4- Neurophysiology- Pt 1.docx

- **Nervous System: General Info** - The mammalian nervous system can be subdivided into the: - **CNS (central nervous system)** - The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. - **PNS (peripheral nervous system)** - The PNS is compose...

- **Nervous System: General Info** - The mammalian nervous system can be subdivided into the: - **CNS (central nervous system)** - The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. - **PNS (peripheral nervous system)** - The PNS is composed of all neural bodies outside of the CNS, including receptors, nerves, and ganglia. - The PNS connects the CNS to the limbs and organs of the animal. - **CNS Organization** - The CNS can be further divided into the brain and the spinal cord. - **Brain** - The brain receives and processes information, stores memories, generates thoughts and emotions, and initiates responses. - **Spinal cord** - The spinal cord conducts signals to and from the brain, and controls reflex activity. - **PNS Organization** - The PNS can be further divided into the "sensory afferent division" and "motor efferent division". - **Sensory afferent division** - The sensory neurons bring information to the CNS from receptors in peripheral tissues and organs. - **Motor efferent division** - The motor neurons carries commands from the CNS to the peripheral tissues and organs. - The sensory afferent division can be further subdivided into "visceral sensory division" and "somatic sensory division". - **Visceral sensory division** - The visceral sensory division collects information about the internal organs via visceral receptors and sensory neurons and provides this information to the CNS. - **Somatic sensory division** - The somatic sensory division collects information about position, touch, pressure, pain, and temperature via somatic receptors and sensory neurons and provides this information to the CNS. - The motor efferent division can be further subdivided into "visceral motor division" and "somatic motor division". - **Visceral motor division** - The visceral motor division provides autonomic regulations of cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, glands, and adipose tissue- which are all under involuntary control. - **Somatic motor division** - The somatic motor division controls skeletal muscle contractions- which is under voluntary control. - The visceral motor division can be further subdivided into "sympathetic division" and "parasympathetic division". - **Sympathetic division** - The sympathetic division is known as the "fight or flight" autonomic response. - **Parasympathetic division** - The parasympathetic division is known as the "rest and digest" autonomic response. - **Neuro Exam** - **Hands-off** - A hands-off neuro exam can involve observing the patients' level of consciousness, content of consciousness, posture, and gait. - **Hands-on** - A hands-on neuro exam can involve observing the patients' cranial nerves, postural reaction, spinal nerves, and nociception. - The overall purpose of any neuro exam is to **localize the problem**. - Neurological issues can be localized to at least one of the following areas of the body: - Cerebrum - Cerebellum - Brainstem - C1-C5 - C6-T2 - T3-L3 - L4-S3 - Peripheral vestibular system - Diffuse neuromuscular - Cauda equina