HBS Unit 3

Principal Investigator (PI)

Person in charge of a scientific research grant or clinical trial. The PI is considered the lead researcher, and their role is to manage and maintain the integrity of the study being conducted. Sometimes there is more than one PI.

Lab Manager

Person who generally oversees the lab, scheduling, ordering supplies, maintenance of equipment, and other tasks to keep the lab operating smoothly.

Lab Technicians

People responsible for carrying out the hands-on work in the lab. They may collect specimens or samples, perform tests, calibrate equipment, collect data, or other tasks based on the work or research being conducted.

Postdoctoral Students

PhD graduates that are continuing their education, research, and training beyond their doctoral studies.

What is the nervous systems role in the body?

The nervous system coordinates and controls the body's activities by transmitting electrical signals between the brain, spinal cord, and other body parts. It regulates both voluntary actions, like movement, and involuntary functions, like heart rate and digestion. Overall, it ensures communication between different body systems for proper function and response to stimuli.

What are some examples of voluntary and involuntary actions in the nervous system?

Voluntary actions are controlled by the somatic nervous system and involve conscious effort, such as moving your arm or speaking. Involuntary actions, on the other hand, are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, occurring without conscious control, like heartbeat, digestion, or breathing. Both types of actions are essential for normal body function and coordination.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) 

consists of a system of nerve cells that transmit information to and from the control center.

cerebrum

which is divided into four parts, or lobes. ntegrating center for memory, learning, emotions, and other highly complex functions of the central nervous system.

cerebellum

Concerned especially with the coordination of muscles and the maintenance of bodily equilibrium, situated between the brainstem and the back of the cerebrum.

brain stem

The brainstem is the lower part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord, consisting of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It controls essential life-sustaining functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. Additionally, the brainstem relays signals between the brain and the body, playing a key role in reflexes and basic motor control.

Pons

structure in the brainstem located above the medulla oblongata. It serves as a bridge, relaying signals between the cerebrum and the cerebellum, and plays a key role in regulating sleep, respiration, and facial movements. Damage to it can impair breathing, communication between brain regions, and motor control.

Medulla oblongata

The medulla oblongata is the part of the brainstem that connects the brain to the spinal cord. It controls vital autonomic functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Damage to the medulla can be life-threatening due to its role in regulating these critical functions.

Parietal Lobe

The parietal lobes are responsible for sensing touch, spatial processing(being able to tell where objects are in space), language, and memory.

Occipital Lobe

The occipital lobes are primarily responsible for visual perception and are involved in some forms of visual, short-term memory.

Temporal Lobe

The temporal lobes are responsible for procressing smell and sound, as well as the ability to recognize and understand words and language. They are also involved in visual memory. 

Frontal Lobe 

The frontal lobes play a large role in your behavior and personality, such as planning, voluntary muscle movements, mood, emotions, social interactions, and attention, and are also involved in memory. 

Sensory Cortex

All received sensory input signals, such as touch and taste, are sent through neurons to the sensory cortex to be processed.

Motor Cortex

The part of the brain where nerve impulses initiate voluntary muscular activity.

Thalamus

One of two masses of gray matter lying between the cerebral hemispheres, relaying sensory information and acting as a center for pain perception.

Pituitary Gland

A tiny organ that serves as the primary gland for the body, producing several hormones and activating other glands to produce hormones.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems, and involved in sleep and emotional acitvity.

Corpus Callosum

The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the brain’s left and right hemispheres, enabling communication between them. It plays a crucial role in coordinating motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. Damage or underdevelopment of the corpus callosum can lead to neurological conditions like split-brain syndrome.

Hippocampus

The hippocampus is a small, curved structure located in the brain's temporal lobe, crucial for forming and storing memories. It also plays a role in spatial navigation and learning. Damage to the hippocampus can result in memory loss or difficulty forming new memories, as seen in conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Brachial plexus Which muscle does it stimulate, what path does it take, what does it do?

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord, responsible for controlling the muscles of the shoulder, arm, and hand. It stimulates muscles like the deltoid (shoulder), biceps (upper arm), and intrinsic hand muscles. The brachial plexus passes through the neck, over the first rib, and into the axilla (armpit), where it branches into nerves that control motor and sensory functions in the upper limbs.

gyri

ridges on the brain

sulci

valleys in the brain