exam 4

Meninges

Three layers of protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. They are called the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater

Dura mater

The outermost layer of the meninges, the protective covering of the brain

Arachnoid

The middle layer of the meninges, located between the dura mater and the pia mater

Pia mater

The innermost layer of the meninges, located closest to the brain and spinal cord

Ventricles

Cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebral spinal fluid

Subarachnoid space

The space between the arachnoid and pia mater that is filled with cerebral spinal fluid

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain responsible for higher processing, consisting of the gyrus (ridges) and valley's (sulcus)

Cerebellum

The part of the brain responsible for coordination, located at the back of the brain

Diencephalon

The part of the brain responsible for endocrine and sensory relay functions, located deep in the brain stem

Brainstem

The part of the brain responsible for reflexes, sensory relay, heart rate, and blood pressure regulation; keeps you alive

Midbrain

The upper part of the brainstem that regulates auditory and visual reflexes from the superior and inferior colliculus

Pons

The part of the brainstem that links the cerebellum with the brainstem

Medulla oblongata

The part of the brainstem that connects the brain and spinal cord, relays sensory information, and regulates heart rate and blood pressure

Epithalamus

Part of the diencephalon that is involved in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles and the production of melatonin by the pineal gland

Thalamus

Part of the diencephalon that plays a role in regulating consciousness, sleep, and alertness using primarily visual and auditory senses

Hypothalamus

Part of the diencephalon that has many components and acts as a link between the nervous system and the endocrine system, helping to maintain homeostasis in the body; contains many nuclei

Limbic System

The motivational system of the brain, consisting of the amygdala and hippocampus

Amygdala

The part of the limbic system that links emotions to memories and is involved in the fight or flight response

Hippocampus

The part of the limbic system responsible for learning and long-term memory

Arbor Vitae

The distinctive pattern of white matter in the cerebellum that resembles a tree; contains both white and gray matter

Frontal lobe

Motor cortex; voluntary movements

Precentral gyrus

The part of the cerebrum responsible for motor control and gustatory functions; frontal lobe

Temporal lobe

Auditory and olfactory cortex

Parietal lobe

Sensory cortex; sensory info that reaches conscious awareness

Postcentral gyrus

The part of the cerebrum responsible for sensory processing; parietal lobe

Occipital lobe

Visual cortex

Gustation

Taste

Broca's Area

The area of the brain responsible for speech production

Wernicke's Area

The area of the brain responsible for language comprehension

Cranial Nerves

Nerves that arise directly from the brain and are responsible for various sensory and motor functions

Cranial Nerves (I-II)

Arise from cerebrum

Olfactory Nerve (I)

Sensory- the cranial nerve responsible for the sense of smell

Optic Nerve (II)

Sensory- the cranial nerve responsible for vision

Cranial Nerves (III-XII)

Arise from brain stem

Oculomotor Nerve (II)

Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for eye movement

Trochlear Nerve (IV)

Motor- the second cranial nerve responsible for eye movement

Trigeminal Nerve (V)

Sensory & Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for sensory from the face and motor to chew

Abducens Nerve (VI)

Motor- the third cranial nerve responsible for eye movement

Geniculate Ganglion Nerve (VII)

Sensory & Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for sensory from tongue and motor to face

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

Sensory- the cranial nerve responsible for sound and balance

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

Sensory & Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for sensory to the tongue and motor to the throat to swallow

Vagus Nerve (X)

Sensory & Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for both sensory and motor to the throat, heart, lungs, and all of the digestive system

Accessory Nerve (XI)

Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for the movement of the neck

Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

Motor- the cranial nerve responsible for tongue movement

Sensory Classification of Cranial Nerves

Cranial nerves that primarily carry sensory information

Motor Classification of Cranial Nerves

Cranial nerves that primarily carry motor commands

Mixed Classification of Cranial Nerves

Cranial nerves that carry both sensory and motor information

General Senses

Sensory information related to temperature, pain, touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception

