Chapter 5: The Nervous System

1. Identify the anatomy of the nervous system. 2. Describe the main functions of the nervous system. 3. Spell the medical terms of the nervous system and use correct abbreviations. 4. Identify the medical specialties associated with the nervous system. 5. Explore common diseases, disorders, and procedures related to the nervous system.

the nervous system can be divided into two regions:

central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

the central nervous system (CNS) contains the…

brain and spinal cord

the brain is contained within the…

cranial cavity

the spinal cord is contained within the…

vertebral cavity

the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of…

everything beyond the central nervous system

the structures of the peripheral nervous system are referred to as…

ganglia and nerves

nervous tissue contains two basic types of cells:

neurons and glial cells

the primary type of cell that are electrically active and release chemical signals to target cells

neurons

what is the cell body referred to as?

soma

extensions of a cell are called a…

process

an important process that every neuron has, which is the fiber that connects a neuron with its target, is a(n)…

axon

one type of process that branches off from the soma and is responsible for receiving most of the input from other neurons is a(n)…

dendrite

one of a variety of cells that provide a framework of tissue that supports the neurons and their activities is a(n)…

glial cell

regions of nervous tissue with many cell bodies and dendrites

gray matter

gray matter makes up the…

outer cortex of the brain

regions of nervous tissue that are largely composed of just axons

white matter

the four major regions of the adult brain are the…

cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum

the iconic gray mantle of the human brain that appears to make up most of the mass of the brain

cerebrum

the wrinkled portion of the cerebrum

cerebral cortex

the large separation that divides the cerebrum into two distinct halves, a right and left cerebral hemisphere

longitudinal fissure

the longitudinal fissure divides the cerebrum into…

right and left cerebral hemispheres

the white matter of the _____ _____ provides the major pathway for communication between the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

corpus callosum

many of the higher neurological functions, such as _____, _____, and _____ are the result of cerebral function

memory, emotion, consciousness

a continuous layer of gray matter that wraps around either side of the forebrain

cerebral cortex

the cerebral cortex is responsible for the…

higher functions of the nervous system

the ridge of one of the wrinkles of gray matter

gyrus/gyri

the groove between two gyri

sulcus/sulci

the pattern of the folds of gray matter indicates _____ ______ of the cerebral cortex

specific regions

gray matter has the surface area of roughly… when stretched out

one square meter

the _____ is deep beneath the cerebrum and constitutes the walls of the third ventricle

diencephalon

the two major regions of the diencephalon are the…

thalamus and hypothalamus

a collection of nuclei that relay information between the cerebral cortex and the periphery, spinal cord, or brain stem

thalamus

all sensory information, except for the sense of smell, passes through the _____ before being processed by the cortex

thalamus

the _____ is inferior and slightly anterior to the thalamus and is a collection of nuclei that are largely involved in regulating homeostasis

hypothalamus

the hypothalamus is the executive region in charge of the ______ ______ _____ and the _____ _____ through its regulation of the anterior pituitary gland

autonomic nervous system, endocrine system

the hypothalamus is the executive region in charge of the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system through its regulation of the ______ ______ ______

anterior pituitary gland

other parts of the hypothalamus are involved in memory and emotion as part of the _____ _____

limbic system

other parts of the hypothalamus are involved in _____ and _____ as part of the limbic system

memory, emotion

the _____ and _____ are collectively referred to as the brainstem

midbrain, hindbrain

the hindbrain is composed of the…

pons and medulla

coordinates sensory representations of the visual, auditory, and somatosensory perceptual spaces

midbrain

the ____ and ____ (______) regulate several crucial functions, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and rates

pons, medulla, hindbrain

the _____ is the main connection with the cerebellum

pons

the major ascending and descending pathways between the spinal cord and brain, specifically the cerebrum, pass through the…

brain stem

the _____ is covered in gyri and sulci similar to the cerebrum and also resembles a smaller version of that part of the brain

cerebellum

cerebellum means…

little brain

the cerebellum is largely responsible for comparing information from the cerebrum with _____ _____ from the periphery through the spinal cord

sensory feedback

the cerebellum accounts for approximately _____ of the mass of the brain

10%

long bundle of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and resemble a horse’s tail

cauda equina

the ______ ______ ______ is at the level of the upper lumbar vertebral bones

sacral spinal cord

neurons are the cells considered to be the basis of…

nervous tissue

responsible for the electrical signals that communicate information about sensations and that produce movements in response to those stimuli, along with inducing thought processes within the brain

neurons

the main part of a neuron is the

soma

the soma contains the…

nucleus and most of the major organelles

extensions of a neuron’s cell membrane

process

a fiber that emerges from the cell body and projects to target cells

axon

axons propagate the _____ _____, which is communicated to one or more cells

nerve impulse

neurons are described as having _____ axon(s)

one

highly branched processes that receive information from other neurons and are usually highly branched processes that provide locations for other neurons to communicate with the cell body

dendrites

specialized areas of contact on a dendrite

synapse

information flows through a neuron from the _____, across the _____, and down the _____

dendrite, cell body, axon

many axons are wrapped in an insulating substance called…

myelin

myelin is made from

glial cells

each gap in the myelin covering of an axon is called a ______, and is important to the way electrical signals travel down the axon

node of Ranvier

at the end of an axon is the _____ _____, where there are usually several branches extending toward the target cell

axon terminal

each axon terminal ends with an enlargement called a…

synaptic end bulb

synaptic end bulbs are what make the…, at the…

connection with the target cell, synapse

_____ _____ are considered to be supporting cells, and many functions are directed at helping neurons complete their function for communication

glial cells

the four CNS glia are…

astroctye, oligodendrocyte, microglia, ependymal cell

the two PNS glia are…

satellite cell, schwann cell

the basic function of astrocytes and satellite cells are…

support

the basic functions of oligodendrocytes and schwann cells are…

insulation and myelination

the basic functions of microglia are…

immune surveillance and phagocytosis

the basic function of ependymal cells is…

creating cerebrospinal fluid

arachn/o

spider

astr/o

star

cephal/o

head

cerebell/o

cerebellum

cerebr/o

cerebrum

cortic/o

outer layer or covering

crani/o

cranium, head

dur/o

dura mater, hard

encephal/o

brain

esthesi/o

sensation, sensitivity, feeling

gangli/o, ganglion/o

ganglion

gli/o

glia, gluey substance

heme/o

blood

hydr/o

water

mening/o, meningi/o

meninges

ment/o

mind

mon/o

one, single

myel/o

spinal cord

neur/o

nerve

pariet/o

wall

phas/o

speech

poli/o

gray matter

psych/o

mind

quadr/i

four

radic/o, radicul/o, rhiz/o

nerve root

somat/o

body