Final Lecture Exam Study Questions: Central Nervous System

A comprehensive collection of flashcards covering key concepts related to the Central Nervous System, General Sensations, and Nervous System Integration in preparation for the final exam.

White Matter

The parts of the central nervous system that are made up of myelinated axons.

Gray Matter

The parts of the central nervous system that consist of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons.

Primary Motor Cortex

The area of the brain responsible for the planning and execution of voluntary movements.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe involved in language production and speech.

Premotor Area

The part of the frontal lobe that helps plan and coordinate complex movements.

Meninges

Three protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

The clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, providing cushioning and nutrients.

Ventral Horn Cells

Neurons in the spinal cord that transmit motor impulses to skeletal muscles.

Fiber Tracts

Bundles of axons that allow communication between different parts of the nervous system.

Convoluted Cerebrum

Allows for a greater surface area for neuronal connections and functions.

Fissures

Deep grooves in the brain's surface.

Gyri

The raised areas or folds of the brain's surface.

Longitudinal Fissure

The groove that divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres.

Central Sulcus

The groove that separates the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe.

Lateral Sulcus

The groove that separates the parietal lobe from the temporal lobe.

Hypothalamus

The area of the brain that controls temperature, autonomic functions, hunger, and thirst.

Substantia Nigra

A part of the brain involved in movement control, located in the midbrain.

Medulla Oblongata

The area of the brain that regulates vital functions such as heart rate and respiration.

Thalamus

The brain structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.

Basal Nuclei

A group of nuclei in the brain involved in the control of motor functions.

Cerebellum

The brain region that coordinates voluntary movements and maintains balance.

Limbic System

A set of brain structures that deal with emotions and memory.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A network of neurons that regulates wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions.

Short-Term Memory (STM) to Long-Term Memory (LTM) Transfer

Process influenced by various factors including rehearsal, emotional state, and association.

CNS Protection

Includes the skull and vertebral column, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Blood-Brain Barrier

A selective barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances while allowing necessary nutrients to pass.

Pyramidal Tracts

Motor pathways that originate in the cerebral cortex and decussate in the medulla.

Dorsal Roots

The sensory roots of the spinal cord that carry information to the brain.

Ventral Roots

The motor roots of the spinal cord that carry information from the brain to the body.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Location

Found between the arachnoid and pia mater layers of the meninges.

Spinal Cord Organization

Gray matter is organized in an 'H' shape, surrounded by white matter.

Cervical and Lumbar Enlargements

Regions of the spinal cord that supply nerves to the limbs.

Vertebral Foramen

The opening in the vertebrae through which the spinal cord runs.

Filum Terminale

A fibrous extension of the spinal cord that anchors it to the coccyx.

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensation is the detection of stimuli; perception is the interpretation of those stimuli.

Sensory Modality

A specific type of sensory information (e.g., vision, hearing).

Sensory Receptors Classification

Receptors can be classified by stimulus type, such as mechanoreceptors or thermoreceptors.

Naked vs. Encapsulated Nerve Endings

Naked endings lack specialized structures, while encapsulated endings are surrounded by a capsule.

Meissner's Corpuscles

A type of tactile receptor sensitive to light touch.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that detect body position and movement.

Pressure Receptor

Pacinian corpuscles are responsible for detecting pressure and vibrations.

Thermal Receptors

Also known as thermoreceptors, they are not evenly distributed across the body.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus.

Somatic Sensory and Motor Maps

The representation of sensory and motor functions is not proportionate to size but to innervation density.

Somatic Sensory Pathways

Involve three neurons: first order (periphery), second order (spinal cord/brainstem), and third order (thalamus).

Somatic Motor Pathways

Typically a two neuron circuit: upper motor neurons in the cortex and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord.

Common Spinal Pathways

Includes the spinothalamic tract (pain, temperature) and corticospinal tract (motor control).