Central Nervous System (CNS) Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the Central Nervous System, including structures, functions, and protective mechanisms.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The complex system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Gray Matter

Tissue in the CNS comprised of short nonmyelinated axons, dendrites, and cell bodies.

White Matter

CNS tissue primarily consisting of myelinated axons, responsible for communication between brain regions.

Meninges

Three layers of connective tissue (dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater) that protect the CNS.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord, formed from blood plasma with less protein.

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

A selective permeability barrier that protects the brain from potentially harmful substances in the bloodstream.

Thalamus

The largest part of the diencephalon, functioning as a relay center for sensory and motor information.

Broca's Area

Brain region involved in speech production, located in the left hemisphere.

Wernicke's Area

Brain region responsible for the comprehension of speech, located in the left hemisphere.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movements and maintains posture and balance.

Basal Nuclei

Groups of gray matter within the white matter of the cerebrum that help to regulate movement.

Limbic System

A network of structures in the brain associated with emotions and memory.

Midbrain

Topmost part of the brainstem, involved in relaying visual and auditory information.

Pons

Part of the brainstem that connects the cerebrum to the lower nervous system, regulates breathing.

Medulla Oblongata

The lower part of the brainstem that controls involuntary functions like heart rate and breathing.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A group of neurons that maintains alertness and consciousness.

Non-REM Sleep

A restful sleep stage characterized by decreased heart rate and no vivid dreams.

REM Sleep

A sleep stage marked by rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming, and increased brain activity.

Sensory Homunculus

A representation of the body in the primary somatosensory cortex, showing the distribution of sensory perception.

Motor Homunculus

A representation of the body in the primary motor cortex, indicating the number of motor neurons allocated to each body part.

Choroid Plexus

A cluster of capillaries contributing to the formation of cerebrospinal fluid.

Spinal Cord

The part of the CNS that provides two-way communication between the brain and the body.

Conus Medullaris

The tapered end of the spinal cord located around the lumbar vertebra L2.

Cauda Equina

A bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets extending from the spinal cord.

Ependymal Cells

Glial cells that line the ventricles of the brain and produce cerebrospinal fluid.