Not a General Sense

Vision

Receptive Field

The area of the body that, when stimulated, activates a specific sensory neuron; when small it’s easy to locate stimulus, but hard when it’s large

Referred pain

Pain in different area than source (heart attack)

Parkinson’s Disease

Insufficient dopamine which causes an increasing muscle tone

ASL (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

A progressive disease of degenerating motor neurons

Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurons not communicating efficiently, causing dementia

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Demyelination of neurons in the CNS

Cerebral Palsy

A nonprogressive neuromuscular disorder

Rabies

Retrovirus that was contracted from animal bites

Excitatory

A type of synaptic transmission that increases the likelihood of an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron

Inhibitory

Block or prevent the chemical message from being passed along any farther

Glutamate

Excitatory- Increases brain activity; learning; memory (epilepsy)

GABA

Inhibitory- Decreases brain activity; lowers stress; sleep (too low = anxiety)

Dopamine

Excitatory- Reward system; pleasure; addiction; coordination (Parkinson’s)

Epinephrine

Excitatory- Adrenaline; fight or flight; increase b/p and heart rate

Norepinephrine

Excitatory- Increase alertness (too low = mood disorders; too high = sleep cycle issues)

Serotonin

Inhibitory- Regulates temp. and sleep cycle; emotions (too low = depression, anger, OCD)

Acetylcholine

Excitatory- Muscle contractions; regulates sleep cycle (inhibitory in heart)

Spinal cord

The bundle of nerves that extends from the brainstem to the lower back and is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body

Spinal nerves

31 pairs of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and innervate different regions of the body

Spinal Nerve Locations

Starts above C1 and are everywhere we have a vertebrae

Spinal Cord Ending

Between L1 and L2

Nerves

Bundle of Neurons

Meninges

The protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Between the Arachnoid Mater and Pia Mater

Subarachnoid; Cerebrospinal Fluid

Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap

A diagnostic procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal (between L3 and L4) to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to test for meningitis

Epidural (Spinal Block)

A procedure in which medication is injected into the space outside the dura mater of the spinal cord to block pain signals

Spinal reflex

A rapid and automatic response controlled by the spinal cord without involvement of the brain

Gray matter

The region of the spinal cord that contains cell bodies of neurons, including the dorsal gray horn, lateral gray horn, and ventral gray horn

Why is Gray Matter the Color It Is?

Unmyelinated cells

Dorsal Gray Horn

Visceral and somatic sensory

Lateral Gray Horn

Visceral motor

Ventral Gray Horn

Somatic motor

Sensory

Signals coming in

Motor

Signals going out

Nuclei in Nervous System

Area with a particular function

White matter

The region of the spinal cord that contains nerve fibers, including the posterior white column, lateral white column, and anterior white column.

Why is White Matter the Color It Is?

Myelinated cells

Posterior White Column

Ascending

Lateral White Column

L- Ascending and Descending

Anterior White Column

A- Ascending and Descending

The Act of When the Brain Controls the Opposite Side of Your Body and “Crosses Over” is Taken Place Where?

Near the Medulla Oblongata

Contralateral

Referring to the opposite side of the body, where the brain controls the movement or sensation

Spinal Nerve

A nerve that arises from the spinal cord and innervates specific regions of the body, including the posterior ramus and anterior ramus.

Posterior Ramus

Processes sensory and motor commands that correlate to the back

Anterior Ramus

Processes sensory and motor commands from the front and limbs

Plexus

A network of nerves formed by the merging of anterior rami of spinal nerves, such as the cervical, brachial, lumbar, and sacral plexus.

Cervical Plexus

Consists of the neck and diaphragm; includes phrenic nerve

Brachial Plexus

Consists of the pectoral girdles and arms

Lumbar Plexus

L- Pelvic girdle and legs

Sacral Plexus

S- Pelvic girdle and legs

Radial nerve

A nerve that innervates the back of the hand and certain fingers