Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the midbrain's cerebral peduncles?
What is the primary function of the midbrain's cerebral peduncles?
Which component is NOT a protective structure of the central nervous system?
Which component is NOT a protective structure of the central nervous system?
Which part of the brain stem includes centers that control vital functions such as heart rate and blood pressure?
Which part of the brain stem includes centers that control vital functions such as heart rate and blood pressure?
What structure connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle in the brain?
What structure connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which layer of the meninges is the outermost protective covering of the brain?
Which layer of the meninges is the outermost protective covering of the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main composition of the pons?
What is the main composition of the pons?
Signup and view all the answers
The reticular formation is best described as a:
The reticular formation is best described as a:
Signup and view all the answers
Which function is primarily associated with the medulla oblongata?
Which function is primarily associated with the medulla oblongata?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the somatic sensory area located in the parietal lobe?
What is the primary function of the somatic sensory area located in the parietal lobe?
Signup and view all the answers
Which structure is NOT part of the diencephalon?
Which structure is NOT part of the diencephalon?
Signup and view all the answers
Which area of the brain is responsible for our ability to speak?
Which area of the brain is responsible for our ability to speak?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about the thalamus is correct?
Which statement about the thalamus is correct?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the nervous system?
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
Which function is associated with the cerebellum?
Which function is associated with the cerebellum?
Signup and view all the answers
What structure is found atop the thalamus?
What structure is found atop the thalamus?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the brainstem connect to?
What does the brainstem connect to?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main role of the sodium-potassium pump in a neuron?
What is the main role of the sodium-potassium pump in a neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term describes the rapid and involuntary response to a stimulus?
Which term describes the rapid and involuntary response to a stimulus?
Signup and view all the answers
What occurs during the depolarization phase of a nerve impulse?
What occurs during the depolarization phase of a nerve impulse?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes gray matter from white matter in the central nervous system?
What distinguishes gray matter from white matter in the central nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes the characteristics required for a neuron to conduct another impulse after an action potential?
Which of the following describes the characteristics required for a neuron to conduct another impulse after an action potential?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the direct pathway from a sensory neuron to an interneuron to an effector?
What is the term for the direct pathway from a sensory neuron to an interneuron to an effector?
Signup and view all the answers
In which phase do potassium ions primarily flow out of the neuron?
In which phase do potassium ions primarily flow out of the neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
What component outside the central nervous system contains collections of nerve cell bodies?
What component outside the central nervous system contains collections of nerve cell bodies?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of the reticular activating system?
What is the role of the reticular activating system?
Signup and view all the answers
What is cerebrospinal fluid primarily composed of?
What is cerebrospinal fluid primarily composed of?
Signup and view all the answers
What are arachnoid villi?
What are arachnoid villi?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes Alzheimer's Disease?
Which of the following describes Alzheimer's Disease?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens when damage occurs to the area related to the reticular activating system?
What happens when damage occurs to the area related to the reticular activating system?
Signup and view all the answers
Where is cerebrospinal fluid circulated?
Where is cerebrospinal fluid circulated?
Signup and view all the answers
What structural changes occur in the brain in Alzheimer's Disease?
What structural changes occur in the brain in Alzheimer's Disease?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one function of cerebrospinal fluid?
What is one function of cerebrospinal fluid?
Signup and view all the answers
What is located below the T12 vertebra?
What is located below the T12 vertebra?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following substances is excluded by the blood-brain barrier?
Which of the following substances is excluded by the blood-brain barrier?
Signup and view all the answers
Which area of the spinal cord primarily contains motor neurons?
Which area of the spinal cord primarily contains motor neurons?
Signup and view all the answers
What impact does damage to the dorsal root ganglion have?
What impact does damage to the dorsal root ganglion have?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines the internal gray matter of the spinal cord?
What defines the internal gray matter of the spinal cord?
Signup and view all the answers
What is commonly found in the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord?
What is commonly found in the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement correctly describes traumatic brain injuries?
Which statement correctly describes traumatic brain injuries?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about spinal nerves is accurate?
Which of the following statements about spinal nerves is accurate?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of muscle does the somatic nervous system primarily affect?
What type of muscle does the somatic nervous system primarily affect?
Signup and view all the answers
Which neurotransmitter is exclusively used by the somatic nervous system?
Which neurotransmitter is exclusively used by the somatic nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response?
Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response?
Signup and view all the answers
The parasympathetic division is best associated with which of the following functions?
The parasympathetic division is best associated with which of the following functions?
Signup and view all the answers
How are autonomic nervous system neurons structured in comparison to somatic nervous system neurons?
How are autonomic nervous system neurons structured in comparison to somatic nervous system neurons?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the acronym 'E' in the sympathetic division stand for?
What does the acronym 'E' in the sympathetic division stand for?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a function of the parasympathetic division?
