Week 1B: Structure of Nervous System

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Foundations of Biological & Cognitive Psychology lecture, focusing on the structure and functions of the nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

Afferent Nerves

Nerves that carry sensory information to the CNS.

Efferent Nerves

Nerves that carry motor commands away from the CNS.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion.

Dura Mater

The tough, flexible outermost layer of the meninges.

Arachnoid

The middle layer of the meninges that does not dip into brain contours.

Pia Mater

The innermost layer of the meninges that adheres to the brain's surface.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A fluid that provides a watery cushion for the brain and circulates through the ventricles.

Hindbrain

Contains structures like the cerebellum and medulla oblongata.

Forebrain

The largest section of the brain, including the telencephalon and diencephalon.

Brodmann Areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex defined by their cell structure and organization.

Limbic System

A set of structures involved in learning, memory, and emotion.

Basal Ganglia

Structures involved in processing information for motor movement.

Neural Tube

The structure formed during development that gives rise to the brain and spinal cord.

Hydrocephalus

A condition involving an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

Ventricles

Hollow chambers within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

What are the main terms that describe the directions in the nervous system?

Directions in the Nervous System:

• Anterior/Rostral - toward the front of the brain

• Posterior/Caudal - toward the back of the brain.

• Dorsal - toward the top of the brain or upper structure

• Ventral - toward the bottom of the brain or lower structure

• Lateral - away from the midline of the body

• Medial - toward the midline of the body.

• Ipsilateral - on the same side of the body

• Contralateral - on the opposite side of the body.

What are the 3 main sections of the brain?

1. Transverse section - right angle to the neuraxis → a cut perpendicular to the long axis of the brain, dividing it into upper and lower parts.

2. Sagittal section - parallel to neuraxis and perpendicular to the ground → a cut that divides the brain into left and right halves.

3. Coronal section - parallel to the ground → a cut that divides the brain into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections.

Circle of Willis

A ring-like arterial structure at the base of the brain that provides redundant blood supply, ensuring circulation even if one part is blocked.

The Skull (Cranium)

The bony structure that protects the brain, consisting of 8 main cranial bones: frontal, parietal (2), temporal (2), occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid.

Subarachnoid Space

The space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater that contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the major blood vessels of the brain.

Choroid Plexus

A specialized tissue within the brain's ventricles that produces Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF).

Ventricular System

A series of interconnected cavities within the brain:

1. Lateral Ventricles (one in each hemisphere)

2. Third Ventricle (within the diencephalon)

3. Fourth Ventricle (between the cerebellum and dorsal pons/medulla)

How does hydrocephalus affect infants differently than adults?

In infants, the cranial sutures have not yet fused, so the accumulation of CSF causes the skull to expand in size. In adults, the rigid skull cannot expand, leading to rapid increases in intracranial pressure.

Brain Development: Primary Vesicles

The three initial expansions of the neural tube:

1. Prosencephalon (Forebrain)

2. Mesencephalon (Midbrain)

3. Rhombencephalon (Hindbrain)

Gray Matter vs. White Matter

• Gray Matter: Found on the cerebral cortex (the 'bark') and is composed primarily of cell bodies and dendrites.

• White Matter: Found beneath the cortex and consists of myelinated axons that transmit signals.

Gyrus vs. Sulcus

• Gyrus: A ridge or bulge on the cerebral cortex.

• Sulcus: A groove or valley between gyri. Large sulci are often called fissures.

Primary Motor Cortex

Located on the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe; it controls the execution of voluntary movements.

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Located on the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe; it processes touch, pressure, pain, and temperature.

Somatotopic Organization

The point-for-point correspondence of an area of the body to a specific point on the central nervous system, often represented by the homunculus.

Thalamus

The major sensory relay station of the diencephalon; it filters and transmits information to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

A structure in the diencephalon that regulates the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system through the pituitary gland to maintain homeostasis.

Mesencephalon (Midbrain) Subdivisions

1. Tectum: Contains the superior (visual) and inferior (auditory) colliculi.

2. Tegmentum: Contains the substantia nigra (involved in movement) and the periaqueductal gray.

Pons

A structure in the hindbrain that serves as a bridge between the cerebellum and the rest of the brain; it is involved in sleep and arousal.

Medulla Oblongata

The most caudal part of the brainstem, controlling vital involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Spinal Cord

A long, thin bundle of nervous tissue that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body, organized into gray matter (inner 'H' shape) and white matter (outer tracts).

Cranial Nerves vs. Spinal Nerves

• Cranial Nerves: 12 pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain/brainstem.

• Spinal Nerves: 31 pairs of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Subdivisions

1. Sympathetic Division: Activates the 'fight-or-flight' response (increases heart rate, dilates pupils).

2. Parasympathetic Division: Activates the 'rest-and-digest' response (decreases heart rate, increases digestion).

Anatomical Directions: Rostral vs. Caudal

In the brain, Rostral (Anterior) refers to being toward the front or nose, while Caudal (Posterior) refers to being toward the back or tail.

Anatomical Directions: Dorsal vs. Ventral

Dorsal refers to the top of the brain or the back of the spinal cord. Ventral refers to the bottom of the brain or the belly side of the spinal cord.

Anatomical Directions: Ipsilateral vs. Contralateral

Ipsilateral refers to structures on the same side of the body. Contralateral refers to structures on opposite sides of the body.

Brain Planes: Coronal Section

Also known as a frontal section, it is a cut parallel to the face that divides the brain into front (Anterior) and back (Posterior) halves.

Brain Planes: Sagittal Section

A cut parallel to the neuraxis and perpendicular to the ground, dividing the brain into left and right halves. A Midsagittal section occurs exactly at the midline.

Brain Planes: Horizontal (Transverse) Section

A cut parallel to the ground that divides the brain into upper (Dorsal) and lower (Ventral) parts.

Organization of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The PNS consists of nerves and ganglia outside the CNS and is divided into:

1. Somatic Nervous System: Controls skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information.

2. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.

What are the three layers of the Meninges?

From outermost to innermost:

1. Dura Mater: The 'tough mother'; a thick, durable outer layer.

2. Arachnoid Mater: The middle layer with a web-like appearance.

3. Pia Mater: The 'pious mother'; a delicate layer that closely adheres to the brain surface.

The Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Pathway

CSF is produced by the Choroid Plexus in the ventricles. It flows from the Lateral Ventricles to the Third Ventricle, then through the cerebral aqueduct to the Fourth Ventricle, and finally into the Subarachnoid Space.

The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

1. Frontal Lobe: Executive functions, motor control, and personality.

2. Parietal Lobe: Somatosensory processing and spatial awareness.

3. Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, memory, and language.

4. Occipital Lobe: Visual processing.

Telencephalon: The Limbic System

A group of structures including the Hippocampus (memory formation) and Amygdala (emotion and fear processing) involved in motivation and emotion.

Telencephalon: The Basal Ganglia

A collection of subcortical nuclei (including the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus) involved in the control and fine-tuning of voluntary motor movements.

Diencephalon: Thalamus vs. Hypothalamus

• Thalamus: The 'relay station' that directs sensory input to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.

• Hypothalamus: Regulates homeostasis, the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

What is the difference between Gray Matter and White Matter?

• Gray Matter: Found on the outer cortex; consists mostly of cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons.

• White Matter: Located beneath the cortex; consists of myelinated axons formed into tracts to carry signals.

Cranial Nerves vs. Spinal Nerves

There are (12) pairs of Cranial Nerves that exit the brain and (31) pairs of Spinal Nerves that exit the spinal cord to serve the rest of the body.