Anatomy of the Nervous System Overview

Study Flashcards Play Quiz

Questions and Answers

What happens at the thalamus in the process of sensory perception?

It forwards the incoming signals to the appropriate area of the cerebrum.

Where does the final analysis and interpretation of sensory signals occur?

At the cerebral cortex

What is the role of primary sensory areas in the cerebral cortex?

They are responsible for initial interpretation of sensory signals.

Which area of the cerebral cortex is responsible for interpreting visual pathway signals as images?

Primary sensory areas Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of receptors in sensory perception pathways?

They exhibit receptor selectivity for specific stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following areas is responsible for the conscious control of precise, skilled, voluntary movements?

Primary motor area (cortex) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the premotor area in the frontal lobe?

It stores the patterns of movement that have been learned and repeatedly performed. Signup and view all the answers

How is the size of the body parts represented in the primary motor area?

The size of the body parts is proportional to the degree of fine motor control allotted to those parts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Frontal Eye Field (FEF) area?

It controls the voluntary, synchronized movement of the eyeballs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the left-sided and right-sided centers of the Frontal Eye Field (FEF)?

The left-sided center forces both eyes to move to the right, and the right-sided center moves them to the left. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the precentral gyrus is responsible for generating motor signals for the muscles of the leg and foot?

The part located on the medial surface Signup and view all the answers

What does injury to the area generating motor signals for muscles of hands, facial expression, and vocal apparatus lead to?

Motor paralysis of the contralateral side of the body Signup and view all the answers

Which artery supplies the area of the precentral gyrus responsible for motor signals for muscles of the leg and foot?

Anterior cerebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What happens when there is an isolated cerebrovascular accident affecting the part of the precentral gyrus that produces motor signals for muscles of the leg and foot?

Motor weakness of leg and foot muscles only Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the precentral gyrus produces motor signals for muscles of the rest of the body?

The part located on the lateral surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of white matter in the central nervous system?

Bundles of myelinated nerve fibers (tracts or fasciculi) Signup and view all the answers

In the spinal cord, how is the gray matter arranged in relation to the white matter?

The gray matter forms an H-shaped inner core surrounded by white matter Signup and view all the answers

What is a cluster of nerve cell bodies embedded within the central nervous system called?

Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a part of the peripheral nervous system?

Cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is the functional unit of the nervous system?

Neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the thalamus?

Relaying and processing sensory information Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is responsible for controlling the autonomic nervous system?

Hypothalamus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the diencephalon?

Producing cerebrospinal fluid Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is primarily responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm?

Pineal gland Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the thalamus?

Regulating the endocrine system Signup and view all the answers

What is the outermost layer of the CNS membranes called?

Dura mater Signup and view all the answers

Which structure forms a sagittal sickle-shaped reflection of the dura mater and partially separates the cerebral hemispheres?

Falx cerebri Signup and view all the answers

Where does the dura mater surrounding the spinal cord end?

At the level of vertebra S2 Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the dura mater forms two distinct structures by separating from the periosteal layer?

Meningeal layer Signup and view all the answers

What is the horizontal sheet that intervenes between the cerebellum and occipital lobe of the cerebral hemispheres called?

Tentorium cerebelli Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the dural sinuses in the brain?

To collect superficial veins of the brain Signup and view all the answers

Where are the cavernous sinuses located in the brain?

Within the middle cranial fossa Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the straight sinus in the brain?

Joins the posterior end of the superior sagittal sinus Signup and view all the answers

Where are the transverse sinuses housed in the brain?

Within the tentorium cerebelli Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the arachnoid mater?

To form a web-like barrier between the dura and pia mater Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the meninges is directly adhered to the brain and spinal cord tissue?

Pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the dural reflections?

To separate the cranial cavity into sections Signup and view all the answers

Where is the subarachnoid space located?

Between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the venous sinuses formed by the dural folds?

To drain blood from the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the anatomical term for the space between the endpoint of the spinal cord and vertebra S2?

Lumbar cistern Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the arachnoid granulations (villi)?

Drain CSF into the dural sinuses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the pia mater is true?

It carries blood vessels to the CNS Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the denticulate ligaments?

Anchor the spinal cord to the arachnoid and dura mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the epidural space filled with, according to the text?

Fat for additional protection Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the meninges is tightly adhered to the neural tissue itself?

Pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the denticulate ligaments?

Suspend the spinal cord in the dural sheath Signup and view all the answers

Where is the subarachnoid space located?

Between the arachnoid mater and pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the appearance of the arachnoid mater?

Web-like Signup and view all the answers

At which level does the spinal cord typically end in adults?

L1/L2 Signup and view all the answers

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Study Notes

Motor Cortex

Located in the precentral gyrus, involved in conscious control of precise, skilled, and voluntary movements
Receives input from: premotor area, supplementary motor areas, sensory cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum
Motor control to different parts of the body comes from the appropriate part of this area, as outlined by the motor homunculus
Size of the body parts is proportional to the degree of fine motor control allotted to those parts

Premotor Area

Located in the frontal lobe, in front of the precentral gyrus
Serves as a space where the patterns of movement are stored
Learned and repeatedly performed movements are stored as an algorithm into this gyrus

Premotor Frontal Eye Field (FEF)

Located in front of the premotor area of the frontal lobe
Controls the voluntary, synchronized movement of eyeballs
Left-sided center forces both eyes to move to the right, and the right-sided center moves them to the left

Functional Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

Three major areas in each cerebral hemisphere:
- Primary sensory areas
- Primary motor area
- Association areas (Sensory and Motor)

