Central and Peripheral Nervous System Quiz

The tough outer layer of the meninges, providing protection against external trauma.

The middle layer of the meninges, web-like in structure, where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates.

The innermost layer of the meninges, a thin, delicate membrane that closely adheres to the brain and spinal cord.

The brain and spinal cord, acting as the control center of the nervous system.

All the nerves outside the CNS, connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

The largest part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum, responsible for higher functions.

The lobe involved in decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and voluntary motor activity.

The lobe involved in processing sensory information, including touch, temperature, and pain.

A part of the brain responsible for auditory and visual processing, motor control, and arousal.

A structure in the midbrain, involved in motor coordination, especially in controlling limb movements.

A part of the basal ganglia involved in the brain's reward system and voluntary movement. Degeneration of the Substantia Nigra causes Parkinson's disease.

A part of the brainstem that acts as a bridge between the forebrain and cerebellum, relaying signals.

The lower part of the brainstem, it controls autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, and houses reflex centers.

A part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, balance, and posture. It's also involved in fine-tuning motor activities.

A complex system that includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus, involved in memory, emotion, and behavior.

Located deep within the lateral sulcus, it is involved in consciousness, emotion, and homeostasis.

The 12 pairs of nerves that originate from the brain and control functions in the head, neck, and thorax.

Carries information about smell from the nose to the brain.

Transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.

Controls eye movements, pupil constriction, and eyelid opening.

Controls the eye muscle responsible for downward and lateral rotation.

Responsible for sensations in the face and motor functions like biting and chewing.

Controls the eye muscle that moves the eye laterally (sideways).

Controls facial expressions, taste on the front of the tongue, and salivary gland function.

The spinal cord is a long, cylindrical structure that extends from the medulla oblongata to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It is divided into segments corresponding to each vertebra, with nerves branching out to different parts of the body.

The spinal cord conducts sensory information from the PNS to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the PNS. It also contains neural circuits that control reflexes.

Dermatomes are areas of the skin innervated by specific spinal nerves. Each spinal nerve corresponds to a dermatome, which helps diagnose the level of spinal cord or nerve root injury.

A reflex arc is the neural pathway that mediates a reflex action. It typically involves a sensory receptor, afferent neuron, integration center (spinal cord), efferent neuron, and effector (muscle or gland).

1. Stimulus: A sensory receptor detects a stimulus (e.g., touching a hot object). 2. Afferent Pathway: The sensory neuron transmits the signal to the spinal cord. 3. Integration Center: The signal is processed in the spinal cord, and a response is generated without involving the brain. 4. Efferent Pathway: The motor neuron transmits the response signal to the effector. 5. Response: The effector (e.g., a muscle) produces a response, such as withdrawing the hand.

Upper motor neurons are located in the cerebral cortex and brainstem, they transmit signals from the brain to the spinal cord. Damage to upper motor neurons can result in spasticity, hyperreflexia, and positive Babinski sign.

Lower motor neurons are located in the spinal cord and brainstem, they transmit signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. Damage to lower motor neurons can result in muscle weakness, atrophy, and hyporeflexia.

Reflex tests (e.g., the patellar reflex) help assess the integrity of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, which can help diagnose neurological disorders.

A condition where the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) is inflamed or compressed, leading to unilateral facial paralysis affecting expressions, eyelid closure, and possibly taste.

Lower motor neuron lesions (LMNL) affect motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem directly controlling muscles. They cause weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, and decreased reflexes.

A condition where the spinal cord is injured, resulting in a loss of motor and sensory function below the level of the injury.

The area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve root. It helps map the level of spinal cord injury based on sensory loss.

A dangerous complication of spinal cord injury, due to the nervous system's exaggerated response to stimulation below the level of injury. Symptoms include high blood pressure, sweating, and headache.

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the two branches of the autonomic nervous system responsible for "rest and digest" functions.

The parasympathetic nervous system primarily uses acetylcholine as its neurotransmitter, which interacts with specific receptors on target organs.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work in opposition to maintain homeostasis, regulating heart rate, digestion, pupil dilation, and other bodily functions.

The pia mater is the innermost layer of the meninges, directly adjacent to the brain and spinal cord.

The thalamus serves as a relay center, transmitting sensory and motor signals between the peripheral nervous system and the cerebral cortex.

The facial nerve (VII) controls the muscles responsible for facial expression, including smiling, frowning, and eye blinking.

Damage to the substantia nigra, a brain region involved in dopamine production, is a key characteristic of Parkinson's disease.

The medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brainstem, controls vital functions like heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.