ch 9 human phys

What is an emergent property?

A feature or function of a tissue that is not apparent in the individual cells that make it up.

What are examples of emergent properties of the nervous system?

Emotion, reasoning/planning, complex motor behaviors, and consciousness.

What happens to the brain during animal evolution?

The brain has become significantly enlarged, especially in mammals and humans.

What are the two embryonic structures that develop into the CNS and PNS?

The neural crest and neural tube.

What makes up the central nervous system (CNS)?

The brain and spinal cord.

What are the three meninges?

Dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater.

What is the function of the meninges?

They cushion and protect neural tissue.

What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Fluid surrounding the CNS that provides physical protection and a regulated chemical environment.

What are ventricles?

Fluid-filled spaces within the brain that support exchange, development, and other functions.

What is the blood-brain barrier?

A barrier that regulates exchange between the circulatory system and the CSF.

Why is the blood-brain barrier less leaky than capillaries elsewhere?

CNS capillaries are associated with astrocytes.

How much of the heart's pumped blood does the brain receive?

About 15%.

What is the brain's major source of energy?

Glucose.

What can progressive hypoglycemia cause?

Confusion, unconsciousness, and death.

How is the spinal cord organized?

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

What does each pair of spinal nerves serve?

A specific region of the body.

What is gray matter mostly made of?

Nerve cell bodies and dendrites.

What are clusters of cell bodies in the CNS called?

Nuclei.

What is white matter mostly made of?

Myelinated axons.

What are bundles of axons connecting CNS regions called?

Tracts or nerve bundles.

What are the dorsal and ventral components of spinal nerves?

Dorsal = sensory; ventral = motor.

What is a reflex?

An input-motor output circuit that functions without conscious thought.

What is the function of the brain stem?

It connects the spinal cord to the brain.

What does the reticular formation regulate?

Arousal and alertness.

What is the medulla important for?

Autonomic function.

What is the pons responsible for?

Relaying information between the cerebellum and cerebrum.

What does the midbrain control?

Eye movement and some optic and auditory reflexes.

What does the cerebellum do?

Organizes the coordination and timing of movement.

What type of information does the cerebellum receive?

Sensory information about body position and movement.

What is the diencephalon?

A major center for homeostatic regulation at the base of the forebrain.

What does the thalamus do?

Relays sensory information to the forebrain.

What does the hypothalamus do?

Integrates sensory information, regulates homeostasis, and controls the pituitary.

What does the pineal gland regulate?

Sleep/wake cycles and other circadian cycles.

What connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres?

The corpus callosum.

What functions does the cerebrum control?

Sensory processing, motor planning, learning, memory, emotion, and cognition.

What are the three major areas of gray matter in the cerebrum?

Basal ganglia, cortex, and limbic system.

What is the basal ganglia important for?

Movement and learning.

What is the cerebral cortex?

The outer surface of the cerebrum that processes information and contains primary sensory and motor areas.

What is the limbic system associated with?

Emotion, especially fear, and evaluation of stimulus affect

What does the hippocampus do?

It is critical for short-term memory.

What does the amygdala do?

It is important for fear learning and recognition of fear.

What are the three primary functions of the cerebral cortex?

Sensory processing, movement planning/output, and integration of multiple types of information.

What are association areas?

Areas that integrate multiple types of information.

Which side of the brain is generally associated with the opposite side of the body?

The left brain is associated with the right side of the body, and vice versa.

What does the primary somatic sensory cortex process?

Touch, temperature, pain, itch, and body position.

Where is the primary somatic sensory cortex located?

In the parietal lobe.

What are the specialized sensory cortices?

Visual, auditory, olfactory, and gustatory cortices.

What do brain association areas do with sensory information?

They integrate different types of stimuli and can inform memory, planning, attention, and perception.

What are the three major types of brain motor outputs?

Skeletal muscle movement, neuroendocrine signals, and visceral responses.

What is required for voluntary movement?

The primary motor cortex, motor planning, and association areas.

What are diffuse modulatory systems?

Systems that regulate sensory and cognitive processes, mood, attention, and arousal.

What brain structures do diffuse modulatory systems originate from?

The reticular formation and other areas of the brain stem.

What do diffuse modulatory systems influence?

Brain output, physiology, behavior, mood, attention, and arousal.

What are the two major types of sleep?

Slow-wave sleep and REM sleep.

What happens during REM sleep?

Brain activity is similar to being awake, skeletal muscles are inhibited, and most dreaming occurs.

What controls circadian sleep/wake rhythms?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus.

What is motivation?

Internal signals that shape voluntary behavior.

What are drives?

States of motivation that increase arousal, organize goal-directed behavior, and coordinate actions to achieve goals.

How are moods different from emotions?

Moods are similar to emotions but last longer.

What are the three types of learning listed in the slides?

Associative, non-associative, and procedural learning.

What is associative learning?

Learning to associate two stimuli or a stimulus with a response.

What are habituation and sensitization?

Forms of non-associative learning.

What is procedural learning?

Learning the steps involved in a task.

What are the types of memory listed?

Working, short-term, long-term, procedural, and declarative memory.

What is consolidation?

The process of forming long-term memories.

What is Broca's area responsible for?

Organizing motor output for speech production.

What is Wernicke's area responsible for?

Language interpretation.

What can damage to Broca's or Wernicke's area cause?

Specific types of speech deficits or disorders.