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56 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the central nervous system composed of? |
The Brain and the spinal cord. |
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Describe the make up in terms of colour of the brain |
Outer layer grey matter whilst inner layer is white matter. |
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Describe the make up in terms of colour of the spinal cord |
Outer layer is white matter whilst inner layer is grey matter. |
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Name and describe the three layers of protection of the CNS |
• Bone – Skull is a thick and tough protective layer • Meninges – 3 membranes that surround the CNS • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): Fluid in the Arachnoid mater |
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Define the meninges |
Three layers of connective tissue that lie between the bone and the CNS. |
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Name and describe the function of the three layers of the meninges |
• Dura mater: tough outer most layer that lines the bone • Pia mater: delicate inner most layer that covers the CNS and contains many blood vessels • Arachnoid mater: narrow space between the Dura and the Pia that houses the CSF |
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Where is the Cerebrospinal fluid produced and what is it's composition? |
• It is made in the choroid plexus which lies in the third ventricle and reabsorbed back into blood vessels • It has the same composition as blood but without the cells (RBC & WBC) • We make about 150ml of CSF a day |
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What are the three functions of the CSF |
• Protect the CNS: it acts as a shock absorber so that the CNS does not smash against the bone during impact • Support the CNS: the CNS “floats” in the CSF so it does not rest on bone • Transport of substances: carries glucose, ions & O2 to the CNS and urea & CO2 from the CNS |
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What is the function of the cranium in the CNS |
• the bone that houses & protects the brain (CNS) |
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What is the function of the vertebrae in the CNS |
• Vertebrae: bone that houses & protects the spinal cord • Vertebral canal: opening in the vertebrae that the spinal cord runs through |
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Where is the cerebral cortex and what colour is it? |
• outer layer (grey matter) |
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Where is the basal ganglia and what colour is it? |
• deep, inner layer of grey matter |
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Where in the cerebrum does white matter exist |
• Between the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia is white matter |
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How thick is the cerebral cortex? |
The cerebral cortex is 2-4 mm thick and has many folds in it to increase the surface area : volume |
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What is the results of an increased surface area: volume |
• An increased SA:V means more connections and greater complexity |
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What percentage of the neurons in the CNS does the cerebral cortex contain? |
• The cerebral cortex contains 70% of all the neurons in the CNS due to its large surface area |
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What are gyri? |
The folding of ridges in the surface of the cerebrum |
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What are sulci? |
• shallow troughs |
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What are fissures? |
• deep troughs |
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What is the central sulcus? |
• The main sulcus that lies between the frontal lobe and the parietal lobe |
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Where is the longitudinal fissure? |
• The deepest fissure lies between the left and right hemispheres |
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What is the corpus callosum? |
• Joining the two hemispheres is a tract of white matter called the corpus callosum which allows both sides to communicate with each other |
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What are the 5 lobes of the Cerebrum and their very general function |
• The cerebrum has 5 lobes, each with different functions • Frontal lobe: sensory and higher thought (planning etc), it also houses the limbic system • Parietal lobe: sensory and taste • Occipital lobe: vision • Temporal lobe: hearing Insula: interoceptive awareness (degrees of sensory stimuli) with links to the limbic system |
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Where is the primary sensory area located and what is it's function? |
• In the parietal lobe (post central sulcus) and receives most of the sensory information coming into the CNS |
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Where is the primary motor area located and what's it's function? |
• located in the frontal lobe (pre central sulcus) and sends most of the motor commands from the CNS |
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What is an association area? |
• A place in the cerebrum that integrates incoming and outgoing messages |
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What is a tract? |
• The different parts of the cerebrum communicate with each other through nerves called tracts |
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Where do the tracts accommodate communication? |
• Between different areas of the same hemisphere • Between left and right hemispheres • Between the cerebrum and spinal cord |
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How does the Cerebrum allow us to control movements? |
• The intention starts in the motor association area • Planning area • Sequence and intensity programmed • Program sent to primary motor area • Message then sent to the muscles • The primary motor area is just one of the folds of the cerebrum • Situated in front of the central sulcus • Pre central sulcus |
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How is brain space distributed? |
• Space for muscle control is proportional to the amount of fine muscle control |
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What are motor neuron's functions? |
• Carry the instructions for muscle movement |
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How do motor neuron's work together? |
• Upper motor neurons carry information from the cerebrum to the spinal cord • Lower motor neurons are the same neurons but carry the information from the spinal cord to the muscles • The motor neurons cross over in the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord • The left cerebral hemisphere controls the right side of the body • The right cerebral hemisphere controls the left side of the body |
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Where is the Cerebellum located and what is it's colour composition? |
• Lies underneath the occipital lobe • Outer part is grey matter and inner part is white matter |
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Briefly what is the function of the cerebellum? |
• Controls posture, balance and fine motor movements |
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Where does the cerebellum receive sensory information from? |
• Receives sensory information from the eye, ear, muscles and joints |
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What is the cerebellum's role in coordinating movement? |
• The cerebellum coordinates muscle movements to make them seamless in complex tasks like throwing a ball |
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How does the Cerebellum control balance? |
• Through the constant contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles to maintain muscle tone |
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Define muscle tone |
• the degree of contraction of skeletal muscles (amount of recruitment of individual muscle fibres within a muscle) |
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To maintain balance where does the cerebellum receive sensory input from? |
• Cerebrum • Semicircular canals of the inner ear (head rotation) • Saccule & utricle of the inner ear (proprioception) • Eyes • Pressure receptors in skin • Stretch receptors in muscles & joints |
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Where is the Pons Varioli located? |
• Between cerebellum and the rest of the CNS |
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What is the Pons Varioli's function and what centre does it contain? |
• Relays sensory information • Contains the pneumotaxic centre |
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Where is the Medulla Oblongata located? |
• Between the Pons and the spinal cord |
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What does the Medulla Oblongata control? |
• Important role in control of vital functions • Cardiac centre • Controls rate & force of heart beat • Respiratory centre • Controls rate & depth of breath • Vasomotor centre • Controls the diameter of blood vessels • Coughing, sneezing, vomiting & swallowing |
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Where is the hypothalamus located |
• Situated below the thalamus |
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What facets of homeostasis does the hypothalamus control? |
• Control of Autonomic Nervous System • Thermoregulation • Circadian rhythm • Hunger and thirst • Bladder function • Control of endocrine function • Involved in emotions |
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Where is the spinal cord located? |
• Below the Medulla Oblongata • Encased in the vertebrae; running in the vertebral canal |
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What layers of protection does the spinal cord have? |
• Protected by the meninges, however the outer layer is not connected to the bone |
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What is the colour composition? |
• Grey matter inside, white matter outside |
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What is the central canal's function? |
• Central canal runs through the middle and contain CSF |
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What is the function of the ascending tracts? |
• To carry sensory information to towards the brain |
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What is the function of the descending tracts? |
• To carry motor axons away from the brain |
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Table* What is the cerebral cortex's function? |
• Higher order functions such as thinking, reasoning, memory, learning, conscious awareness os surroundings. |
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Table* What is the function of the cerebellum? |
• Coordination of fine contractions of muscles resulting in smooth movements and the maintenence of posture and balance |
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Table* What is the function of the hypothalamus? |
Homeostasis. Regulation of the heart, digestive system, appetite, thirst, metabolism, body temperature, response to fear or anger |
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Table* What is the function of the Medulla Oblongata? |
Under the influence of the hypothalamus regulates the heart, breathing and diameter of blood vessels |
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Table* What is the function of the Spinal cord? |
Provides a pathway for communication between muscles and glands of the brain. Integration of automatic, protective reflexes |
