Central and Peripheral Nervous System Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering brain and spinal cord anatomy, meninges, ventricles, cranial and spinal nerves, autonomic divisions, neural histology, and synaptic transmission.

The four main divisions of the brain are the cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, and __________.

Cerebellum

The brainstem consists of the midbrain, pons, and __________.

Medulla Oblongata

The largest part of the brain is the __________.

Cerebrum

The right and left cerebral hemispheres are connected by the __________.

Corpus Callosum

The cerebrum controls all conscious thoughts and __________ functions.

intellectual

The cerebrum processes somatic sensory and motor info from the __________ side of the body.

opposite

A raised ridge on the surface of the brain is called a __________.

gyrus

A shallow groove on the surface of the brain is called a __________.

sulcus

A deep groove on the surface of the brain is called a __________.

fissure

The primary motor area is located in the __________ lobe.

frontal

The parietal lobe contains the primary __________ cortex.

somatosensory

The primary auditory cortex is located in the __________ lobe.

temporal

The occipital lobe contains the primary __________ cortex.

visual

The __________ sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes.

central

The __________ sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobes.

lateral

The __________ sulcus separates the parietal lobes and the occipital lobe.

parieto-occipital

The __________ fissure separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

longitudinal

Cerebral fibers that connect areas of the cortex within one hemisphere are called __________ fibers.

association

Interconnections between both hemispheres passing through the corpus callosum and anterior commissure are formed by __________ fibers.

Commissural

Fibers connecting the cerebrum to other parts of the CNS, such as the brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord, are called __________ fibers.

projection

All projection fibers connecting the cerebrum to other CNS structures must pass through the __________.

Diencephalon

The basal ganglia are unmyelinated masses of __________ matter within the cerebral hemispheres.

grey

The basal ganglia are a group of deep brain structures that help control __________.

movements

The main parts of the basal ganglia are the Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus, and __________.

Substantia Nigra

In addition to starting and regulating voluntary movements, the basal ganglia function to suppress __________ movements.

unwanted

The basal ganglia support motor learning, habits, and __________.

motivation

The diencephalon is located deep inside the brain, directly above the __________.

brainstem

The major structures of the diencephalon are the Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Epithalamus, and __________.

Subthalamus

The __________ gland is located within the epithalamus.

pineal

The diencephalon relays sensory information and regulates body temp, hunger, and __________.

thirst

The brainstem connects the brain with the __________.

spinal cord

The superior portion of the brainstem is the __________.

midbrain

The midbrain regulates visual reflexes and __________ reflexes.

auditory

The midbrain controls alertness and regulates basal nuclei through the __________.

Substantia Nigra

The fluid-filled channel that runs directly through the midbrain is the __________.

Cerebral Aqueduct

The __________ connect the midbrain and cerebellum through the pons.

cerebral peduncles

The anterior, bulging region of the brainstem is the __________.

Pons

The sensory and motor tracts found in the pons include ascending, descending, and __________ tracts.

transverse

The pons controls respiration through the __________ Center.

Pontine Respiratory

The brainstem region containing the pons and medulla oblongata borders the __________ ventricle.

fourth

The inferior region of the brainstem that connects the spinal cord to the brain is the __________.

Medulla Oblongata

In the medulla oblongata, many sensory and motor tracts cross or __________.

decussate

The vital reflex centers located in the medulla oblongata include the Cardiac Center, Medullary Respiratory Center, and __________ Center.

Vasomotor

The medulla oblongata contains reflex centers for sneezing, coughing, swallowing, and __________.

vomiting

The two hemispheres of the cerebellum are separated by a fold of __________.

Dura Mater

The cerebellar cortex is the outer layer of the cerebellum and is composed of __________ matter.

grey

The inner layer of white matter within the cerebellum is known as the __________.

arbor vitae

Along with coordinating voluntary movements and making them smooth and accurate, the cerebellum maintains balance and __________.

posture

The outermost meninx, composed of tough, dense irregular connective tissue, is the __________.

Dura Mater

Blood-filled spaces located between layers of the dura mater are called __________ sinuses.

dural venous

The space located between the dura mater and the skull is the __________ space.

epidural

The space situated between the arachnoid mater and the dura mater is the __________ space.

subdural

The space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater is the __________ space.

subarachnoid

The arachnoid trabeculae consist of a collagen/elastin network filled with __________.

