Central Nervous System

What does the CNS consist of?

The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.

What functions does the CNS perform?

High order functioning, learning, reasoning, memory, controlling voluntary actions, controlling some involuntary actions, perceiving pain and pleasure, processing sensory information, maintaining homeostasis, and controlling the autonomic nervous system.

What protects the CNS?

The CNS is protected by bone (cranium and vertebrae), meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What is the role of the cranium?

The cranium provides hard and solid protection for the brain.

What are the three layers of meninges?

The three layers are the dura mater (outer), arachnoid mater (middle), and pia mater (inner).

What is CSF and its primary function?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear watery fluid that acts as a shock absorber for the CNS.

What is the longitudinal fissure?

The deepest fissure that divides the cerebrum into the left and right hemispheres.

What connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

The corpus callosum.

List the four lobes of the cerebrum and their primary functions.

Frontal Lobe (thinking, problem solving, emotions), Parietal Lobe (temperature, touch, taste, pain), Temporal Lobe (memories, auditory information), Occipital Lobe (vision).

What is the insula responsible for?

The insula is responsible for recognition of different senses, emotions, addiction, and psychiatric disorders.

What are the three functional areas of the cerebral cortex?

Sensory areas, motor areas, and association areas.

What type of tracts are found in white matter?

Tracts connecting areas within the same hemisphere, between hemispheres, and connecting cortex to other brain parts or spinal cord.

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Controls posture, balance, and fine coordination of voluntary muscle movement.

What does the hypothalamus regulate?

The autonomic nervous system, body temperature, sleeping patterns, and emotional responses.

What is the role of the medulla oblongata?

Regulates heart rate, breathing, and reflexes like swallowing and coughing.

What is the significance of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord provides a pathway for communication between muscles, glands, and the brain.

What type of neurons do ascending tracts carry?

Ascending tracts carry sensory (afferent) neurons.

What type of neurons do descending tracts carry?

Descending tracts carry motor (efferent) neurons.

What does the grey matter in the spinal cord resemble?

The grey matter in the spinal cord resembles the letter H.

What is the function of the dorsal root of the spinal cord?

Carries sensory neurons and contains the dorsal root ganglia.

What does the ventral root of the spinal cord carry?

Carries motor neurons.

How does the brain process sensory information?

The brain processes sensory information by interpreting inputs from the sensory areas of the cortex.

What are convolutions in the cerebrum?

Folds that increase the surface area of the brain.

What is the role of the corpus callosum?

It allows communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

What is the function of the outer layer of meninges, the dura mater?

It provides a tough and fibrous layer of protection close to the bones of the skull.

What is the function of the arachnoid mater?

Acts as a cushion for the CNS.

What does the pia mater adhere to?

The pia mater adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord.

What occurs in the central canal of the spinal cord?

The central canal contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What is the role of cerebrospinal fluid beyond shock absorption?

Provides nutrients and removes wastes from the brain and spinal cord.

What is the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid?

It contains a few cells, glucose, protein, urea, and salts.

Why is white matter important in the CNS?

White matter contains myelinated nerve fibers that facilitate communication between different areas of the brain.

What governs the functions of the cerebellum?

Functions like posture and coordination take place below conscious level without initiating impulses from the cerebellum.

What effects do higher centers in the brain have on the medulla oblongata?

Higher centers in the brain influence and control the reflex centers in the medulla oblongata.

What type of neurons are found in the dorsal root ganglia?

Sensory neurons.

What structures help maintain homeostasis in the body?

The hypothalamus controls many activities crucial for maintaining homeostasis.

How are the lobes of the cerebrum functionally distinct?

Each lobe has specialized functions such as movement, sensation processing, memory, and vision.

What structural feature separates grey matter from white matter in the spine?

In the spinal cord, grey matter is surrounded by white matter.

How does the structure of the cerebrum support its function?

The folded structure of the cerebrum increases its surface area, allowing for more neurons and complex processing.

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

The frontal lobe is responsible for thinking, problem solving, emotions, personality, language, and movement control.

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

The parietal lobe processes sensory information such as temperature, touch, taste, and pain.

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

The temporal lobe is responsible for processing auditory information and is involved in memory and emotional responses.

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual information.

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher brain functions such as consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, and sensory perception.

How does the cerebellum contribute to movement?

The cerebellum fine-tunes motor activities, coordinating voluntary movements and maintaining balance and posture.

What role does the hypothalamus play in the body?

The hypothalamus regulates numerous bodily functions including hunger, thirst, sleep, temperature, and the autonomic nervous system.

What is the significance of the medulla oblongata?

The medulla oblongata controls vital involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rhythm.

What is the primary role of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord serves as a conduit for messages between the brain and the rest of the body, transmitting sensory and motor information.