Week 2 - Neuronatomy Flashcards
(41 cards)
What are Efferent nerves?
Nerves that travel FROM CNS
What are Afferent nerves?
Nerves that travel TO CNS
What cells are part of the nervous system?
Nerve cells such as neurons which are electrical
Supporting cells such as glia
What is the spinal cord divided into?
Dorsal - afferent nerves such as sensory roots
Ventral - efferent nerves such as motor roots
How many spinal nerve pairs are there?
31 pairs
How many cranial nerve pairs are there (in the brain)?
12 pairs
What is the brainstem?
Connects brain and spinal cord
Responsible for automatic survival functions such as breathing, heart rate etc
The brain stem is made up of 3 parts
What 3 parts make up the brain stem?
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
What does the midbrain do?
(Part of brain stem)
Associated with vision, hearing, sleep, wakefulness, temperature regulation and motor control
What does the pons do?
(Part of the brain stem)
Helps to regulate breathing
What does the medulla do?
(Part of the brain stem)
Controls heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and vomiting
Receives sensory input and gives out motor output to some of the cranial nerves
What is the reticular formation?
Has widespread connections throughout the brain
Maintains consciousness and alertness
Functions in sleep and waking up from sleep
What is the thalamus?
Above the brainstem
Directs messages to sensory receiving areas
Transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla
What is the cerebellum?
Controls voluntary movement and balance
Contributes to cognitive, emotional, sensory , motor and speech processing
What is the limbic system?
It deals with basic drive, emotion and memory
Made up of areas such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus etc
What is the hypothalamus?
(Part of the limbic system)
Lies just below the thalamus
Helps control the endocrine system via the pituitary gland
Directs activities such as body temp, eating/drinking etc
What is BSR - Brain Stimulation Reward?
(Part of the limbic system)
What is the amygdala?
(part of the limbic system)
The amygdala consists of 2 almond shaped clusters
Linked to fear, anxiety, aggression
Fight or flight response begins in the amygdala
2 examples of how scientists shown the amygdala was linked to fear, aggression etc?
Charles Whitman, who committed a mass shooting, was found to have a tumour in his amygdala, showing that as his amygdala was larger due to the tumour, he shown more aggression
Patient SM - she had bilateral damage to her amygdala, so found it hard to show fear
What is the hippocampus?
(Part of the limbic system)
Located in each temporal lobe
Involved in formation and retention of memories - so if you had bilateral damage to the hippocampus’ it can lead to amnesia
Also involved in learning/emotion
Give 2 example of how scientists found out the hippocampus was responsible for memories?
Patient HM - had his hippocampus removed due to seizures, but afterwards he developed amnesia
Clive Wearing - he had a brain infection that damaged his hippocampus, so developed amnesia
What is the cerebral cortex and what parts does it consist of?
It is the ultimate control and information processing centre
It consists of the:
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe
What does the frontal lobe do?
(part of the cerebral cortex)
Also known as the motor cortex
Involved in speaking, muscle movement, making plans/judgement
What does the parietal lobe do?
(part of the cerebral cortex)
Also known as the sensory cortex
Involved in:
sensing
spatial mapping
visuospatial processing