CSF

The innermost meninx that adheres directly to the surface of the brain and contains blood vessels is the __________.

Pia Mater

The ventricular system of the brain is lined with __________ cells.

ependymal

Most cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced by the __________.

choroid plexus

The lateral ventricles connect to the third ventricle through the __________.

interventricular foramen

The third ventricle is situated directly between the two bodies of the __________.

thalamus

The third ventricle connects to the fourth ventricle via the __________.

cerebral aqueduct

Openings in the fourth ventricle that lead into the subarachnoid space are called __________.

apertures

The spinal cord extends inferiorly from the medulla into the __________ region.

upper lumbar

The tapered conical end of the spinal cord is called the __________.

conus medullaris

The collection of spinal nerve roots resembling a horse's tail at the inferior end of the vertebral canal is the __________.

cauda equina

In the spinal cord, gray matter contains neuron cell bodies and __________.

synapses

The white matter of the spinal cord is primarily composed of __________ nerve fibers.

myelinated

Sensory information travels into the spinal cord through the __________ roots.

dorsal

Motor commands exit the spinal cord through the __________ roots.

ventral

Spinal nerves form when dorsal and ventral roots join, meaning they carry both sensory and __________ fibers.

motor

There are exactly __________ pairs of spinal nerves that connect the CNS to the body.

31

There are __________ pairs of cervical spinal nerves.

8

The upper back, chest, and abdomen are supplied by 12 pairs of __________ spinal nerves.

thoracic

There are __________ pairs of lumbar spinal nerves extending to the lower back, legs, and feet.

5

There are __________ pairs of sacral spinal nerves located near the sacrum extending into the pelvis and legs.

5

There is __________ pair(s) of coccygeal spinal nerves located at the tailbone.

1

Cranial Nerve I is the __________ nerve, which is sensory and detects smell.

Olfactory

Cranial Nerve II is the __________ nerve, which is sensory and handles vision and visual information.

Optic

Cranial Nerve III is the __________ nerve, which controls most eye movements, pupil constriction, and eyelid elevation.

Oculomotor

Cranial Nerve IV is the __________ nerve, which controls the superior oblique eye muscle.

Trochlear

Cranial Nerve V is the __________ nerve, which transmits touch, pain, and temp from the face and head, and controls chewing muscles.

Trigeminal

Cranial Nerve VI is the __________ nerve, which controls the lateral rectus eye muscle for outward movement.

Abducens

Cranial Nerve VII is the __________ nerve, which controls facial expressions, taste for the anterior tongue, and tear/salivary glands.

Facial

Cranial Nerve VIII is the __________ nerve, which is sensory and responsible for hearing and balance.

Vestibulocochlear

Cranial Nerve IX is the __________ nerve, which handles taste on the posterior tongue, throat sensation, swallowing, and saliva production.

Glossopharyngeal

Cranial Nerve X is the __________ nerve, which is mixed with primary parasympathetic output regulating internal organs, throat, and voice box.

Vagus

Cranial Nerve XI is the __________ nerve, which controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles for head and shoulder movements.

Accessory

Cranial Nerve XII is the __________ nerve, which controls tongue movements.

Hypoglossal

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is functionally classified as part of the __________ nervous system.

peripheral

The sympathetic nervous system features __________ outflow.

thoracolumbar

The parasympathetic nervous system features __________ outflow.

craniosacral

The sympathetic division triggers the '__________' response, increasing heart rate and dilating pupils.

Fight or Flight

The parasympathetic division promotes '__________,' which slows heart rate and stimulates digestion.

Rest and Digest

The three general functions of the nervous system are sensation, integration, and __________.

response

In nervous system sensation, __________ respond to stimuli originating from inside and outside the body.

receptors

During integration, the brain and __________ process and evaluate incoming sensory information.

spinal cord

Motor output responses initiated by the CNS are transmitted to __________ to alter their activity.

effectors

The Central Nervous System consists of the brain and the __________.

spinal cord

The Peripheral Nervous System consists of all neural tissue located __________ the CNS.

outside

Structures belonging to the PNS include cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and __________.

ganglia

Somatic sensory innervation detects sensations from the skin, muscles, and __________.

joints