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What are the two main types of cells that make up the nervous system?
What are the two main types of cells that make up the nervous system?
What structure is formed when a group of neuron cell bodies are located outside of the central nervous system?
What structure is formed when a group of neuron cell bodies are located outside of the central nervous system?
What does the afferent division of the nervous system primarily do?
What does the afferent division of the nervous system primarily do?
Which type of glial cell is responsible for myelinating axons in the peripheral nervous system?
Which type of glial cell is responsible for myelinating axons in the peripheral nervous system?
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What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
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What is the role of myelin in the nervous system?
What is the role of myelin in the nervous system?
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What term describes the junction where two neurons communicate?
What term describes the junction where two neurons communicate?
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Which part of the nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements?
Which part of the nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements?
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What are astrocytes primarily responsible for in the brain?
What are astrocytes primarily responsible for in the brain?
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What is the primary role of the blood-brain barrier?
What is the primary role of the blood-brain barrier?
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Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing sensory information?
Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing sensory information?
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What is the primary function of the striatum within the basal ganglia?
What is the primary function of the striatum within the basal ganglia?
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Which structure serves as a highway for information flow to and from the cerebral cortex?
Which structure serves as a highway for information flow to and from the cerebral cortex?
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Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating the release of major endocrine hormones?
Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating the release of major endocrine hormones?
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Which lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing?
Which lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing?
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What does the cerebellum primarily aid in?
What does the cerebellum primarily aid in?
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How does the right cerebral hemisphere interact with the body?
How does the right cerebral hemisphere interact with the body?
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Which of the following accurately describes the composition of the cerebral cortex?
Which of the following accurately describes the composition of the cerebral cortex?
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Which structures make up the basal ganglia?
Which structures make up the basal ganglia?
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Which function is associated with the midbrain?
Which function is associated with the midbrain?
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What is the role of the temporal lobe in memory?
What is the role of the temporal lobe in memory?
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What is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland?
What is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland?
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Which part of the diencephalon processes sensory information before it reaches the cerebral cortex?
Which part of the diencephalon processes sensory information before it reaches the cerebral cortex?
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What does the process of inhibition in the basal ganglia help to prevent during movement?
What does the process of inhibition in the basal ganglia help to prevent during movement?
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What is the primary function of the pons?
What is the primary function of the pons?
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Which part of the spinal cord receives information from the motor cortex?
Which part of the spinal cord receives information from the motor cortex?
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What type of fibers travel up the spinal cord?
What type of fibers travel up the spinal cord?
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Which structure regulates involuntary processes such as digestion and heart rate?
Which structure regulates involuntary processes such as digestion and heart rate?
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What do the pia mater and arachnoid mater form together?
What do the pia mater and arachnoid mater form together?
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Which function is NOT regulated by the medulla?
Which function is NOT regulated by the medulla?
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What does the grey matter in the spinal cord primarily contain?
What does the grey matter in the spinal cord primarily contain?
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What is the function of the sensory neurons that synapse in the spinal cord during reflex actions?
What is the function of the sensory neurons that synapse in the spinal cord during reflex actions?
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What is the primary function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
What is the primary function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
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Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell?
Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell?
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How many cranial nerve pairs emerge from the medulla?
How many cranial nerve pairs emerge from the medulla?
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What type of nerves make up the somatic nervous system?
What type of nerves make up the somatic nervous system?
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How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
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Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for eye movement?
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for eye movement?
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Which group does the autonomic nervous system belong to?
Which group does the autonomic nervous system belong to?
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What role do afferent nerves play in the peripheral nervous system?
What role do afferent nerves play in the peripheral nervous system?
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Study Notes
Nervous System Overview
- The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
- CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
- PNS is further divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
- The nervous system can be split into an afferent and an efferent division.
- Afferent division carries sensory information from the body to the CNS.
- Efferent division carries motor information from the CNS to the body.
Neuron Basics
- Neurons are the main cells of the nervous system.
- Neuron cell bodies are called nuclei in the CNS and ganglia in the PNS.
