VMED 5163 - Functional Overview of the Central Nervous System

Functional and regional

What are the categories of neural anatomy within neurobiology?

Neurons

What are the functional units of the brain?

Act as support cells which provide nutrients to neurons

What is the function of glia cells?

Glia cells

The number of neurons and the number of ___ cells is relatively equal

100 billion

About how many neurons are present in the human brain?

Their function, not number

The importance of neurons is dictated by what characteristic?

Within the cerebellum

About half of the neurons within the brain are located where?

Dendrites, cell body, axon, and synaptic terminals

What are the segments of a neuron?

Dendrites

Within a neuron, a stimulus is received via what structure?

Processing of stimulus / signals

What process occurs within the soma of a neuron?

Axon

An action potential is sent through the ___ of a neuron

Other neurons, muscle fibers, smooth muscle, gland cells, etc.

Neurons may innervate what structures, generally?

Afferent

Neurons which carry information toward the brain are known as ___ neurons

From the brain to cells in the body

Efferent neurons carry information in which direction?

Efferent

Motor neurons are (afferent/efferent)

Relay neurons, or interneurons

The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord, and contains what neuron type?

Neural tube

The brain forms from the expanded rostral end of what structure?

Caudal

The ___ end of the neural tube becomes the spinal cord

Prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon

What are the main divisions of the brain from rostral to caudal?

Telencephalon and diencephalon

The prosencephalon, or forebrain, has two subdivisions. What are they?

Rhombencephalon, or hindbrain

The metencephalon and myelencephalon are subdivisions of what portion of the brain?

The cerebrum and basal ganglia

The telencephalon contains what structures?

Cerebrum; higher order functions such as conscious though, memory, or motor patterns

The largest portion of the brain is the ___. What is this structure responsible for?

Neocortex

The surface of the cerebrum is known as the?

Five; frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, and limbic lobe

How many lobes are present within the cerebral cortex? What are they?

Emotion and memory

The limbic lobe of the brain is responsible for what functions?

Diencephalon

The thalamus and hypothalamus belong to what division of the brain?

The thalamus; sensory inputs must pass through this structure in order to get to higher levels of the brain

What structure is known as the gateway to the cerebral cortex? Why is this?

Hypothalamus

Which structure of the brain is most responsible for regulating homeostasis?

Midbrain; fish, amphibians, and reptiles

The mesencephalon, or the ___, is the highest center of sensorimotor integration in which species?

Caudal colliculus

Which portion of the midbrain is associated with auditory stimuli?

Visual and sensory integration

The rostral colliculus is associated with what type of stimuli?

Pons and cerebellum

Which structures of the brain are included in the mesencephalon?

To connect the cerebellum to the rest of the brain and to modify respiratory output of the medulla

What is the main function of the pons?

Center for body movement and balance

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Medulla oblongata

The base of the brainstem is created by which portion of the brain?

Swallowing, vomiting, sneezing, coughing, and regulation of cardiovascular and respiratory activity

What bodily functions is the medulla oblongata responsible for controlling?

Meninges

The separation between the skull and the brain is known as the?

Forms a protective wrap or covering around the brain, and keeps fluid around the brain for nourishment

What are the major functions of the meninges?

Dura mater, arachnid, and pia mater

What are the layers of the meninges?

Pia mater

The highly vascular, innermost layer of support to the brain is the?

A series of spaces and tunnels through the center of the brain; secrete cerebrospinal fluid and provide a route for chemical messengers through the CNS

What are the ventricles of the brain? What is their function?

Cerebrospinal fluid

What allows the brain the 'float' within the skull?