A&P central nervous system flashcards

What are the protective coverings of the brain and spinal cord?

Bone and meninges

What are the layers of the meninges?

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

What are the extensions of the dura mater?

Falx cerebri, falx cerebelli, and tentorium cerebelli

What is the falx cerebri?

An extension of the dura mater that seperates the cerebral hemispheres

What is the falx cerebelli?

An extension of the dura mater that seperates the two hemispheres of the cerebellum

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

An extension of the dura mater that seperates the cerebllum from the cerebrum

What layer is the pia mater?

The innermost

List the meningeal spaces

Epidural space (only spinal cord), subdural space, subarachnoid space

What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid?

Provides a protective cushion and is a resorvoir for circulating fluid which the brain monitors for changes in it’s internal environment.

Where is CSF found?

in the subarachnoid space and within cavities and canals of the brain/spinal cord

What are ventricles? How many are in the brain?

Fluid filled spaces within the brain. 4

How and where does CSF form?

By seperation of fluid from blood in the choroid plexuses

Where is the lower border of the spinal cord?

At the lower border the first lumbar vertebrae

What does the dorsal nerve root do?

Carries sensory information to the spinal cord

What does the ventral nerve root do?

Carries motor information away from the spinal cord

What is the spinal nerve?

Mixed nerve formed by both dorsal and ventral roots

What is the cauda equina?

A bundle of nerve roots extending from the conus medullaris at the inferior end of spinal cord

What is the medulla oblongata?

The lowest part of the brainstem, located just above the foramen magnum

Where is the pons located?

Above the medulla and below the midbrain

What does the brainstem do?

of primary importance for cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory as well as vomitting, coughing, sneezing

What does the pons do?

Contains reflexes mediated by the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th cranial nerves

What cranial nerves does the midbrain contain?

3rd and 4th

How big is the cerebellum?

The second largest part of the brain. contains more neurons than the rest of the nervous system

What does the cerebellum do?

Helps maintain balance by controlling skeletal muscles, controls posture, and processes sensory information

What structures lay within the diencephalon

The thalmus, hypothalmus, optic chiasma, pineal gland and more

What does the thalmus do?

Helps with sensations of pain, temperature, and touch.

What does the hypothalmus do?

Links mind and body as well as links nervous system to endocrine system.W

Where is the pineal gland and what does it do?

In the diencephalon. It helps maintain the body’s biological clock and produces melatonin.

What is melatonin made from?

Serotonin

How many lobes are in the cerebral cortex?

Five on each hemisphereW

What are the lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula

What are the bumps on the cerebral cortex called?

Gyri

What are the shallow grooves on the cerebral cortex called?

Sulci

What are the deep grooves in the cerebral cortex called?

Fissures

Integrative functions of the cerebral cortex

Conciousness, language, emotions, and memory

What are the functinos of the left hemisphere of the cortex?

Language and hand movements

What are the functions of the right hemisphere of the cortex?

Auditory perception, tactual perception, and perceiving/visualizing spatial relationships