- Neurons have dendrites which receive signals and axons which send signals.
- The synapse is where two neurons connect, via neurotransmitter release from the axon.
- Axons are wrapped in myelin sheath, formed by oligodendrocytes (CNS) and Schwann cells (PNS).
- Myelin speeds up electrical signal transmission.
Glial Cells
- Astrocytes are a type of glial cell found only in the CNS.
- They support neurons structurally and metabolically, and help seal the blood-brain barrier.
Blood-Brain Barrier
- Tight junctions between endothelial cells in the brain form the blood-brain barrier.
- This barrier acts as a selective membrane, allowing only certain molecules to pass.
Brain Regions
- Cerebrum: the largest part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres
- Cerebral Cortex: Outer layer of the cerebrum, composed of neuron cell bodies (grey matter).
- White Matter: Inner layer of the cerebrum, composed of axons (white matter).
- Frontal lobe: Controls movement and executive function.
- Parietal lobe: Processes sensory information, including location and spatial awareness.
- Temporal lobe: Involved in hearing, smell, memory, and visual recognition.
- Occipital lobe: Primarily responsible for vision.
Subcortical Structures
- Internal Capsule: A pathway for information flow between the cerebral cortex and other brain regions.
- Basal Ganglia: Deep structures involved in controlling movement, including the pallidum and striatum (caudate nucleus + putamen).
- Striatum: Receives input from the cortex and sends output to the other basal ganglia structures.
- Diencephalon: Composed of the thalamus and hypothalamus.
- Thalamus: A collection of nuclei that process sensory and motor information.
- Hypothalamus: Regulates body temperature, sleep-wake cycle, and eating/drinking.
- Pituitary Gland: A pea-sized gland hanging from the base of the brain, with anterior and posterior parts.
- Hypothalamic-pituitary axis: The hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together to regulate hormones.
Cerebellum
- Located at the base of the skull.
- Coordinates movement, precision, and balance.
- Receives sensory and motor input to refine motor activity and store muscle memory.
Brainstem
- Connects to the spinal cord.
- Divided into three parts: midbrain, pons, and medulla.
- Midbrain: Plays a role in vision, hearing, motor control, sleep-wake cycle, and consciousness.
- Pons: Contains nuclei that control facial expressions, sensation, equilibrium, and posture.
- Medulla: Regulates blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, coughing, vomiting, and digestion.
Spinal Cord
- A long rod of nervous tissue extending from the brainstem to the lumbar region.
- Afferent fibers carry sensory information up the spinal cord.
- Efferent fibers carry motor information down the spinal cord.
- White matter (outside) contains afferent and efferent fibers.
- Grey matter (inside) contains nerve cell bodies.
- Grey matter is divided into three horns: anterior/ventral, posterior/dorsal, and lateral.
- Anterior horns receive motor signals from the brain and send them to skeletal muscles.
- Posterior horns receive sensory information from the body and send them to the brain.
- Lateral horns are involved in the sympathetic division of the autonomic motor system.
- Reflexes are fast involuntary responses, orchestrated by synapses in the spinal cord.
Meninges
- Three protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord: pia mater (inner), arachnoid mater (middle), and dura mater (outer).
- The pia and arachnoid maters form the subarachnoid space, which contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- CSF cushions the brain and spinal cord and provides nutrients.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- Consists of nerves (bundles of axons) connecting the CNS to the rest of the body.
- Cranial nerves (12 pairs): exit the skull and innervate the head and neck.
- Spinal nerves (31 pairs): exit the spinal cord and innervate the rest of the body.
- Somatic nervous system: Afferent nerves carry sensory information from peripheral tissues to the spinal cord. Efferent nerves carry motor information from the spinal cord to skeletal muscles.
- Autonomic nervous system: Controls involuntary bodily functions like digestion, heart rate, and breathing.
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Description
Explore the basics of the nervous system, including its divisions such as the central and peripheral systems. This quiz covers the structure and function of neurons, as well as the roles of glial cells. Test your knowledge of how neurons communicate and the supporting cells in the nervous system.
