Learning Objectives: Central Nervous System (Brain) PDF

LEARNING OBJECTIVES CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM BRAIN 1. Describe the location and function of each major area of the brain (cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, brainstem). a. Cerebrum: largest most developed part, split into two hemispheres i. Left side of bra...

LEARNING OBJECTIVES CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM BRAIN 1. Describe the location and function of each major area of the brain (cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, brainstem). a. Cerebrum: largest most developed part, split into two hemispheres i. Left side of brain controls word formation 1. Broca’s and wernecke’s area ii. Right side of brain controls abstract reasoning iii. Voluntary - conscious movement b. Diencephalon: between spinal cord and cerebral hemispheres, conduit to the cerebrum i. processes , integrates, and relays information ii. Contains hypothalamus, thalamus, and epithalamus c. Cerebellum: connects to spinal cord, controls vital body functions i. Heart rate (excercise and stress), respiration, unconscious activity, balance, and coordination d. Brainstem: short segment that connects to the spinal cord, controls voluntary movement and reflex actions contain midbrain and parts of hind brain i. Heart beat 2. Distinguish between gray matter (basal nuclei and cortex) and white matter (corpus callosum, projection fibers and association fibers) in relation to their composition and distribution in the brain. a. Gray matter: unmyelinated axons, cell bodies, synapses(dendrites/axon terminals), information being processed i. Basal nuclei: deep grey matter within the white matter 1. Deep in the center ii. Cortex: outermost layer of gray matter b. White matter: myelinated axons, tracts within the central nervous system i. Corpus callosum (aka commisural tract): connects the right and left brain hemispheres - an actual structure/no empty space ii. Projection fibers: connect upper and lower parts of the brain 1. Form a radiating pattern known as corona radiata iii. Association fibers: connects the areas within the hemisphere 3. Describe the following anatomical features of the brain: sulcus (central), gyrus (precentral and postcentral) and fissure (longitudinal and lateral). a. Sulcus: depression of groove (dips) i. Central sulcus: separates the frontal and parietal lobes  b. Gyrus: ridges i. Precentral gyrus: anterior to the central sulcus 1. Located in the frontal lobe ii. Postcentral gyrus: posterior to the central sulcus c. Fissure: deeper grooves / similar to sulcus but BIGGER i. Longitudinal fissure: separates the left and right hemisphere of the cerebrum ii. Lateral fissure: separates temporal lobe to other lobes 4. Explain the physical boundaries and functions of each of the five cerebral lobes. a. Frontal: anterior to the central sulcus i. Voluntary motor movements, cognitive functions like foresight and personality b. Parietal: posterior to the central suclus i. Sensory processing. general senses, writing and speaking languages c. Temporal: inferior to the lateral fissure i. Hearing and smell d. Occipital: posterior of the cerebrum i. Vision e. Insula: deep to the temporal lobe i. Taste (gustatory) 5. List and describe the three cranial meninges (dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater) and the associated spaces created between these membranes (subdural space, subarachnoid space, epidural space). a. Dura mater: outermost layer of dense fibrous connective tissue i. Periosteal layer: outer layer - attached to inner layer of skull bone ii. Meningeal layer: inner layer and folds into to create a vidision in the brain to limit movement b. Arachnoid mater: middle/transparent membrane made of collagen and elastic fibers i. Thinly attached to the dura mater - just inferior to the dura mater ii. Arachnoid granulations: part of the arachnoid mater that protrude into the dura mater and into the superior sagittal sinus c. Pia mater: very thin (thinner than arachnoid mater) that tightly follows brain contours (sulcus and gyrus) i. Areolar connective tissue d. Subdural space: empty space inferior to the dura mater e. Subarachnoid space: in between both pia and arachnoid mater  i. Allows CSF circulation f. Epidural Space: potential space in the brain i. In between the periosteal layer of the dura mater and the inner layer of the skull 6. Describe the composition and functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). a. CSF: fills the ventricles and the subarachnoid space i. Buoyancy, protection, and nourishment ii. Filters blood at the choroid plexus (within the walls of ventricles) 7. Describe the formation of CSF, its circulation and its reabsorption back into the blood