W6 MHS1101 Nervous System 2

Flashcards for Nervous System Lecture Review

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord, serving as processing centers.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Cranial and spinal nerves responsible for sensory input and motor responses.

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain, controls higher functions like thought and memory.

Gyri

Elevated ridges on the cerebrum, increasing surface area.

Sulci

Shallow depressions separating gyri on the cerebrum.

Fissures

Deep depressions separating gyri on the cerebrum.

Central Sulcus

Separates the frontal and parietal lobes.

Precentral Gyrus

Anterior to the central sulcus; involved in motor control.

Postcentral Gyrus

Posterior to the central sulcus; receives sensory information.

Lateral Sulcus

Separates the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe.

Association Fibers

Connects regions within the same cerebral hemisphere.

Commissural Fibers

Connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Projection Fibers

Connects the cerebral cortex to lower CNS regions.

Basal Nuclei

Masses of grey matter deep within the cerebrum, involved in subconscious skeletal muscle control.

Primary Motor Cortex

Located in the precentral gyrus; contains pyramidal cells for motor control.

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Located in the postcentral gyrus; receives sensory input.

Association Areas

Interpret sensory data and coordinate responses.

Integrative Centers

Direct complex motor activities and analytical functions.

Wernicke's Area

Language comprehension (typically located on the left side).

Broca's Area

Speech production (typically located on the left side).

Prefrontal Cortex

Responsible for abstract thought and predicting consequences.

Left Cerebral Hemisphere

Hemisphere responsible for language, reading, writing, and logic.

Right Cerebral Hemisphere

Hemisphere responsible for sensory analysis, spatial awareness, and facial recognition.

Cerebellum

Second-largest part of the brain; responsible for adjusting posture and fine-tuning movements.

Peduncles

Connect the cerebellum with the brainstem, cerebrum, and spinal cord.

Diencephalon

Integrates sensory and motor functions; contains the epithalamus, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

Epithalamus

Contains the pineal gland that secretes melatonin.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Involved in emotions, autonomic functions, and hormone production.

Pituitary Gland

Connects to the hypothalamus and is an endocrine gland.

Brainstem

Relays information between the spinal cord and cerebrum/cerebellum.

Midbrain

Processes sight, sound, and reflexes; involved in consciousness.

Pons

Links the cerebellum and brainstem; contains relay centers and nuclei for motor control.

Medulla Oblongata

Connects the brain to the spinal cord; controls autonomic functions.

Limbic System

Establishes emotional states, links the cortex with brainstem functions, and is involved in memory storage/retrieval.

Neural Tube

Gives rise to the CNS; its rostral end forms primary brain vesicles.

Brain Protection

Protects the brain physically and biochemically.

Cranial Meninges

Includes the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater; protects the brain.

Dura Mater

Outer layer of the cranial meninges; forms dural folds.

Arachnoid Mater

Middle layer of the cranial meninges; separated from the pia mater by the subarachnoid space.

Pia Mater

Innermost layer of the cranial meninges; bound to the surface of the brain by astrocytes.

Spinal Cord

Conducts information to/from the brain and gives rise to spinal nerves.

Anterior (ventral) root

Contains motor neurons of spinal cord.

Posterior (dorsal) root

Contains sensory neurons of spinal cord with posterior root ganglia.

Cauda Equina

A bundle of nerve roots below the conus medullaris.

Denticulate ligaments

Anchor pia to dura and stabilize cord.

Subarachnoid space

Carry blood vessels to pia mater and filled with CSF

Ascending Tracts

Sensory tracts ascending towards the brain.

Descending Tracts

Motor tracts descending from brain.

Nerve Plexuses

Allow for redundancy in nerve distribution.