Central Nervous System

Cerebrum

The largest region of the brain, occupying most of the cranial cavity, split into left and right hemispheres made up of lobes.

Diencephalon

A pair of oval-shaped structures deep in the cerebrum, containing multiple nuclei, it serves as the gateway to the cerebral cortex.

Cerebellum

The second largest region of the brain, located inferior to the cerebrum and posterior to the brainstem, consisting of left and right hemispheres.

Brainstem

A structure extending inferiorly from the diencephalon, from which 10 of the 12 cranial nerves originate, made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Gray Matter

Part of the brain and spinal cord primarily composed of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses, located superficially in the brain.

White Matter

Part of the brain and spinal cord composed mainly of bundles of axons/tracts, lying deep to the gray matter.

Dura Mater

The tough outer layer of the meninges that protects the brain and is composed of two layers: the periosteal layer and meningeal layer.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle layer of the meninges, resembling a spider web, containing arachnoid granulations that help reabsorb cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Pia Mater

The delicate inner layer of the meninges that closely follows the contours of the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Clear fluid in the ventricles, derived from plasma, that provides buoyancy, protection, and chemical stability to the brain.

Frontal Lobe

Part of the brain responsible for emotion, mood, memory, and aggression.

Broca Area

Motor language area for speech located in the frontal lobe, specifically in the left hemisphere.

Wernicke Area

Area responsible for the recognition of spoken and written language, located in the posterior left hemisphere.

Ventricles

Fluid-filled cavities in the brain lined with choroid plexus, responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid.

Central Canal

A pathway within the spinal cord that carries cerebrospinal fluid.

Cauda Equina

A bundle of nerve roots resembling a horse's tail, filling the vertebral column from the L2 to S4 vertebrae.

Cerebellar Cortex

The outer layer of the cerebellum that serves as the central control point for muscle coordination.

Thalamus

Part of the diencephalon known as the gateway to the cerebral cortex, filtering and relaying information.

Hypothalamus

Major control center of the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems, located below the thalamus.

Fornix

Thin C-shaped structure located inferior to the corpus callosum, involved in memory formation.

Corpus Callosum

Thick C-shaped structure made of axons that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Anterior Horn

Part of the spinal gray matter containing cell bodies of motor neurons.

Posterior Horn

Part of the spinal gray matter that receives axons from sensory neurons.

Lateral Horn

Part of the spinal gray matter present only in the thoracic and lumbar regions, containing sympathetic neuron cell bodies.

Denticulate Ligaments

Extensions of the pia mater that anchor the spinal cord to the dura mater to limit side-to-side movements.

Filum Terminale

A thin extension of pia mater anchoring the spinal cord to the coccyx.

Conus Medullaris

The Spinal Cord that extends to the refion of L1 & L2 vertebrae

Why do we have enlargements in our spine?

To accommodate the greater number of nerve cells and connections needed to process information related to the upper and lower limbs

Define epidural space.

The epidural space is the space locaated between the tough outer layer of the spinal cord and the surrounding bone of the vetebral column.

What are the names of the three horns in spinal gray matter?

Dorsal horn, lateral horn, ventral horn

What does the dorsal horn recieve?

Sensory information

What neurons does the ventral horn contain?

motor neurons that send signals to skeletal muscles

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by what cells and what structures?

CSF is produced by ependymal cells in the choroid plexus of the ventricles of the brain

After what structure does the brainstem become the spinal cord?

After the medulla Oblongata

What is the main difference between gyri and sulci?

Gryri are the folds or bumps in the brain and sulci are the indentations or grooves.

List the layers of tissue, starting from the skin and ending with the deepest

Skin of scalp, Periosteum, Bone of Skull, Periosteal layer, Meningeal layer, Subdural space, Arachnoid Mater, Subarachnoid space, Pia Mater

List the structures from first to last in the flow of cerebral spinal fluid through the ventricular system of the brain to spinal cord.

Lateral Ventricles, Interventicular foramen, Third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, fourth ventricle, central canal

Nerve cells have two essential characteristics that allow them to carry out their functional role in the
body:__________________ and __________________.

Irritability and Conductivity

___________________ means the nerve cell responds to a stimulus. Stimuli may be mechanical, chemical, or
electrical.

Irritability

_________________ is the ability of the cell to carry the excitation response along the length of the nerve cell
axon.

Action potential Propagation