Questions and Answers
Which of the following tracts are ascending? (Select all that apply)
Which of the following tracts are descending? (Select all that apply)
What type of information do dorsal column pathways carry?
Sensory information
Name four sensory functions that spinal and cranial nerves carry.
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Name two functions that only cranial nerves carry.
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Identify the location of the somatosensory area.
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Identify the location of the auditory area.
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Identify the location of the visual area.
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Describe the function influenced by the corticospinal tract.
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Describe the function influenced by the corticobulbar tract.
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What is the Circle of Willis?
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What arteries form the Circle of Willis?
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What does the internal carotid artery supply?
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Study Notes
Nervous System Organization and Function
- Major components of the central nervous system (CNS) include pathways/tracts named by their anatomical locations.
- Ascending tracts carry sensory information, while descending tracts carry motor information.
Tract Classification
-
Ascending Tracts:
- Spinothalamic tract: Carries pain, temperature, and coarse touch.
- Spinocerebellar tract: Involved in proprioception and balance.
- Dorsal column pathways: Transmit fine touch, pressure, and proprioception.
-
Descending Tracts:
- Corticospinal tract: Controls voluntary movements of the body and limbs.
- Corticobulbar tract: Influences muscle movements of the face and neck.
- Vestibulospinal tract: Affects balance and posture.
Spinal Cord Anatomy
- Sensory pathways are located in the dorsal region, while motor pathways are found in the ventral region.
- Identification of pathways in spinal cord cross-sections is crucial for understanding CNS structure.
Sensory Functions
- Four sensory functions carried by both spinal and cranial nerves:
- Touch
- Pain
- Temperature
- Proprioception
- Two functions exclusive to cranial nerves:
- Vision (CN II)
- Hearing (CN VIII, cochlear branch)
Ascending Tracts to the Cerebral Cortex
- Key areas terminating in the cerebral cortex:
- Somatosensory area: Processes tactile information.
- Auditory area: Related to sound processing.
- Visual area: Involved in vision processing.
Motor Influence on Muscle Activity
- The cerebellum and basal nuclei modulate muscle activity via descending motor pathways from the motor cortex.
- Motor Cortex: Located in the precentral gyrus of the brain, responsible for initiating voluntary movement.
Blood Supply to the CNS
- Understanding the Circle of Willis is fundamental for brain edema and ischemia studies.
- Cerebral Arteries: Include the anterior cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery; the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is not part of the circle.
- Arterial supply originates from the aortic arch, bifurcating into common carotid arteries which form internal carotid and external carotid arteries.
- The vertebral arteries ascend through foramen of C1-C6 and enter the cranium, becoming the basilar artery.
Key Terminology
- Dorsal column: Ascending pathway for general body sensations.
- Spino- prefix: Indicates ascending pathways, while -spinal suffix denotes descending pathways.
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Description
Explore the structure and function of the central nervous system in this workshop for BIOS1158. Engage with key concepts related to anatomical pathways and tracts. This workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of how the nervous system is organized and operates.
