Neuro Anatomy

Neurologic System

What are the 2 main components of the central nervous system?

Brain + spinal cord

What are the protective parts of the CNS?

• Meninges (3 layers) - protecc and nourish

• CSF - cushions, nourishes, remove waste

What are the 3 layers of the meninges?

1 - dura mater

2 - arachnoid mater

3 - pia mater

Where is CSF made?

In the ventricles

T/F - Upper motor neurons (CNS) control lower motor neurons (PNS)

True

Where do upper motor neurons originate from?

Brain + brain stem

What is the role of the peripheral nervous system? Describe its composition

Carries info to/from the CNS

It is composed of 12 cranial nerve pairs and 31 spinal nerve pairs, which include somatic and autonomic nerve fibers

What is the difference b/w somatic and autonomic nerve fibers?

Somatic - voluntary skeletal muscle

Autonomic - involuntary smooth muscle, heart, and glands

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system? What are its 2 divisions?

Unconscious/involuntary control

1 - sympathetic division (fight/flight)

2 - parasympathetic division (rest and digest)

What is our biologic stress response when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?

Increased HR, bronchodilation, pupil dilation

Decreased gastric secretions

What are the 2 main pathways of the spinal cords?

1 - sensory pathway (ascending)

2 - motor pathway (descending)

What 2 tracts are included in the sensory pathway?

1 - spinothalamic tract (pain, temp, crude/light touch)

2 - posterior columns (proprioception, vibration, fine touch)

What 2 tracts are included in the motor pathway?

1 - pyramidal/corticospinal tract (voluntary, skilled movements)

2 - extrapyramidal tract (muscle tone, posture, body control)

Brain stem structure and function?

Structure - midbrain, pons, medulla
- pons: connects cerebellum to cerebrum and midbrain to medulla, facilitating reflex actions

Function - vital reflexes, life support region

Why is damage to the medulla significant?

B/c it contains CN nuclei and controls vital functions like RR, HR, and BP

Damage to this area would exhibit posturing (danger zone!!)

Cerebellum function

Coordination, balance, muscle tone

The body’s movement editing center

Cerebellum structure and function

Thinking, memory, motor control

Frontal lobe: voluntary movement, broca’s area, personality, judgment/intellect, behavior

Parietal lobe: sensory reception, touch, temp, pain

Temporal lobe: auditory processing, wernicke’s area

Occipital lobe: visual processing, reading comprehension

Diencephalon structure and function

Hypothalamus: regulates temp, water balance, metabolism, BP, pulse, RR, sleep cycles, emotions, pain perception

Thalamus: relays and directs sensory impulses to cerebral cortex

What is the midbrains overall function?

To relay auditory and visual reflexes

Connects higher brain centers w/ pons, medulla, cerebellum, and spinal cord