Central Nervous System Exam Questions

Neurons or nerve cells

Specialized cells of the nervous system that conduct electrical impulses

What makes up each neuron?

Axon, cell body, and one or more dendrites

Dendrites

Processes that conduct impulses toward the neuron cell body

Axon

Process that leads away from the cell body

What do the dendrites and cell bodies make up for the brain and spinal cord?

Gray matter

What do the axons make up for the brain and spinal cord?

White matter

What are the two main divisions of the CNS?

1. Brain: occupies the cavity of the cranium

2. Spinal cord: extends inferiorly from the brain

Conus medullaris

Where the spinal cord terminates at the lower boarder of L1

Nerve root extensions of the spinal cord continue down to the?

First coccyx segment

Cisternal puncture

Between C1 and occipital bone and at this site is where they introduce anesthesia

The brain and the spinal cord are enclosed by three protective coverings or membranes termed?

Meninges

What are the three meninges?

• Dura mater

• Arachnoid

• Pia mater

Dura mater

Strong, fibrous brain covering that has an inner layer and an outer layer

The outer layer of the dura mater adheres closely to the inner table of the?

Cranium

Arachnoid mater

Delicate avascular membrane

What attaches the arachnoid membrane to the pia mater?

Delicate, threadlike trabecular

Pia mater

Very thin membrane and highly vascular and lies next to the brain and spinal cord

Immediately exterior to each meningeal layer is a space or potential space which are:

• Epidural space

• Subdural space

• Subarachnoid space

Epidural space

Between the dura and inner table of the skull

Where is the subdural space?

Between the dura and arachnoid

What does the subdural space contain?

Thin film of fluid and various blood vessels

Where is the subarachnoid space?

Between the arachnoid and the pia mater

What normally fills the subarachnoid spaces of the brain and spinal cord?

CSF

Where do punctures go into to collect CSF?

Subarachnoid space

Where do the subarachnoid spaces the brain and spinal cord continue down through?

The lower 2nd segment of the sacrum, where there are various larger areas called cisterns

What are the three areas the brain is divided into?

• Forebrain

• Midbrain

• Hindbrain

What is the brainstem comprised of?

• Midbrain

• Pons

• Medulla (oblongata)

What is the final portion of the brainstem?

Medulla oblongata, located at the level of the foramen magnum

What is the first part of the forebrain?

Cerebrum

What is each side of the cerebrum called?

Cerebral hemisphere

Where does the frontal lobe lie?

Under the frontal bone

Where does the parietal lobe lie?

Under the parietal bone

Where does the occipital lobe lie?

Under the occipital bone

Where does the temporal lobe lie?

Under the temporal bone

Where is the insula or central lobe located?

More centrally

What separates the cerebrum?

Longitudinal fissure

Longitudinal fissure

Divided the cerebrum into right and left cerebral hemispheres

Where is the corpus callosum located?

Deep within the longitudinal fissure

Corpus callosum

Consists of arched mass of transverse fibers (white matter) connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

What is the ventricular system of the brain connected to?

Subarachnoid space

How many cavities are there in the ventricular system and what are they filled with?

4, and CSF that interconnects through small tubes

Where are the left and right lateral ventricles located?

In the right and left cerebral hemispheres

Where is the third ventricle located?

Centrally and inferior to the lateral ventricles

Where is the fourth ventricle located?

Centrally, just inferior to the third ventricle

Where is CSF formed?

In the lateral ventricles in specialized capillary beds called choroid plexus

What does the choroid plexus do?

Filter the blood to form CSF

What color is CSF?

Clear

How many mL of CSF is produced in the body per day?

500 mL

How much CSF is present within and around the entire CNS?

140 mL

What is the purpose of CSF?

Serves a protective role for the CNS

How big is the thalamus?

1 inch in length

Where is the thalamus located?

Just above the midbrain and under the corpus callosum

What does the thalamus consist of?

