Central Nervous System (CNS) Lecture Notes

A set of flashcards based on a lecture about the Central Nervous System covering anatomy, functions, pathways, and clinical correlates.

What structures comprise the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

The brain and spinal cord.

What connects the CNS to the body's effectors in the motor division?

Motor (Efferent) nerve fibers.

What is the function of the somatosensory pathway?

To transmit sensory information from receptors to the CNS.

Which part of the brain is responsible for voluntary motor commands?

The precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex).

What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?

Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital.

What is the primary role of the hypothalamus?

To coordinate the endocrine system, limbic system (emotion), and autonomic nervous system.

What is the significance of the central sulcus?

It separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced?

By the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricles.

What is hydrocephalus?

A condition caused by an imbalance of CSF reabsorption or blockage, leading to increased pressure within the ventricles of the brain.

What differentiate grey matter from white matter in the brain?

Grey matter contains neuronal cell bodies, while white matter contains neuronal axons.

What are cranial nerves?

Nerves that are part of the peripheral nervous system but arise from the brain.

What is the function of the brainstem?

To connect the cerebrum and cerebellum with the spinal cord and perform vital reflexes such as breathing and heart rate.

Which areas of the brain are associated with higher executive functions and personality?

The frontal lobe.

What are the two main arterial systems supplying the brain?

The Internal Carotid System and the Vertebrobasilar System.

What is the function of the sensory (afferent) division?

To carry sensory information from receptors to the CNS.

What are the primary functions of the cerebellum?

Unconscious proprioception, balance, motor learning, and coordination.

What do the effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems promote?

Sympathetic promotes 'fight or flight'; parasympathetic promotes 'rest and digest'.

What is the function of the motor neurons in voluntary movement pathways?

To transmit commands from the CNS to skeletal muscles.

What is a reflex arc?

A neural pathway that controls a reflex action, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.