The Nervous System Flashcards
•consists of the Brain & Spinal Cord
The Central Nervous System
The 3 layers of protective membranes enclosing both the brain & spinal cord
Meninges
Cerebrum
- Larger, outermost portion
* Controls functions such as sensation, thought, & associative memory
Cushion of fluid around & within the brain & spinal cord
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebellum
- Posteriorly & Inferiorly
- Coordinates muscle activity
- Maintaned balance through impulses from eyes & ears
Contains mesencephalon, pons, and the medulla oblongata
Brainstem
Afferent Nerves
sensory information
All the nerves locates outside the spinal cord & brain
The Peripheral Nervous System
Efferent Nerves
Motor information
Voluntary Nervous System
Skeletal (voluntary) muscles & movements
The Automatic Nervous System
Smooth (involuntary) muscles & glands
- Activated when the body is challened by stressors: trauma, blood loss, fright…
- “fight or flight”
Sympathetic Nervous System
The Cerebral hemispheres
Right and left sides of the cerebrum
Returns the body processes to normal or depresses body functions
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
•determines whether the pt. remains awake & aware
•Group of nerves found in brain stem
• “wake & sleep center” or
“On/off center”
Consciousness
The RAS & at least one cerebral hemisphere must be intact & functioning
Unconsciousness
If either RAS or both cerebral hemispheres are damaged or not functioning properly
what center is responsible for regulating the heart rate and force of contraction of the ventricles
Cardiac center
what center controls the blood pressure
vasomotor center
What is about 18 inches long & an extension on the brain stem
Spinal cord
What will happen when the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated?
Increase heart rate
Which part of the nervous system directly & indirectly controls the size of the blood vessels
Sympathetic nervous system
