Cranial Nerves and Reflexes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cranial nerves, reflexes, and the nervous system as discussed in the lecture.

Visceral reflexes

Reflexes that involve internal organs and are controlled by cranial nerves.

Cranial nerve II

The optic nerve, responsible for vision.

Cranial nerve III

The oculomotor nerve, involved in regulating pupillary constriction and eye movement.

Direct light reflex

The constriction of the pupil in response to light being shined into the eye.

Consensual light reflex

The constriction of the pupil of the opposite eye in response to light in one eye.

Cranial nerve V

The trigeminal nerve, responsible for facial sensation and motor functions like chewing.

Cranial nerve VII

The facial nerve, which controls muscles of facial expression.

Efferent pathway

The motor pathway that carries signals away from the CNS to effectors (muscles/organs).

Afferent pathway

The sensory pathway that carries signals toward the CNS from receptors.

Somatic reflexes

Reflex actions involving skeletal muscles, such as the patellar reflex.

Interneurons

Neurons located within the CNS that communicate between sensory and motor neurons.

Dorsal root ganglion

The cluster of sensory neuron cell bodies found in the dorsal root of spinal nerves.

Perception

The conscious awareness of sensory stimuli.

Propioceptors

Sensory receptors that provide information about body position and movement.

Spinothalamic tract

A pathway that carries pain and temperature sensation from the body to the brain.

Corticospinal pathway

The pathway that directs voluntary movement from the brain to the spinal cord.

Homunculus

A visual representation of the body's sensory and motor areas on the cerebral cortex.

Babinski reflex

A reflex action where the big toe extends upward in response to stimulation of the sole of the foot.

Romberg test

A test used to assess proprioception by measuring balance with eyes closed.

Two-point discrimination

The ability to discern that two nearby objects touching the skin are truly two distinct points.

Pyramidal cells

Upper motor neurons located in the primary motor cortex that influence voluntary movement.

Thalamus

The brain's relay station for sensory information before it reaches the cortex.