Introduction to CNS

Flashcards reviewing the anatomy and function of the central nervous system.

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system and what do they comprise?

The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of peripheral nerves and ganglia.

What are the major portions of the brain?

Cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system and what do they comprise?

The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of peripheral nerves and ganglia.

What are the major portions of the brain?

Cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

What percentage of the brain volume does the cerebrum account for?

Approximately 83% of brain volume.

What are the three main divisions of the brain during development?

Forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

What are the two major components of the forebrain?

Cerebrum and diencephalon (thalamus and hypothalamus).

What are the three components of the hindbrain?

Pons, medulla, and cerebellum.

What are the two types of processes that the brain controls?

Conscious processes (thinking, reasoning, memory, emotions) and unconscious processes (breathing, digestion, balance, reflexes).

What are the three major parts of the brain?

Cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

What are the four lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?

Frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital.

What is the primary function of the right hemisphere of the brain?

Controls overall, general impressions and puts together the big picture.

What is the primary function of the left hemisphere of the brain?

Focuses on specific details.

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

Enables the hemispheres to communicate with each other.

What are some functions associated with the left brain?

Logic, reasoning, language processing, and detailed orientation.

What are some functions associated with the right brain?

Creativity, imagery, intuitive senses, and big-picture orientation.

What cognitive functions does the frontal lobe control?

Thinking, planning, and reasoning.

What sensory perceptions is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Perception of touch, smell, and taste.

What sensory information does the temporal lobe process?

Processes hearing and some language.

What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?

Brain's vision center.

What survival functions is the brainstem responsible for?

Basic survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

What type of movements is the cerebellum responsible for?

Reflexive movements such as blinking the eyes.

What type of actions is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

Conscious, voluntary actions.

What is the main function of the limbic system?

Processing emotions.

What cognitive activities are associated with the frontal lobe?

Judgment, reasoning, and planning.

What is the function of Wernicke's area, located in the parietal lobe?

Understanding speech and formulating words to express thoughts and emotions.

What are the primary functions of the frontal lobe cortices and association areas?

Higher intellectual functions, personality, verbal communication, and voluntary motor control of skeletal muscles.

What are the primary functions of the parietal lobe cortices and association areas?

Sensory interpretation of textures and shapes, understanding speech, and formulating words to express thoughts and emotions.

What are the primary functions of the temporal lobe cortices and association areas?

Interpretation of auditory and olfactory sensations, storage of auditory and olfactory experiences.

What are the primary functions of the occipital lobe cortices and association areas?

Conscious perception of visual stimuli, integration of eye-focusing movements, and correlation of visual images with previous visual experiences.

What are the primary functions of the insula?

Interpretation of taste and memory.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 1, 2, and 3?

Primary body sensation (somatosensory) in the parietal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 4?

Primary motor area (precentral gyrus) in the frontal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 5 and 7?

Sensory association area in the parietal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 6?

Premotor area in the frontal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 9, 10, and 11?

Cognitive activities (judgment or reasoning) in the frontal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 18 and 19?

Visual association area in the occipital lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 20 and 21?

Visual association area in the temporal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 22?

Auditory association area in the temporal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 38?

Emotion area in the temporal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 39?

Visual association area in the parietal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 40?

Sensory association area in the parietal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann area 41?

Primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe.

What is the function of Brodmann areas 44 and 45?

Motor speech area in the frontal lobe.

What two systems protect and nourish the brain?

Meninges and cerebral spinal fluid.

What are the three layers of the meninges?

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of?

Brain and spinal cord.

What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consist of?

Cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

What are the two main types of cells in the nervous system?

Neurons and supporting (glial) cells.

What are the four main parts of a neuron?

Dendrites, cell body, axon, and synapses.

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Neurons communicate with each other through electrical signals.

How does nutrition affect the brain?

Nutrition influences neurotransmitters that maintain and regulate the diet of the brain.

List some common neurotransmitters.

Dopamine, GABA, Glutamate, Acetylcholine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine.

What are neurotransmitters?

Brain chemicals that support and govern development.

What functions/states are dopamine and norepinephrine responsible for?

