A225 - IU - Block 3

Meninges

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

Dura Mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

Arachnoid Mater

weblike middle layer of the three meninges

subarachnoid space

a space in the meninges beneath the arachnoid membrane and above the pia mater that contains the cerebrospinal fluid

pia mater

the delicate innermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrum

Area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Midbrain

A small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory information and relays it upward.

Diencephalon

Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Pineal Gland

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

medulla oblongata

the posterior part of the brain that controls the rate of breathing and other autonomic functions

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

pineal gland

secretes melatonin

pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

septum pellucidum

separates lateral ventricles

optic chiasm

point at which optic nerve fibers cross in the brain

cerebral peduncles

contain fibers that carry motor output from cerebrum to other regions of CNS

middle cerebellar peduncle

connects cerebellum to pons

Pyramids

two large bulges, one left and one right, on the ventral surface of the medulla; they contain the pyramidal tracts, which carry signals for voluntary movement from the cerebral hemispheres to motor circuits of the spinal cord

lateral ventricles

A set of paired ventricles lying within the cerebral hemispheres.

third ventricle

the ventricle located in the center of the diencephalon

cerebral aqueduct

connects the third and fourth ventricles

fourth ventricle

the ventricle located between the cerebellum and the dorsal pons, in the center of the metencephalon

Cerebral Arterial Circle (Circle of Willis)

Blood vessels that surround the base of the brain, protecting the brain and providing more than one route for blood to reach brain tissue

basilar artery

An artery, formed by the fusion of the vertebral arteries, that supplies blood to the brainstem and to the posterior cerebral arteries.

vertebral arteries

Arteries that ascend the vertebrae, enter the base of the skull, and join together to form the basilar artery.

Spinal chord

Long bundles of neurons that run inside of your vertebral column. It carries impulses from all parts of the body to the brain and from the brain to all parts of your body. Reflex arcs occur here.

Anterior Horns

contains cell bodies of somatic motor neurons

Posterior Horns

contain axons of sensory neurons and cell bodies of interneurons

dural venous sinuses

Drain blood from the brain into the internal jugular veins.

right cerebral hemisphere

controls most of the functions on the left side of the body

left cerebral hemisphere

controls the majority of functions on the right side of the body

cortex

outermost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input

white matter

Composed of tracts of myelinated axons

frontal lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

parietal lobe

Receives and interprets most somatosensory (Temperature, Touch, Pain

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

longitudinal fissure

deep furrow between left and right hemispheres

lateral sulcus

Groove that separates temporal lobe from parietal and frontal lobes

Central sulcus

separates frontal and parietal lobes

olfactory tract

the path along which the olfactory receptors send their electrical messages to the brain.

olfactory bulb

the first brain structure to pick up smell information from the nose

gray matter

Brain and spinal cord tissue that appears gray with the naked eye; consists mainly of neuronal cell bodies (nuclei) and lacks myelinated axons.

Posterior Roots

contains fibers carrying sensory information

posterior root ganglion

contains cell bodies of sensory neurons

conus medullaris

end of spinal cord

cauda equina

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

central canal

A tiny channel found within the spinal cord and inferior medulla oblongata

anterior (ventral) root

Attaches on each to the anterior part of the spinal cord and contains motor (efferent) axons

spinal nerves

Formed when a posterior nerve and an anterior nerve unite, thus contains both motor (efferent) and sensory (afferent) axons.

Soma

cell body of a neuron

Nucleolus

Found inside the nucleus and produces ribosomes

chromatophilic substance

membranous sacs in the cytoplasm of nerve cells that have ribosomes attached to their surfaces

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

axon hillock

Cone shaped region of an axon where it joins the cell body.

Olfactory nerve (1)

the nerve that carries smell impulses from the nose to the brain

Optic Nerve (II)

sensory, vision

Oculomotor Nerve (III)

narrows pupil and focuses lens, motor, eye movement

Trochlear Nerve (IV)

motor, eye movement

trigeminal nerve (V)

contains motor axons for the muscles of mastication

Abducens Nerve (VI)

lateral eye movement

Facial Nerve (VII)

Movement of facial expression muscles, taste (from anterior 2/3 of tongue)

vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

hearing and balance

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

A cranial nerve that has sensory axons for taste in the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, motor axons for pharynx muscles, and some autonomic axons that control the parotid salivary gland

Vagus Nerve (X)

This nerve innervates most of the viscera in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities. As well as innervates voluntary structures in the neck

Accessory Nerve (XI)

Contains motor axons that go to the pharynx, larynx, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid

Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

Contains motor axons for the intrinsic and most extrinsic tongue muscles.

Phrenic Nerve

Provides motor innervation for the diaphragm

brachial plexus

network of interlacing nerves found in the upper arm area

radial nerve

Sensory-motor nerve that, with its branches, supplies the thumb side of the arm and back of the hand.

ulnar nerve

Sensory-motor nerve that, with its branches, affects the little-finger side of the arm and palm of the hand.

Median Nerve

Smallest of the three arm and hand nerves; runs along the mid forearm and extends into the hands

musculocutaneous nerve

arises from the brachial plexus and provides motor innervation to the muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm and sensory innervation to the lateral part of the forearm

Lumbosacral plexus

Formed of L2-S2 rami. Supplies the lower limb.

femoral nerve

innervates quadriceps and skin of anterior thigh and medial surface of leg

sciatic nerve

nerve extending from the base of the spine down the posterior side of the thigh, down the leg to the foot

tibial nerve

A division of the sciatic nerve that passes behind the knee. It subdivides and supplies impulses to the knee, the muscles of the calf, the skin of the leg, and the sole, heel, and underside of the toes.

common fibular nerve

controls muscles on the anterior and lateral leg (primarily dorsiflexors) and foot

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons axon; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Neurolemmocytes

myelinate axons in the PNS

neurofibril nodes (nodes of Ranvier)

narrow gaps between myelin sheaths

medial rectus muscle

Turns the eyes inward towards the nose

Lateral rectus muscle

Turns the eyes outward away from the nose

superior rectus muscle

Turns the eyes upward

Inferior Rectus muscle

Turns the eyes downwards

Superior oblique muscle

depresses eye and turns it laterally

inferior oblique muscle

elevates eye and turns it laterally

fibrous tunic

sclera and cornea

Sclera

white of the eye

Cornea

the transparent layer forming the front of the eye.

vascular tunic

choroid, ciliary body, iris

choroid

middle, vascular layer of the eye, between the retina and the scler

ciliary body

ring of tissue behind the peripheral iris that is composed of ciliary muscle and ciliary processes

Iris

a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening

pupil

the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

retina

the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information