
Direct motor response to sensory input without conscious thought; simplest example of nervous system activity
Autonomic (PNS)
Part of PNS, subdivided into:
1) Sympathetic: Fight or flight
2) Parasympathetic: Rest and digest
Somatic (PNS)
Voluntary control of skeletal muscle
3 subdivisions of the fetal brain
1) Forebrain (Cerebrum)
2) Midbrain
3) Hindbrain (Pons, medulla, cerebellum)
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Liquid that functions to:
1) Shock absorption for brain
2) Exchange of nutrients and wastes with CNS
Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)
Pons, medulla and cerebellum
Medulla
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: Located below pons and connects to spinal cord
General: Involuntary functions
Specific:
1) Autonomic processes such as blood pressure, flow, heart rate, respiratory rate, swallowing
2) Controls reflex reactions such as coughing or sneezing
3) Relays sensory info to cerebellum and thalamus
Pons
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: Above medulla
General: Relay station and balance
Specific:
1) Controls posture and balance
2) Relays info to cerebellum and thalamus
Cerebellum
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: Below cerebrum
General: Movement coordination
Specific:
1) Integrating center
2) Coordination of complex movement, balance and posture
Midbrain
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: Above pons
General: Eye movement
Specific:
1) Integration of visual and auditory information
2) Visual and auditory reflexes
Thalamus
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: Near middle of the brain, part of cerebrum
General: Integrating center and relay station
Specific:
1) Relay center for somatic (conscious, voluntary) sensation
2) Relays information between spinal cord and cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location: In front of thalamus
General: Homeostasis and behavior
Specific:
1) Controls homeostatic functions (temp regulation, fluid balance, appetite) through both neural and hormonal regulation
2) Controls the pituitary gland
3) Controls primitive behavior
Basal nuclei
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location:
Part of the cerebrum, deep area
General: Movement; Work with cerebellum
Specific:
Learned movement patterns
Regulate body movements
Limbic system
1) Location
2) General
3) Specific
Location:
Between cerebrum and diencephalon
General: Emotion, memory and learning
Specific:
1) Controls emotions
2) Memory storage and retrieval
3) Links unconscious and conscious parts of brain
Cerebral cortex - four lobes
Location:
Part of cerebrum
4 lobes:
Frontal lobe - voluntary movement, problem-solving
Parietal lobe - General sensation
Occipital lobe - visual processing
Temporal lobe - short-term memory, emotion, auditory and olfactory sensation
Corpus callosum
Connects left and right cerebral hemispheres
Gray matter
Outer layer of cerebral cortex composed of somas (cell bodies)
