Overall Organization of the Nervous System and Functional Overview

These flashcards cover the overall organization and fundamental concepts of the nervous system as presented in Todd Fiacco's lecture.

The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the and .

brain; spinal cord

The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) includes __, __, and __.

cranial nerves; spinal nerves; enteric nervous system

The primary subdivisions of the brain during development are called __, __, and __.

prosencephalon; mesencephalon; rhombencephalon

The prosencephalon gives rise to the and .

telencephalon; diencephalon

The mid-sagittal plane bisects the brain down the __ fissure.

longitudinal

The __ plane reveals important structures deep to the cerebral cortex, including the thalamus and basal ganglia.

coronal

In 4-legged vertebrates, 'rostral' means toward the and 'caudal' means toward the .

nose; tail

For the brainstem and spinal cord, 'rostral' is equivalent to and 'caudal' is equivalent to .

up; down

The brain consists of the __, __, and __.

brainstem; cerebellum; cerebrum

The thalamus is known as the __ of the brain, relaying all sensory information except olfactory.

Grand Central Station

The hypothalamus is the major __ control center of the brain.

visceral (autonomic)

The primary motor cortex is located in the __ gyrus.

precentral

Broca’s area is important in the production of __.

written and oral language

The parietal lobe serves three primary functions: primary somatosensory cortex, language comprehension, and __.

spatial orientation

The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for __ processing.

visual

The temporal lobe includes Wernicke’s area, which is important for __.

language comprehension

The limbic system includes the and , involved in learning and memory.

hippocampus; amygdala

The __ is the primary white matter bundle connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

corpus callosum

The infundibular stalk of the __ gland is located at the base of the hypothalamus.

pituitary

The optic chiasm is located __ to the infundibular stalk.

rostral (anterior)

The third ventricle is bounded on each side by the left and right __.

diencephalon

The cerebral aqueduct connects the ventricle to the ventricle.

third; fourth

The base of the brain is divided into anterior, middle, and __ thirds.

posterior

Cranial nerves I and II are the only ones that do not emerge from the __.

brainstem

The __ consists of the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus and is involved in movement control.

basal ganglia

Somatosensory information crosses the midline on its way to the __.

thalamus

The corticospinal tract contains upper motor neurons that cross the midline at the __.

pyramidal decussation

Cerebellar outputs reach contralateral motor cortex via ventroanterior and ventrolateral nuclei of the __.

thalamus

The loop between the motor cortex and basal ganglia is __.

ipsilateral

The primary basis for human intelligence is thought to be due to the elaboration of cerebral cortex, especially in __ areas.

association

Structures like the corpus callosum and lateral ventricles are considered __ structures.

c-shaped

The __ sulcus divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

central

The __ cortex is involved in executive functions including personality and insight.

prefrontal