Which of the following is NOT a function of the parasympathetic division?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is accurate regarding neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system?
Which statement is accurate regarding neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Nervous System Overview
- The nervous system monitors changes inside and outside the body (stimuli).
- It processes and interprets this sensory input, deciding what action to take, then responds.
- This response activates muscles or glands.
Structural Classification of the Nervous System
- Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord. Is the integrating and command center.
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Links the body's parts and carries impulses to the CNS and back.
Functional Classification of the Peripheral Nervous System
- Sensory (afferent) division: Carries information to the central nervous system from sensory receptors.
-
Motor (efferent) division: Carries information away from the central nervous system to effector organs. Has two subdivisions:
- Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary. Controls skeletal muscle reflexes like a stretch reflex.
- Autonomic Nervous System: Involuntary. Controls cardiac and smooth muscle, along with glands. Has sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
Nervous Tissue: Support Cells (Neuroglia)
- Astrocytes: Abundant, star-shaped cells. Brace neurons, form a barrier between capillaries and neurons, and regulate the chemical environment of the brain.
- Microglia: Spider-like phagocytes (cells that eat debris) that dispose of debris, dead cells, and bacteria in the CNS.
- Ependymal cells: Line cavities of the brain and spinal cord and circulate cerebrospinal fluid with cilia.
- Oligodendrocytes: Wrap flat extensions around nerve fibers, creating myelin sheaths in the CNS.
- Satellite cells: Protect neuron cell bodies in the PNS.
- Schwann cells: Form myelin sheaths in the PNS.
Nervous Tissue: Neurons
- Neurons: Specialized cells to transmit messages.
-
Major Regions: Cell body (nucleus and metabolic center), processes (fibers extending from the cell body).
- Dendrites: Conduct impulses toward the cell body.
- Axons: Conduct impulses away from the cell body.
Structural Classification of Neurons
- Multipolar neurons: Many extensions from the cell body.
- Bipolar neurons: One axon and one dendrite. Rare in adults.
- Unipolar neurons: (also called pseudounipolar): One short process leaving from the cell body that divides into peripheral and central processes.
Neuron Cell Body Location
- Most are located in clusters called nuclei within the central nervous system.
- Bundles of nerve fibers in the CNS are called tracts.
- Gray matter: cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers.
- White matter: myelinated fibers.
- Bundles of nerve fibers in the PNS are called nerves. Ganglia: collections of cell bodies outside the CNS.
The Reflex Arc
- Reflex: A rapid, predictable, and involuntary response to a stimulus.
- Reflex arc: The direct route from a sensory neuron, to an interneuron, to an effector.
Spinal Cord Anatomy
- Internal gray matter: mostly cell bodies in dorsal and ventral horns, surrounding the central canal. Contains motor neurons of the somatic nervous system.
- Exterior white matter: conduction tracts (major bundles of axons carrying sensory or motor information).
Blood Brain Barrier
- Includes the least permeable capillaries of the body that exclude many potentially harmful substances.
Traumatic Brain Injuries, Ventricles and Location of Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Concussion: Slight brain injury with brief loss of consciousness, no permanent damage.
- Contusion: Nervous tissue destruction, no regeneration.
- Cerebral Edema: Swelling result from inflammation.
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA): Commonly called a stroke; result of a blood clot or ruptured blood vessel damaging the brain's blood supply.
The Brain Stem
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla Oblongata
- Contains important fiber tracts that ascend or descend, control breathing, heart rate, etc.
Cerebellum
- Two hemispheres with convoluted surfaces
- Provides involuntary coordination of body movements, balance, and equilibrium.
Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebrum)
- Paired (left and right) superior parts of the brain, about half of the brain mass.
- Fissures divided into lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
- Important areas: somatic sensory areas, primary motor area, Broca's area, etc.
- Organized into gray (outer) and white matter (inside).
Protection of the Central Nervous System: Meninges
- Meninges: membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. Layers include dura, arachnoid, and pia mater.
Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)
- Similar to blood plasma, forms a watery cushion to protect the brain. Circulated in the arachnoid space, ventricles, and central canal of the spinal cord.
Cranial Nerves
- 12 pairs that primarily serve the head and neck (with some exceptions).
- Classified by function as sensory, motor, or mixed.
Spinal Nerves
- 31 pairs in the spinal cord.
- Mixed nerves that combine dorsal and ventral roots. They branch into dorsal and ventral rami.
- Distribution varies.
Autonomic Nervous System
- The involuntary branch of the nervous system. Divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions with different functions and neurotransmitters.
Development Aspects of the Nervous System
- The nervous system is formed during the first month of embryonic development. Any maternal infection can have harmful effects.
- The hypothalamus develops later.
- Brain reaches its maximum weight during young adulthood.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
