Brain, Sensory Pathways, ANS & Special Senses Flashcards

Chapter 32 - Brain and Cranial Nerves

• Cerebral Lobes: There are four cerebral lobes in the brain.
• Occipital Lobe: Processes vision.
• Precentral Gyrus: Located in the frontal lobe.
• Postcentral Gyrus: Contains the primary somatosensory cortex.
• Hemispheric Lateralization: Refers to the functional specialization of each hemisphere.
• Left Hemisphere: Handles analytical tasks such as math and logic.
• Cerebellum: Has two lobes with folds called folia.
• Cerebral Medulla: White matter of the cerebellum.
• Third Ventricle: Lies in the diencephalon, specifically within the thalamus.
• Thalamus: Relays sensory information to the somatosensory cortex.
• Superior Colliculi: Process visual reflexes in the midbrain.
• Oculomotor Nerve: Is a mixed cranial nerve.
• Alpha Waves: Recorded in resting adults with eyes closed.
• Corpus Callosum: Contains commissural fibers.

Chapter 15 - Somatic Sensory and Motor Pathways

• Posterior Column: Includes fasciculus cuneatus and fasciculus gracilis.
• Somatic Sensory Pathways: Utilize three neurons; the secondary neuron decussates.
• Spinocerebellar Pathway: Does not project to the somatosensory cortex; it carries only proprioceptive data to the cerebellum.
• Fasciculus Cuneatus: Carries touch and pressure sensory information from the upper body.
• Primary Neurons: Deliver sensory input to the CNS.
• Lateral Pathway: Handles 75% of motor traffic; includes the pyramidal tract.
• Voluntary Skeletal Movement: Controlled by the corticospinal tract.
• Rubrospinal Tract: Belongs to the lateral pathway.
• 'Spino' Tracts: Carry information to the CNS.
• 'Spinal' Tracts: Carry information from the CNS.
• Exteroceptors: Located near the body surface.
• Lower Motor Neuron: Directly synapses on skeletal muscle effectors.

Chapter 16 - Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

• Effectors of the ANS: Include smooth muscle, glands, and cardiac muscle.
• Sympathetic Division: Functions during stress (fight or flight).
• Parasympathetic Division: Uses acetylcholine at both preganglionic and postganglionic synapses.
• ANS Divisions & Acetylcholine: Both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions use acetylcholine at preganglionic synapses.
• Sympathetic Neuron Length: Sympathetic division has short preganglionic and long postganglionic neurons.
• Ganglionic Neuron: Innervates the effector organ.
• Sympathetic Ganglia: Sympathetic division uses chain, collateral, and adrenal medullae ganglia.
• Parasympathetic Nerves: Include cranial and sacral spinal nerves.
• Intramural Ganglia: Synapse directly inside the target organ.
• Memory Consolidation: The process of converting short-term memory to long-term memory.

Chapter 17 - Special Senses

• Photoreceptors: Located in the retina, responsible for vision.
• Sclera and Cornea: The sclera gives rise to the cornea, forming the outermost layer of the eye.
• Cones: Retinal cells that detect color.
• Inner Ear: The cochlea and vestibule are found in the inner ear.
• Light Refraction: Occurs mainly via the cornea and lens.
• Superior Rectus Muscle: Innervated by the oculomotor nerve.
• Fovea Centralis: The region with the highest visual acuity and dense cone concentration.