Primary Sensory Areas

Only a specific type of stimulus can stimulate the receptor to produce its receptor potential
Area is disproportionally divided, with the largest area generating motor signals for the muscles of hands, facial expression, and vocal apparatus

Nervous System

Divided into: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
CNS includes: Cerebral cortex, Diencephalon, Cerebellum, Brainstem, and Spinal cord
PNS includes: Spinal nerves, Cranial nerves, Associated ganglia, and Nerve plexuses

Embryology of the Nervous System

Divided into: Telencephalon (Cerebrum), Diencephalon (Structures surrounding the 3rd ventricle), Metencephalon (Pons and Cerebellum), and Myelencephalon (Medulla oblongata)

General Terminology

Rostral and caudal: Anterior and posterior directions
Dorsal and ventral: Superior and inferior directions
Horizontal, coronal, and sagittal sections: Ways to section the brain

Cerebral Cortex

Made up of white and gray matter
Gray matter: Cell bodies, dendrites, and axon terminals of neurons, where synapsing occurs
White matter: Bundles of myelinated nerve fibers (tracts or fasciculi)

Meninges

Three membranes of connective tissue: Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, and Pia mater
Dura mater: Thick layer of dense connective tissue, outer periosteal layer and inner meningeal layer
Arachnoid mater: Thin layer of loose connective tissue, named for its "web-like" appearance
Pia mater: Delicate, thin layer of connective tissue, tightly adhered to neural tissue

Dural Reflections

Form incomplete partitions to divide the cranial cavity into sections
Include: Falx cerebri, Tentorium cerebelli, and Falx cerebelli

Dural Sinuses

Venous channels between the two layers of the cranial dura mater
Include: Cavernous sinuses, Superior and inferior sagittal sinuses, Straight sinus, and Transverse sinuses

Anatomy of the Nervous System Overview

Access to a Library of 520,000+ Quizzes & Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What happens at the thalamus in the process of sensory perception?

Where does the final analysis and interpretation of sensory signals occur?

What is the role of primary sensory areas in the cerebral cortex?

Which area of the cerebral cortex is responsible for interpreting visual pathway signals as images?

What is a characteristic of receptors in sensory perception pathways?

Which of the following areas is responsible for the conscious control of precise, skilled, voluntary movements?

What is the purpose of the premotor area in the frontal lobe?

How is the size of the body parts represented in the primary motor area?

What is the function of the Frontal Eye Field (FEF) area?

What is the relationship between the left-sided and right-sided centers of the Frontal Eye Field (FEF)?

Which part of the precentral gyrus is responsible for generating motor signals for the muscles of the leg and foot?

What does injury to the area generating motor signals for muscles of hands, facial expression, and vocal apparatus lead to?

Which artery supplies the area of the precentral gyrus responsible for motor signals for muscles of the leg and foot?

What happens when there is an isolated cerebrovascular accident affecting the part of the precentral gyrus that produces motor signals for muscles of the leg and foot?

Which part of the precentral gyrus produces motor signals for muscles of the rest of the body?

What is the main component of white matter in the central nervous system?

In the spinal cord, how is the gray matter arranged in relation to the white matter?

What is a cluster of nerve cell bodies embedded within the central nervous system called?

Which of the following is NOT a part of the peripheral nervous system?

What is the functional unit of the nervous system?

What is the primary function of the thalamus?

Which structure is responsible for controlling the autonomic nervous system?

Which of the following is NOT a function of the diencephalon?

Which structure is primarily responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm?

Which of the following is NOT a function of the thalamus?

What is the outermost layer of the CNS membranes called?

Which structure forms a sagittal sickle-shaped reflection of the dura mater and partially separates the cerebral hemispheres?

Where does the dura mater surrounding the spinal cord end?

Which layer of the dura mater forms two distinct structures by separating from the periosteal layer?

What is the horizontal sheet that intervenes between the cerebellum and occipital lobe of the cerebral hemispheres called?

What is the function of the dural sinuses in the brain?

Where are the cavernous sinuses located in the brain?

What is the function of the straight sinus in the brain?

Where are the transverse sinuses housed in the brain?

What is the primary function of the arachnoid mater?

Which layer of the meninges is directly adhered to the brain and spinal cord tissue?

What is the function of the dural reflections?

Where is the subarachnoid space located?

What is the purpose of the venous sinuses formed by the dural folds?

What is the anatomical term for the space between the endpoint of the spinal cord and vertebra S2?

What is the primary function of the arachnoid granulations (villi)?

Which of the following statements about the pia mater is true?

What is the function of the denticulate ligaments?

What is the epidural space filled with, according to the text?

Which layer of the meninges is tightly adhered to the neural tissue itself?

What is the function of the denticulate ligaments?

Where is the subarachnoid space located?

What is the term used to describe the appearance of the arachnoid mater?

At which level does the spinal cord typically end in adults?

Studying That Suits You

Study Notes

Motor Cortex

Premotor Area

Premotor Frontal Eye Field (FEF)

Functional Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

Primary Sensory Areas

Nervous System

Embryology of the Nervous System

General Terminology

Cerebral Cortex

Meninges

Dural Reflections

Dural Sinuses

Trusted by students at

More Quizzes Like This

Neuroanatomy Quiz: Test Your Knowledge with Flashcards

The Ultimate Nervous System Anatomy and Function Quiz

Anatomy of the Nervous System

Anatomy of the Nervous System Quiz