The nervous system

Question 1

What is the midsaggital section?

Answer 1

section cut down the centre of the brain

Question 2

What is the cross section?

Answer 2

cross section - section cut at a right angle to a long structure

Question 3

what is the function of the autonomic ns ?

Answer 3

regulates body’s internal environment, automatic

Question 4

what is the function of the somatic ns ?

Answer 4

external environment, conscious and voluntary

Question 5

what is the function of the sympathetic ns ?

Answer 5

prepares the organs for vigororous activity e.g increases breathing

Question 6

what is the function of the parasympathetic?

Answer 6

energy conservation, non-emergency functions

Question 7

what is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 7

communicates with sense organs and muscles below the head

Question 8

how is the spinal cord structured?

Answer 8

organised in a segmented structure with the sensory nerve entering and the motor nerve exiting

Question 9

what happens if the spinal cord is cut?

Answer 9

the brain will lose all sensation from everything below the cut which is useful for anaesthetic

Question 10

Explain how the reflex arc supports leg flexion (step by step)

Answer 10

1. information is sent via the sensory nerve
2. intrinsic neuron connection to the motor neuron and signals muscles to contract
3. motor nerve converts information to the muscle and the muscle contracts
4. this is done involuntarily, yielding high survival value

Question 11

What are the three major divisions of the brain?

Answer 11

Forebrain
midbrain
hindbrain

Question 12

Name the key components of the hindbrain

Answer 12

Medulla
reticular formation
pons
cerebellum

Question 13

Medulla (hindbrain) function

Answer 13

controls some vital reflexes , tracts carrying signals between brain and body

Question 14

reticular formation (hindbrain) function

Answer 14

arousal, sleep, attention , movement etc

Question 15

pons (hindbrain) function

Answer 15

latin for bridge , axons from each hemisphere cross

Question 16

cerebellum (hindbrain) function

Answer 16

balance, rhythm, coordination etc

Question 17

name the components of the midbrain

Answer 17

tectum , tegmentum

Question 18

tectum function (midbrain)

Answer 18

(visual and auditory functions)

Question 19

tegmentum function (midbrain)

Answer 19

sensorimotor function

Question 20

main components of the forebrain

Answer 20

thalamus , hypothalamus , basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebral cortex

Question 21

thalamus function

Answer 21

sensory related except for olfactory info

Question 22

hypothalamus function

Answer 22

regulation of motivated behaviour , release of hormones from pituitary gland

Question 23

what is the largest division of the human brain ?

Answer 23

the forebrain

Question 24

How is Parkinson’s disease treated?

Answer 24

the globes pallidus is a target for deep stimulation in Parkinson’s , reduces the disabling , electrodes implanted deep in the brain , electrically stimulated

Question 25

limbic system function

Answer 25

regulates motivated emotions (amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex and othe

Question 26

describe the cerebral cortex

Answer 26

the outer surface are the cerebral hemispheres, it is deeply convoluted to increase surface of the cortex, there are large furrows and smacks furrows

Question 27

how do neurons communicate across hemispheres ?

Answer 27

mainly through the corpus callopsm

Question 28

What are the four lobes of each hemisphere?

Answer 28

occipital parietal temporal frontal

Question 29

Occipital lobe function

Answer 29

visual , main input from thalamic nuclei that receives visual input

Question 30

parietal lobe function

Answer 30

recieves main input from touch sensations and muscle stretch receptors

Question 31

temporal lobe function

Answer 31

auditory information

Question 32

frontal lobe function

Answer 32

anterior proportion receives and integrates input from all sensory systems , higher cognitive functions

Question 33

Describe the development of the nervous system

Answer 33

1. Production of neurons and glia from stem cells 2. Neurons move toward their eventual destinations in the brain 3. Growth of axons and then dendrites 3. Myelination continues for decades 4. Formation of synapses, continues throughout life (synaptogenesis)

Question 34

what does cell death and the activity of incoming axons result in?

Answer 34

neural darwinism e.g rearrangement of synapses

Question 35

what do experiences lead to?

Answer 35

leads to increased dendritic and axonal branching

Question 36

How does the nervous system compensate for brain damage?

Answer 36

increased sensitivity to remaining NTs (denervation supersensitivity) -compensation , chronic pain, axon sprouting

Question 37

explain phantom limb syndrome

Answer 37

axons representing another body part sprout into synaptic sets originally innervated by amputated body part = phantom limb

Question 38

what is myelination?

Answer 38

the process by which glia produce the insulating fatty sheaths that accelerate transmission in many vertebrate axons