U7 CNS & PNS

Question 1

Meninges & Their Layers

Answer 1

membranes located between bone and soft tissues
(dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater)

Question 2

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Answer 2

clear liquid that bathes the brain & spinal cord; cushions the brain and serves as a shock absorber; produced by the choroid plexus within each of the 4 ventricles; tight junctions within choroid plexus form a blood-CSF barrier that keeps brain secure

Question 3

Subdural Hematoma

Answer 3

associated with TBI; bleeding within the brain, puts pressure on the brain and can be life threatening

Question 4

Spinal Cord

Answer 4

passes down the vertebral canal; C1-C8, T1-T12, L1-L5

Question 5

3 Major Parts of the Brain

Answer 5

1. Cerebrum
2. Brain Stem
3. Cerebellum

Question 6

Cerebrum

Answer 6

wrinkly large part of the brain (cerebral cortex = outer layer) // higher mental function, solving problems

Question 7

Cerebellum

Answer 7

balance and coordination, modulates voluntary movement of the limbs; white matter within the cerebellum gives it a tree-like appearance (arbor vitae)

Question 8

Brain Stem

Answer 8

regulates visceral functions (AUTONOMIC SYSTEM)

Question 9

Corpus Callosum

Answer 9

connects the 2 hemispheres; left and right cerebral hemispheres are separated by the corpus callosum

Question 10

Brain Convolutions

Answer 10

wrinkles and grooves of the cerebrum; fissures = deep groove, sulcus = shallow groove, gyrus = bump

Question 11

Lobes

Answer 11

• Frontal = executive functions
• Parietal = perception, sense-making, math
• Occipital = vision
• Temporal = memory, language, auditory

Question 12

Longitudinal Fissure

Answer 12

separates the brain into 2 hemispheres

Question 13

Transverse Fissure

Answer 13

separates cerebrum and cerebellum

Question 14

Ventricle

Answer 14

fluid filled cavities, contains CSF; 4 total (2 lateral ventricles, interventricular foramen connects lateral to third ventricle, & cerebral aqueduct connects third ventricle to fourth ventricle)

Question 15

Association Areas

Answer 15

for interpreting and analyzing information:
- Frontal = prefrontal association area, motor association area, primary motor cortex
- Parietal = sensory association area, primary somatic-sensory cortex
- Occipital = visual association area, visual cortex
- Temporal = auditory association area, auditory cortex

Question 16

Diencephalon

Answer 16

• Hypothalamus: hormones, heart rate, blood pressure, body temp, hunger, attaches to pituitary (HOMEOSTASIS & ANS)
• Thalamus: relay station (all info. minus smell is processed through thalamus)

Question 17

Optic Tract/Chiasma

Answer 17

optic nerves cross over each other; left side of the brain controls the right side of the body (vice versa)

Question 18

Midbrain (Mesencephalon)

Answer 18

connects the hindbrain to the forebrain; visual reflexes, eye movements

Question 19

Pons

Answer 19

relay sensory information; links brain to spinal cord; in charge of unconscious movements and processes (e.g. sleep, posture, respiration, swallowing, bladder control); signals from the cerebrum to the cerebellum pass through here; PART OF BRAIN STEM

Question 20

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 20

heart, respiration, blood pressure; controls coughing, sneezing, hiccuping, sweating, vomiting, etc.; PART OF BRAIN STEM

Question 21

Pituitary Gland

Answer 21

“master gland”; controls hormones

Question 22

Hippocampus

Answer 22

storage and retrieval of memories

Question 23

Amygdala

Answer 23

storage of memories associated with emotion (fear response and aggression)

Question 24

Limbic System

Answer 24

hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala = all have a role in emotions

Question 25

Central Sulcus

Answer 25

shallow groove separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe

Question 26

Lateral Fissure

Answer 26

deep groove separating the frontal and parietal lobe from the temporal lobe

Question 27

Gray vs. White Matter

Answer 27

white = myelinated nerve fibers (inside of the brain), gray = non-myelinated soma & dendrites (outside of the brain)