Two oval masses of primarily gray matter or nuclei that form part of the walls of the third ventricle

What do the groups of nuclei (gray matter) of the thalamus do?

Serve as relay stations for most of the sensory impulses

The thalamus serves as an interpretation center for?

Sensory impulses such as pain, temperature, and touch, and for certain emotions and memory

What makes up the diencephalon?

Hypothalamus and thalamus

Where is the hypothalamus located?

Under the thalamus

What does the hypothalamus form?

The floor and lower walls of the third ventricle

What connects to the hypothalamus?

Pituitary gland

How does the hypothalamus control important body activities?

Through a link with the endocrine system

What activities does the hypothalamus control?

Homeostasis (ability of the body to stabilize its normal body states)

Midbrain

Short, constricted portion of the upper brainstem that connects the forebrain to the hindbrain

What does the hindbrain consist of?

Cerebellum, pons, and medulla

Where is the pineal gland and what does it relate to?

Posterior and is shown in its relationship to the third ventricle

What kind of gland is the pineal gland?

Endocrine gland which secretes hormones that aid in regulation of certain secretory activities

What is the pituitary gland also called?

Hypophysis and “master” gland

Why is the pituitary gland called the “master” gland?

It regulates so many body activities, including growth and reproductive functions

Where is the pituitary gland?

Sits in the sella turcica and is attaching to the hypothalamus of the brain by the infundibulum

What is the largest portion of the hindbrain?

Cerebellum

What makes up the cerebellum?

Right and left hemispheres united by a narrow median strip, the vermis

Anterior cerebellar notch

Wide, shallow, and towards the superior end of the anterior surface of the cerebellum

The fourth ventricle is located within the?

Anterior cerebellar notch

Posterior cerebellar notch

Inferior and along the posterior surface, separates the cerebellar hemispheres

Falx cerebelli

Located within the posterior cerebellar notch and is an extension of the dura mater

What primarily coordinates the important motor functions of the body, such as coordination, posture, and balance?

Cerebellum

How can the CNS be divided by appearance?

By the water matter and gray matter

What does the white matter consist of?

Myelinated axons

What is gray matter composted of?

Neuron dendrites and cell bodies

Outer cerebral cortex

Formed by gray matter

Centrum semiovale

Brain tissue under the cortex

Cerebral nuclei or basal ganglia

Deep within the cerebrum, more gray matter, inferior to the centrum semiovale

Areas of white matter include?

Corpus callosum, centrum semiovale

Areas of gray matter include?

Cerebral nuclei, thalamus, cerebral cortex

Gray matter comprises the thin outer layer of the folds of the?

Cerebral cortex

Corpus callosum

Second major white matter structure that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres deep within the longitudinal fissure

What are cerebral nuclei or basal ganglia?

Paired collections of cray matter deep within each cerebral hemisphere

What are the four groupings of the cerebral nuclei?

• Caudate nucleus

• Lentiform nucleus

• Amygdaloid nucleus

• Claustrum

Where are the cerebral nuclei?

On both sides of the third ventricle

What does basal ganglia moderate?

The intensity of motor activity

12 pairs of cranial nerves

Attached to the base of the brain and leave the skull through various foramina

What are the 12 cranial nerves?

• Olfactory

• Optic

• Oculomotor

• Trochlear

• Trigeminal

• Abducens

• Facial

• Vestibulocochlear

• Glossopharyngeal

• Vagus

• Accessory

• Hypoglossal

What does the olfactory nerve control?

Smell

What does the optic nerve control?

Vision

What does the oculomotor nerve control?

Eye movement

What does the trochlear nerve control?

Eye movement

What nerve is the smallest?

Trochlear nerve

What does the trigeminal nerve control?

Mixed sensory and motor with three branches

Which nerve is the largest?

Trigeminal

What does the abducens nerve control?

Eye movement

What does the facial nerve control?

Sensory and motor