Intro to Neuro Test 1

UGA NEUR 2800

The nervous system of all mammals has two divisions:

The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Bilateral Symmetry

The right side of the brain and spinal cord is the mirror image of the left side.

Midline

The invisible line running down the middle of the nervous system

Medial

Structures closer to the midline

Lateral

Structures further away from the midline

Ipsilateral

Two structures on the same side

Contralateral

Two structures on two different sides

Midsagittal Plane

The plane resulting from splitting the brain into equal right and left halves

Horizontal Plane

The plane parallel to the ground

Coronal Plane

The plane perpendicular to the ground

The Central Nervous System

The brain and the spinal cord

Cerebrum

The rostral-most and largest part of the brain

Deep Sagittal Fissure

Separates the two cerebral hemispheres

Cerebellum

“Little Brain”; primarily a movement control center that has extensive connection with the cerebrum and the spinal cord.

The cerebral hemispheres respond ___

contralaterally

The cerebellum hemispheres respond ___

ipsilaterally

Brain Stem

Serves to relay information from the cerebrum to the spinal cord; vital functions (breathing, consciousness, and body temp) are regulated here

Spinal Cord

Encased in bone; attached to the brain stem; major conduit of info from. the skin, joints, and muscles of the body to the brain

SAME DAVE

Sensory Afferent Motor Efferent; Dorsal Afferent Ventral Efferent

Spinal Nervers

Part of the PNS; means of communication for the spinal cord and the body

Peripheral Nervous System

The nervous system of the rest of the body

The two parts of the PNS

Somatic and Autonomic (Visceral)

Somatic PNS

Spinal nerves that are under voluntary control

Somatic Motor Axons

Command motor contraction; derived from motor neurons in the ventral spinal cord

Somatic Sensory Axons

Innervate and collect info from the skin, mussels, and joints; enters the spinal cord via dorsal roots

Dorsal Root Ganglia

Clusters of cell bodies of sensory neurons that lie outside the spinal cord

Dorsal Root Ganglion to Spinal Nerve Ratio

1:1

Visceral (Autonomic) PNS

Automatic, non-controlled inner processes

Meninges

The three membranes that cover the brain and keep it separate from the skull

Dura Mater

The outermost covering meningeal layer

The Three Meninges

Dura Mater, Arachnoid Membrane, Pia Mater

4 F’s of the Sympathetic

Fight, Flight, Freeze, F*ck

Arachnoid Membrane

The “spider web” meningeal layer

Subdural Hematoma

Occurs when blood vessels passing through the dura are ruptured and blood collects in the arachnoid membrane

Pia Mater

“Gentle Mother”; thin membrane that adheres closely to the surface of the brain

Ventricular System

The cerebrospinal fluid filled system of caverns and canals in the brain

The neurons of the postcentral gyrus are involved in _____ sensation

somatic

The neurons of the precentral gyrus control ____ movement

voluntary

Neurons in the ________ are involved in audition

superior temporal gyrus

Who labeled the cerebral cortex numerically?

Brodmann

Where are visual areas found?

Occipital Lobe

Where are somatic sensory areas found?

Parietal Lobe

Where are major motor areas found?

Frontal Lobe

What structures make up the diencephalon?

Thalamus and Hypothalamus

What structures make up the midbrain?

Tectum and Tegmentum

Thalamus

Relays and filters sensory signals before sending them to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates homeostasis by controlling hunger, thirst, temperature, and hormone release.

Tegmentum

Maintains motor control, arousal, and autonomic functions through its midbrain pathways.

Tectum

Processes visual and auditory reflexes to orient the body toward sensory stimuli.

Pons

Coordinates communication between brain regions and helps regulate breathing and sleep.

Medulla

Controls vital autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance, posture, and precise voluntary movements.

Cerebrum

Processes higher brain functions like thinking, memory, and voluntary movement.

Fornix

Latin for “arch”

Fiber bundle that connects the hippocampus on each side with the hypothalamus, some of the axons regulate memory storage

Amygdala

Latin for “almond”

Regulates emotional states

Hippocampus

Important for memory

Decussate

Crossing from one side to the other

Optic Chiasm

The place where many axons from the eyes decussate

Vermis

Latin for “worm”

The midline of the cerebellum

Pineal Gland

Secretes Melatonin, involved in the regulation of sleep and sexual behavior

Superior Colliculus

Receives direct input from the eyes, involved in the control of eye movements

Inferior Colliculus

Important for the auditory system

Cerebellar Peduncles

Large bundles of axons that connect the cerebellum and the brain stem

The ______ surrounds the lateral ventricles

telencephalon

The ______ surrounds the third ventricle.

thalamus

3 structures of the basal ganglia

Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus

Parkinson’s disease results from the degeneration of ____

Substantia Nigra

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Relays information to the visual cortex

Medial Geniculate Nucleus

Relays information to the auditory cortex

Substantia Nigra

Part of the motor system

Much of the input to the cerebellar cortex derives from the __

pontine nuclei

The output of the cerebellum is from neurons of the _____

deep cerebellar nuclei

Reticular Formation

regulates sleep and wakefulness

Pontine Nuclei

Controls body posture

Raphe Nucleus

Important for the modulation of pain, mood, and wakefulness

Interoception

the sensation of internal states in our body