Question 28

Epidural Space

Answer 28

between the skull/vertebrae and dura mater

Question 29

Subdural Space

Answer 29

separation between the dura and arachnoid meninx

Question 30

Subarachnoid Space

Answer 30

separation between arachnoid and pia mater meninx

Question 31

Blood Supply & the Blood-Brain Barrier

Answer 31

CNS is protected by a blood-brain barrier that regulates substances entering the brain -- tight junctions within capillaries and astrocytes comprise this barrier (absent in areas of the brain that monitor pH, blood glucose, etc.)

Question 32

Hydrocephalus

Answer 32

"water on the brain"; results from blockage of the route of CSF and its absorption

Question 33

Spinal Cord

Answer 33

begins at the foramen magnum and ends at the first lumbar vertebra (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions) -- 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Question 34

Cervical & Lumbar Enlargements

Answer 34

supply the upper limbs (cervical) and lower limbs (lumbar)

Question 35

Conus Medullaris

Answer 35

terminal end of the spinal cord (typically around L1 vertebral level in avg. adult)

Question 36

Cauda Equina

Answer 36

nerve bundles at the bottom of the spinal cord; connects to other parts of the body and allows ability to move and feel sensation in the legs & bladder

Question 37

Autonomic vs. Somatic

Answer 37

somatic = things you can consciously sense and do, autonomic = works without thinking about it

Question 38

Spinal Cord's Fissures...

Answer 38

anterior median fissure & posterior median sulcus

Question 39

Spinal Cord Anatomy (think "horns")

Answer 39

consists of a central area of gray matter; 2 dorsal/posterior "horns" & 2 ventral/anterior "horns"; posterior = SENSORY, anterior = MOTOR

Question 40

Spinal Tracts

Answer 40

- Ascending = carry SENSORY info up the spinal cord - Descending = carry MOTOR info down the spinal cord - Tracts are WHITE matter (not GRAY)

Question 41

Decussation

Answer 41

"crossover" = left/right, right/left (many fibers exhibit decussation

Question 42

Hindbrain

Answer 42

medulla oblongata + pons + cerebellum

Question 43

Tectum

Answer 43

a part of the midbrain/mesencephalon -- consist of 4 nuclei called corpora quadrigemina (visual attention, tracking objects, visual reflexes)

Question 44

Reticular Formation

Answer 44

a group of 100 nuclei scattered throughout the medulla, midbrain, and pons that function in somatic motor control, autonomic control, arousal, and pain modulation

Question 45

Epithalamus (Diencephalon)

Answer 45

contains the pineal gland; cone - shaped gland, best known for synthesis of melatonin from serotonin; role in light-sensitive Circadian rhythms

Question 46

Cerebrum Basal Nuclei

Answer 46

masses of gray matter buried deep in the cerebral hemispheres; involved in motor control and thought process

Question 47

Brain Waves

Answer 47

rhythmic voltage changes resulting from synchronized postsynaptic potentials in the cerebral cortex (recorded on an EEG)

Question 48

Sleep

Answer 48

controlled by the hypothalamus and brain stem; 4 stages, 4th = REM; temporary state of unconsciousness

Question 49

Motor Control

Answer 49

voluntary muscle contractions are initiated in the motor association (premotor) area of the frontal lobes; the impulse is then sent to the pre- central gyrus (primary motor area)

Question 50

Somatic Control

Answer 50

the post-central gyrus functions as the primary sensory area or somesthetic; here neurons receive sensory information.

Question 51

Cerebral Lateralization

Answer 51

the assignment of different tasks to different hemispheres (aka handedness)

Question 52

Parasympathetic NS vs. Sympathetic NS

Answer 52

parasympathetic = "rest and digest" -- sympathetic = "fight or flight"