Central Nervous System

Autonomic nervous system (involuntary)

a component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiological processes

What does the ANS regulate?

heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal

What are the distinct divisions of ANS?

sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric

Central nervous system (CNS)

Processing cetner of body consisting of brain and spinal cord

Cerebellum

portion of brain in posterior inferior region that processes information for coordination and movement

Dendrites

fibrous roots that branch out from cell body, receiving and processing signals from axons and other neurons

Diencephalon

area between cerebrum and brainstem and includes thalamus and hypothalamus

Fissures

Deep grooves between folds of cerebrum

Gyri

fold on surface of cerebrum

Motor (efferent) nerves

transmits impulses from CNS out to peripheral organs to cause an effect or action

Nerves

whitish fiber/bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal and then to muscles and organs

Sulci

Grooves between folds of cerebrum

How many neurons does your brain have?

one hundred Billion neurons and each can contain up to 10,000 other neurons

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and autonomic nervous system

Major parts of the brain

Outer cerebrum and inner diencephalon

How does the brain connect to the spinal cord?

brainstem

Largest portion of nervous system?

Cerebrum

Cerebrum consists of

2 hemispheres (right and left)

How do right and left hemisphere connect?

corpus callosum

Corpus callosum

bridge of white matter

Frontal lobe processes?

Motor movements, concentration, planning, problem solving, smell and emotions

Parietal lobes process?

Sensory information EXCEPT hearing, smelling, and vision

Temporal lobes process?

information related to hearing, smell, memory, abstract thought, and making judgements

Occipital lobe processes?

visual information

Longitudinal fissure

located on superior aspect of cerebrum and divides parietal lobes

Lateral fissure (sylvian fissure)

located on lateral aspect of cerebrum and separates temporal from parietal lobes

Central sulcus

located midway on lateral aspect of cerebrum and separates frontal from parietal lobes

Insula

located deep in lateral fissure, often referred to as fifth lobe

Largest part of diencephalon

thalamus

Thalamus

carries all sensory information to cerebral cortex except for smell

Where is smell carried?

directly to frontal lobe by the olfactory nerves

Thalamus aka

relay station for sensory information such as auditory, visual, and motoro

Why is the thalamus intimately involved in emotions?

due to connection to limbic system

Hypothalamus location

inferior and anterior to thalamus

Infundibulum

stalk-like projection that connects the hypothalamus anterior and inferior to pituitary gland

Hypothalamus is intimately connected with?

Endocrine system and helps regulate hormones

Hypothalamus regulates

hormones, body temp, thirst, hunger, and sexual drive and is involved in processing emotions, mood, and sleep

Pineal gland

small endocrine gland posterior to diencephalon that secretes melatonin

Brainstem consists of

midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata

most inferior portion of brainstem

Medulla oblongata function

controls heart rate, respiration, swallowing, vomiting, and blood vessel diameter

Tracts

spinal pathways that continue through medulla connecting spinal cord with brain

Pons

middle section of brainstem

Pons contains

spinal cord tracts and nuclei that help control respiration and sleep

Midbrain

most superior portion of brainstem

Midbrain function

helps process motor and hearing information

Reticular formation located

located throughout brainstem

Reticular formation

regulated sleep-wake cycles

Limbic system contains

contains cerebrum and diencephalon as well as cingulate gyrus, portions of thalamus and hypothalamus, mamillary and amygdaloid bodies, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens

Limbic system function

emotions, reproduction, and memory

Spinal cord location

begins at foramen magnum of occipital bone and extends to 2nd lumbar vertebrae

Conus Medullaris

cone like structure where spinal cord ends

Cauda equina

aka horse’s tail extends from inferior end of spinal cord

Cauda equina consists of

nerves that extend downward to exit the foramen of lumbar and sacral vertebrae

Spinal cord is made up of

a core of grey matter surrounded by white matter

Funiculi or columns

posterior, lateral, and anterior sections of white matter

Horns

posterior, lateral, and anterior sections of grey matter

Both sides of spinal cord are connect by

posterior and anterior gray commissures

Central canal of spinal cord

carries cerebral spinal fluid

Large groove in front of spinal cord

anterior median fissure

Shallow groove in back of spinal cord

posterior median sulcus

Meninges

covers brain and spinal cord

Meninges include

dura mater, middle arachnoid mater, and inner pia mater

Subarachnoid space

space between arachnoid and pia mater that carries cerebral spinal fluid

space between dura mater and vertebrae

epidural space

What produces cerebral spinal fluid?

hollow structures in brain ventricles called choroid plexi

How much cerebral spinal fluid is produced daily?

500ml and 125ml are in nervous system at a given time

What absorbs CSF?

arachnoid granulations/villi located in arachnoid mater

Hydrocephalus

abnormal buildup of CSF that causes swelling

How do you treat hydrocephalus?

by surgery or a shunt that drains excess fluid into chest or abdomen