stream. a. The choiroid plexus allows flow of blood within the capillaries i. Capillaries are surrounded by ependymal cells - and around all four ventricles b. Once blood filters → it flows into the ventricles (from lateral to 3rd to 4th ventricle) c. Then flows to apertures and into subarachnoid space d. CSF flows across arachnoid granulations into the sagittal sinus i. Flows into veins of head and drains out of head 8. Describe the formation and importance of the blood-brain barrier and the substances that can cross the barrier. a. Around capillaries in brain regulated by astrocytes i. Limit the amount of solutes that exit the capillary and into extracellular fluid ii. Astrocytes wrap around ependymal cells that surround the capillaries via TIGHT functions 9. Identify the location and function of the primary motor area. a. Located in the same area as the precentral gyrus in frontal lobe b. Initials voluntary movement in the upper motor neurons (interneurons) c. Contains the “map” of the body i. Somatotopy: body is represented as an upside down map over a region of the brain (primary motor cortex) 10. Identify the location and function of the following sensory cortices: primary somatosensory cortex (S1), primary visual cortex, primary auditory cortex, gustatory cortex, olfactory cortex). a. Primary somatosensory cortex (S1): receives information from somatic senses b. Primary visual cortex: occipital lobe and receives visual information c. Primary auditory cortex: receives auditory stimuli  i. Temporal lobe d. Gustatory cortex: processes taste e. Olfactory cortex: processes smell 11. Identify the location and function of the following association areas: premotor cortex, somatosensory association cortex (S2), Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, prefrontal cortex and visual association areas. a. Premotor cortex: anterior to the precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex) i. Helps plan, guide, and coordinate movement b. Somatosensory association cortex (S2): interprets information from the primary somatosensory area c. Broca’s area: integration and appliance of communication d. Wernicke’s area: interpretation of understanding speech and language e. Prefrontal cortex: cognition, working memory, intellectual ability, and personality, physiological state i. Ex: Phineas Gage incident f. Visual association areas: interprets visual information i. Color, objects moving, and depth of field 12. Explain the main functions of the structures of the limbic system (fornix, limbic lobe, hippocampus, amygdala). a. Fornix: output tracts for the limbic system b. Limbic lobe: involved in memory formation, retrieval and learning c. Hippocampus: gray matter involved in learning and memory d. Amygdala: expression of fear 13. Identify and explain the function(s) of the anatomical structures of the diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus). a. Thalamus: gateway to the cerebrum i. Filters information b. Hypothalamus: regulates the autonomic nervous system, secretes hormones and connects to pituitary gland i. Regulates visceral functions c. Epithalamus: contains pineal gland in charge of regulating sleep-wake cycles i. Releases melatonin hormone 14. Explain the anatomical and functional relationship between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. a. The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus by the infundibulum b. The pituitary gland’s hormones are controlled by the hypothalamus’s releasal of hormones 15. Explain primary function of the cerebellum and the anatomical structures arbor vitae and folia. a. Cerebellum: fube tybe sjeketak nyscke movements, contains BLUE PRINT of body position and coordinates ongoing movement (alcohol affects this part of the brain) i. Arbore vitae: white matter ii. Folia: outer ridges of grey matter (lots of surface area) 1. Sulcus of cerebellar cortex 16. Identify and explain the function of the following structures associated with the brainstem: midbrain (superior and inferior colliculi), pons, and medulla oblongata (pyramids). a. Midbrain: part of the brain stem and regulates startle reflexes i. Superior colliculi: visual tracking ii. Inferior colliculi: auditory tracking b. Pons: connects bridge i. Aids in breathing ii. Connects right and left cerebellum c. Meudlla oblongata: connects to spinal cord containing the pyramids (decussation) - maintains equilibrium i. Pyramids: involved in descending tract pathway 1. One side of the brain control the opposite side of the body 17. Identify the cranial nerves by name and number. a. Olfactory I b. Optic II c. Oculomotor III d. Trochlear IV e. Trigeminal V f. Abducens VI g. Facial VII h. Vestibulocochlear VIII i. Glossopharyngeal IX j. Vagus X k. Accessory XI l. Hypoglossal XII