Attention, alertness, concentration, appetite.

What functions/states is serotonin responsible for?

Mood, endurance, relaxation.

What functions does serotonin regulate?

Learning, memory, sensory perception, mood, behavior, sleep, and appetite.

How do low dopamine levels affect attention and focus?

Impairs attention and focus.

How do high dopamine levels affect the brain's ability to process information?

Causes the mind to race and increases sensory perception.

What functions does dopamine regulate?

Sensitivity and processing of information, perception of change, relaying information, cognition, motivation, emotional responses, attention, and focus.

What is GABA and how is it created?

Calming neurotransmitter created from glutamate with the help of B6, zinc, and taurine.

What imbalance has research into the autistic brain identified regarding neurotransmitters?

Imbalance in glutamate to GABA receptors.

What GABA-related issues are thought to play a role in the excitatory elements of autism and ADHD?

Deficient levels of GABA or problems with GABA receptors.

What is the learning outcome for this lecture?

Identify the gross anatomical features of the cerebrum, cerebellum, meninges, and features of the brainstem.

What is the approximate weight of the human brain?

3 to 3.5 pounds.

Which part of the brain constitutes 83% of its volume?

The cerebrum.

What are the three primary divisions of the brain during embryonic development?

Forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

What is the largest part of the brain and is divided into two hemispheres?

The cerebrum.

What type of information processing and control is associated with the right cerebral hemisphere?

Controls overall, general impressions; puts together the big picture.

What kind of information processing and control is associated with the left cerebral hemisphere?

Focuses on specific details.

The frontal lobe is responsible for what primary function?

Thinking, planning, and reasoning processes.

What sensory information is the parietal lobe responsible for processing?

Perception of touch, smell, and taste.

What is the main function of the temporal lobe?

Processing hearing and some language.

What sensory function is the occipital lobe primarily associated with?

The brain's vision center.

The brain stem is responsible for what functions?

Basic survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

What type of movements does the cerebellum control?

Reflexive movements such as blinking the eyes.

What is the primary responsibility of the cerebral cortex?

Responsible for conscious, voluntary actions.

what are emotional processes?

Responsible for processing emotions.

What are some of the cognitive activities associated with the frontal lobe?

Judgment, reasoning, and planning.

Wernicke's area, located in the parietal lobe, is responsible for what language-related function?

Understanding speech and formulating words to express thoughts and emotions.

What are the three layers of the meninges that protect the brain?

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

What are the two main types of cells in the nervous system?

Two types of cells: neurons and supporting (glial) cells.

What are the four main parts of a neuron?

Dendrites, cell body, axon, and synapses.

How do neurons communicate?

They communicate with each other through electrical signals.

How does nutrition influence the brain?

Influences neurotransmitters that maintain and regulate the diet of the brain.

Name 3 neurotransmitters.

Dopamine, GABA, Glutamate, Acetylcholine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine

What key functions does serotonin responsible for regulating?

Regulates learning, memory, sensory perception, mood, behavior, sleep, and appetite.

What is the purpose of dopamine?

Needed for attentiveness and focus.

What is the function of GABA neurotransmitters?

Createu from glutamate. Calming neurotransmitter.

What constitutes the central nervous system (CNS)?

The brain and spinal cord.

What constitutes the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

Cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

What is GABA?

A calming neurotransmitter

Which neurotransmitter is needed for fundamental brain function and regulating motivation

Dopamine.

Nutrition influences __ that maintain and regulate the diet of the brain

Neurotransmitters

What protects and nourishes the brain?

Meninges and cerebrospinal fluid

Neurons send electrical signals to allow for what?

To communicate with each other

What does serotonin regulate?

Learning, memory, mood

Research into the autistic brain as identified an imbalance in glutamate to GABA receptors in what disease?

Autism

Controls what processes in the frontal lobe

thinking, planning, and reasoning

The Parietal lobe is responsible for perception of what senses?

touch, smell, and taste

What is the purpose of the corpus callosum?

To enable the hemispheres to communicate

The cerebral cortex is responsible for what actions?

Conscious, voluntary actions