Central Nervous System Overview

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the lecture about the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, suitable for exam preparation.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of all nerves and sensory structures outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Gray matter

Composed of short, nonmyelinated neurons and cell bodies.

White matter

Composed of axons, mostly myelinated.

Meninges

Protective layers between the bone and neural tissue.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid that bathes the entire CNS and provides mechanical protection, circulation, and chemical stability.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary muscle movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls involuntary functions.

Hypothalamus

Regulates homeostasis and the autonomic nervous system.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Lateralization of Cortical Function

The differentiation of function between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Broca's Area

A motor speech area involved in the production of speech.

Wernicke's Area

Region critical for language comprehension, located in the posterior association area.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance and fine motor control.

Pyramidal Tracts

Motor pathways that carry signals from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord.

Reflex Arc

A neural pathway that mediates a reflex action.

Innervation

The supply of nerves to a specific body part.

Axon Regeneration

The process by which damaged peripheral nerves attains repair and regrowth.

Cranial Nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain.

Autonomic Ganglion

A cluster of nerve cell bodies in the autonomic nervous system.

Plantar Reflex

A reflex elicited by stroking the lateral aspect of the foot.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for executive functions, planning, reasoning, and voluntary motor control.

Parietal Lobe

Integrates sensory information, including touch, pressure, and spatial awareness.

Temporal Lobe

Primary center for auditory processing and long-term memory storage.

Occipital Lobe

The visual processing center of the mammalian brain.

Medulla Oblongata

The lowest part of the brainstem that regulates life-sustaining functions like heart rate and breathing.

Pons

Part of the brainstem that acts as a bridge between brain regions and helps regulate sleep/breathing.

Midbrain

Small part of the brainstem involved in visual and auditory reflex actions.

Limbic System

A complex set of structures (including hippocampus and amygdala) involved in emotion and memory.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure essential for the formation of new long-term memories.

Amygdala

An almond-shaped nucleus in the temporal lobe associated with emotional processing, particularly fear.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

A highly selective permeability barrier that separates circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body during extreme situations (fight-or-flight).

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and promotes "rest-and-digest" activities.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped glial cells in the CNS that nourish neurons and help form the blood-brain barrier.

Oligodendrocytes

Cells that produce the myelin sheath for neurons located in the Central Nervous System.

Schwann Cells

Cells that produce the myelin sheath for neurons located in the Peripheral Nervous System.

Microglia

Spider-like phagocytes that monitor the health of nearby neurons and dispose of debris in the CNS.

Ventricles

Interconnected cavities within the brain where cerebrospinal fluid is produced and circulated.

Primary Motor Cortex

Located in the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe; controls voluntary surface skeletal muscle movements.