Assessment of Neurologic Function Chapter 60

Function of the Nervous System

• Manages all motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, and behavioral activities.
• Essential for communication between systems and maintaining homeostasis.

Structures of the Neurologic System

• Central Nervous System consists of the brain and spinal cord.
• Peripheral Nervous System includes cranial and spinal nerves, with autonomic and somatic systems.
• Neurons serve as the basic functional unit, with disease processes linked to neuronal damage.

Neurotransmitters

• Deficits in neurotransmitters can lead to various disorders.
• Facilitate communication between neurons and target tissues, controlling processes through potentiation, termination, or modulation.
• Parkinson's disease is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells, affecting muscle function and coordination.

Major Areas of the Brain

• Comprises three key areas: Cerebrum, Brain Stem, and Cerebellum.

Cerebrum

• The largest brain area, divided into two hemispheres, includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia.
• Four lobes:
  • Frontal Lobe: Concentration, memory, motor function, and Broca’s area (speech production). Damage can alter personality and judgment.
  • Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information, proprioception, and spatial orientation.
  • Temporal Lobe: Handles auditory processing and memory of sounds; damage affects language comprehension.
  • Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual interpretation and recall; damage can lead to vision loss or distortions.

Hypothalamus

• Connects to the pituitary gland; regulates autonomic nervous system activities.
• Oversees hormone secretion related to fluid balance, temperature regulation, appetite, sleep-wake cycles, and emotional responses.

Brain Stem

• Critical for life-sustaining functions; contains three main parts:
  • Midbrain: Processes sensory and motor pathways and coordinates reflexes for auditory and visual stimuli.
  • Pons: Supports sensory and motor pathways and plays a role in respiration regulation.
  • Medulla Oblongata: Manages reflex centers for respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, and protective reflexes like coughing and swallowing.

Cerebellum

• Coordinates smooth movement and balance; crucial for proprioception and spatial awareness.
• Injury may present behaviors resembling intoxication, including unsteady gait and disorganized speech.

Meninges and Related Structures

• Dura Mater: Outermost layer, tough and inelastic.
• Arachnoid Mater: Middle layer, thin and delicate, loosely adheres to the brain and spinal cord, avascular.
• Pia Mater: Innermost layer, tightly covers brain and spinal tissue, highly vascularized.