slhs2203: anatomy of the nervous system

nervous system

the “control center” that sends information to control and coordinate muscles movements and receive sensory information

neurons

cells that send and receive information

central nervous system

includes the brain and spinal cord; connects via the brainstem

peripheral nervous system

includes 12 pairs of cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and sensory receptors; divided into autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

controls involuntary bodily functions

somatic nervous system

controls voluntary and conscious body movements

cerebral cortex

superficial portion of the cerebrum made of grey matter; responsible for conscious thought; divided into left and right hemispheres

gyri

mountains

sulci

valleys

fissures

deeper, more pronounced grooves

cerebral longitudinal fissure

landmark between left and right hemispheres of cerebral cortex

meninges

3 layers; dura, arachnoid, and pia mater

dura mater

tough, most durable; outermost layer

arachnoid mater

lacey, spiderweb-like middle layer

pia mater

thin, innermost layer

subarachnoid space

space between arachnoid and pia mater where CSF flows

cerebrospinal fluid

provides nutrient delivery, waste removal, and cushion for neural structures

precentral gyrus

motor strip located in frontal lobe

lateral sulcus

division between frontal lobe and anterior parietal lobe

central sulcus

separates frontal and parietal lobe

postcentral gyrus

sensory strip located in parietal lobe

intraparietal strip

important association area for communication with occipital lobe and temporal lobe

angular gyrus

important structure for comprehension of written material; located in parietal lobe

superior temporal gyrus

contains Wernike’s area

Heschl’s gyrus

location of brain where all auditory information is sent; located in temporal lobe

calcarine sulcus

primary reception area for visual information; located in the occipital lobe

corpus callosum

connects right and left hemispheres, allowing them to communicate with each other

hippocampus

essential for memory formation

basal ganglia

includes putamen, globus pallidus, and amygdala; involved in movement control

diencephalon

includes thalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, and subthalamus; involved in sensory communication and endocrine function

cerebellum

divided superiorly and inferiorly by primary fissure; divided into L and R by vermis; coordinates movement and balance

brainstem

includes medulla, pons, and midbrain; controls vital functions like swallowing and respiration

soma

cell body; houses the nucleus

dendrites

transmits informations to soma

axon

transmits information from soma

axon hillock

junction of soma and axon

myelin sheath

fatty wrapping that speeds up neural conduction

node of raniver

areas between myelinated segments; important for conduction

telodendria

branch to end buttons

end buttons

contain synaptic vesicles for neurotransmitters; home to mitochondria

microglia

seek out and isolate necrotic tissue

astrocytes

provide blood-brain barrier; filters

oligodendrocytes

provides myelin for axons in CNS

schwann cells

provides myeline for axons in PNS

ependymal cells

in ventricles; produce CSF

radial cells

neurogenesis

satellite cells

support, protect, regulate neural environment in PNS

efferent/motor neurons

carry signals from CNS

afferent/sensory neurons

carry signals to the CNS