Bio 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 - Chapter 11

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary terms from the lecture notes.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of brain and spinal cord, controls sensation, perception, movement, and thinking

Meninges

Membranes that protect brain and spinal cord, lie between bone and soft tissue of nervous system

Dura mater

Outermost layer of the meninges, tough, dense connective tissue

Arachnoid mater

Middle layer of the meninges, web-like, contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Pia mater

Innermost layer of the meninges, attached to surface of brain and spinal cord, contains blood vessels and nerves, nourishes CNS

Ventricles

Interconnected cavities within cerebral hemispheres and brainstem, produce CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Secreted by choroid plexus, circulates in ventricles, central canal of spinal cord, and subarachnoid space, nutritive and protective

Brain

Neural center for sensory function, motor commands to skeletal muscles, higher mental functions, coordinating muscular movements, regulating visceral activities, personality

Forebrain (prosencephalon)

Becomes cerebrum, basal nuclei, and diencephalon

Midbrain (mesencephalon)

Remains as midbrain

Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

Becomes cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata

Cerebrum

Largest part of brain

Corpus callosum

Connects cerebral hemispheres

Gyri

Ridges of convolutions

Sulci

Shallow grooves in surface of cerebrum

Fissures

Deep grooves in surface of cerebrum

Cerebral Cortex

Thin layer of gray matter, makes up outermost layer of all outer lobes of cerebrum, contains almost 75% of neuron cell bodies in nervous system

Cutaneous sensory area

Parietal lobe, just behind the central sulcus; interprets sensations on skin

Sensory speech area (Wernicke’s area)

Temporal/parietal lobe, usually left hemisphere, understanding and formulating language

Visual area

Occipital lobe, interprets vision

Auditory area

Temporal lobe, interprets hearing

Primary motor area (motor cortex)

Frontal lobes, just in front of central sulcus, control voluntary muscles

Broca’s area

Anterior to primary motor cortex, usually in left hemisphere, controls muscles needed for speech

Basal Nuclei

Masses of gray matter deep within cerebral hemispheres, produce dopamine, help control voluntary movement

Parkinson Disease (PD)

Neurons degenerate in substantia nigra, which produces dopamine → less dopamine reaches basal nuclei

Thalamus

Gateway for sensory impulses ascending to cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis by regulating visceral activities

Brainstem

Connects brain to spinal cord

Reticular Formation

Complex network of nerve fibers scattered throughout brainstem, filters incoming sensory information, arouses cerebral cortex into state of wakefulness

Brain Waves

Recordings of fluctuating electrical charges in the brain

Spinal Cord

Slender column of nervous tissue continuous with brain and brainstem

Reflex

Automatic, subconscious response to a stimulus within or outside the body

Reflex

Automatic, subconscious response to a stimulus within or outside the body

Ascending tracts

Conduct sensory impulses to the brain

Descending tracts

Conduct motor impulses from the brain via motor neurons reaching muscles and glands

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

Involves degeneration of motor neurons in spinal cord, brainstem, cerebral cortex

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of nerves that connect CNS to other body parts

Structure of Peripheral Nerves

Nerves are bundles of axons

Sensory nerves

Conduct impulses into brain or spinal cord

Motor nerves

Conduct impulses to muscles or glands

Mixed nerves

Contain both sensory and motor nerve fibers

Autonomic Nervous System

Efferent (motor) part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), functions without conscious effort, controls visceral activities

Sympathetic Division

Prepares body for “fight or flight” situations

Parasympathetic Division

Prepares body for “rest and digest” activities

Cholinergic neurons

Release acetylcholine

Adrenergic neurons

Release norepinephrine (noradrenaline)