Brain and Spinal Cord Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the anatomy and functions of the brain and spinal cord, focusing on their structures and the roles they play.

Meninges

Plural term for the sheets that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A colorless fluid that is found in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, acting as a filtrate of blood, supplying the brain with oxygen and nutrients.

Choroid Plexus

Specialized structures found in all four ventricles that produce cerebrospinal fluid.

Tight Junctions

Connections between cells that prevent substances from passing between them, requiring filtration through individual cells instead.

Conus Medullaris

The tapered end of the spinal cord, typically located at the L1-L2 vertebrae in adults.

Cauda Equina

A collection of nerve roots that extend below the end of the spinal cord.

Epidural Space

Space located on top of the dura mater that contains fat and blood vessels, used for epidural anesthesia.

Spinal Reflex

An involuntary response to a sensory stimulus that occurs via the spinal cord.

Dorsal Root

The part of the spinal nerve that carries sensory information into the spinal cord.

Ventral Root

The part of the spinal nerve that carries motor information away from the spinal cord.

Spinothalamic Tract

A sensory pathway that transmits temperature and pain information from the spine to the thalamus.

Blood-Brain Barrier

A selective permeability barrier that regulates what substances can pass from the bloodstream into the central nervous system.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain that monitors blood composition and plays a role in homeostasis.

Medulla Oblongata

Part of the brainstem that contains the vomiting center and has a less complete blood-brain barrier.

Gray Matter

The area of the spinal cord that contains neuronal cell bodies, primarily found in the dorsal and ventral horns.

White Matter

The area of the spinal cord composed of myelinated axons that carry information up and down the spinal cord.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor pathways, primarily found in the spinal cord.

Central Canal

The small canal found in the center of the spinal cord that contains cerebrospinal fluid.