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Nervous System
Neurons,CNS,PNS,Autonomic,Neurotransmitters,
33
Other
Not Applicable
04/26/2008

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Cards

Term
CEREBRUM
Definition
Location:superior surface of brain both anteriorly and posteriorly

Function:Conscious thought proceses,sensations,memory storage,motor function,intelligence.

It is the largest region of the brain; paired (each called a cerebral hemisphere)
Term
Gray matter of cerebral cortex
Definition
LOCATION: Found in the cerebral cortex and nuclei

Multiple functions

Contain neuron cell bodies (somas
Term
PRIMARY MOTOR CORTEX
Definition
Location: Precentral gyrus of frontal lobe (gyrus anterior to central sulcus)

Directs voluntary movements of skeletal muscles (controls brain stem and spinal cord neurons); Initiates movements

Contain pyramidal cells, specialized neurons with axons forming the pyramidal tracts which travel to the spinal cord (corticospinal tracts) and cross over into the medulla oblongata
Term
BROCA'S AREA (SPEECH AREA)
Definition
LOCATION: Left hemisphere, frontal lobe (superior to temporal lobe)

Controls voluntary movements of lips,tongue,jaw, mouth and regulates patterns of breathing for speech

contains detailed program of how to articulate every word you have ever spoken (damage:aphasia)
Term
PRIMARY SENSORY CORTEX
Definition
Location: postcentral gyrus of parietal lobe (posterior to central sulcus)

Recieves information from thalamus concerning temperature, pain, and pressure

Relates information about various areas of the brain (position, etc). These pathways cross over.
Term
Other Sensory Areas:

VISUAL

AUDITORY

OLFACTORY
Definition
occipital lobe
temporal lobes
temporal lobes

Receive information from photoreceptors in eyes, mechanoreceptors in ears and
chemo-receptors in the nasal cavity

Information crosses over
(information received from left eye is processed by the right hemisphere of the occipital lobe)
Term
PREMOTOR CORTEX

MOTOR ASSOCIATION AREA
Definition
Frontal lobe (anterior to precentral gyrus)

Controls learned motor skills of a patterned nature (typing, piano playing); plans the movement

Damage to this area leads to loss of skill, although patient continues to have voluntary function
Term
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
Definition
frontal lobe (anterior to premotor cortex)

Performs abstract intellectual functions such as predicting the future consequences of certain events/actions; personality Emotions such as frustration, anxiety are generated here.

Damage leads to mood swings, poor judgment
(prefrontal lobotomy of the past were used to control aggression)
Term
SENSORY ASSOCIATION AREA

(SOMATOSENSORY SENSORY ASSOCIATION AREA)
Definition
Parietal lobe

Integrates sensory input about pain, pressure, temperature, and touch

Damage here results in lack of ability to analyze a sensory experience
Term
VISUAL, OLFACTORY, AUDITORY ASSOCIATION AREAS

(Visual association is also called Wernicke's area)
Definition
Located near each sensory center (e.g. visual association center is located near visual cortex in the occipital lobe)

Interprets incoming data and analyzes the information by comparing it to stored information - "Have I heard this before?"
Damage here may prevent the patient from understanding what the visual, auditory or olfactory information means (letters on a page do not represent words)
Term
GNOSTIC AREA
Definition
AKA THE GENERAL INTERPRETIVE AREA


Temporal lobe of the left hemisphere

Storage site for complex memory patterns associated with sensation; causes the appropriate response

Damage here leads to the inability to analyze what is heard or read; total damage can result in imbecilic behavior
Term
Basal Nuclei

And

Amygdaloid Nucleus
Definition
Nerve cell bodies located in white matter

-lateral to lateral ventricle and to the thalamus

-part of the limbic system

Do not initiate particular movements but provide general pattern and rhythm

axons from these nuclei form the extrapyramidal system (outside the pyramids) these nuclei are controlled by the substantia nigra nuclei WHICH RELEASE DOPAMINE TO INHIBIT THE ACTIVITY OF BASAL NUCLEI (PARKINSONS DISEASE)
Term
WHITE MATTER OF CEREBRAL CORTEX
Definition
axons/dendrites which are myelinated and appear white

association fibers-connect areas in the same hemisphere

commissural fibers- connect hemispheres together

projection fibers- connect cerebrum to other areas of the brain and spinal cord

Transmit information

Example of commissural fibers is the corpus callosum (this may be severed to treat severe epilepsy - leads to disconnection syndrome)
association fibers
- connect areas in the same hemisphere
commissural fibers
- connect hemispheres together
projection fibers
- connect cerebrum to other areas of the brain and spinal cord
Term
RIGHT HEMISPHERE OF CEREBRUM
Definition
Important for left handed control, musical and artistic awareness, space and pattern perception, imagination and sensory perceptions.
Term
LEFT HEMISPEHRE OF CEREBRUM
Definition
more important for right handed control, spoken and written languages, numerical and scientific skills.
Term
LIMBIC SYSTEM
Definition
Cingulate gyrus-gyrus superior to corpus callosum (frontal lobe)

Parahippocampal gyrus gyrus in the temporal lobe

Fornix- Tract superior to thalamus

Amygdaloid body- nuclei inferior to hypothalamus

Hippocampus- nuclei in temporal lobe


Establishes emotional state and related behavioral drives; links cerebrum to autonomic nervous system; functions in memory storage and retrieval

Called the emotional brain.
Stimulus here can produce anger, rage, fear, sorrow, pleasure. Damage here can result in increased sexual activity, increased appetite, loss of memory
Term
DIENCEPHALON INCLUDES THE:
Definition
THALAMUS,HYPOTHALAMUS,EPITHALAMUS
Term
THALAMUS
Definition
Bilateral structures composing the walls of the third ventricle

Relay station for ascending sensory info to the cerebral cortex

Each thalamus is composed of the thalamic nuclei
Term
HYPOTHALAMUS
Definition
RELATED STRUCTURES: mammillary bodies (olfactory relay stations)

Anterior and inferior to the thalamus

Portion of the hypothalamus is directly exposed to blood (without the protective effect of the blood brain barrier) to monitor glucose levels and osmotic concentrations of the blood

Controls ANS; coordinates endocrine and nervous system; secretes two hormones; regulates body temperature, food intake, water balance, thirst and biological rhythms; controls involuntary somatic muscle movement (psychogenic responses)

Link between the ANS and the endocrine system; has direct attachment to the pituitary gland through the infundibulum (this is the tube that connects the pituitary to the bird's beak - see lab practical review); serves as part of the endocrine system by producing two hormones (oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone - ADH)
Term
EPITHALAMUS
Definition
RELATED STRUCTURE: Pineal Gland

Posterior portion of diencephalon

Associated with body rhythms such as the sleep wake cycle

Pineal gland (body) secretes the hormone melatonin
Term
BRAIN STEM CONSISTS OF
Definition
MIDBRAIN (RELATED STRUCTURES: CEREBRAL PEDUNCLES,INFERIOR COLLICULI, SUPERIOR COLLICULI, RED NUCLEI), PONS, MEDULLA OBLONGATA (RELATED STRUCTURES: DECUSSATION OF THE PYRAMIDS, OLIVES)
Term
MIDBRAIN
Definition
Most superior portion of the brainstem


Conduction pathway between lower and higher brain centers;

Cerebral peduncles contain the cerebrospinal tracts (pyramidal tracts)
Term
SUPERIOR COLLICULI AND INFERIOR COLLICULI
Definition
FORM THE CORPORA QUADRIGEMINA

Superior colliculi is the visual reflex center

Inferior colliculi is the auditory reflex center

(cause involuntary response to stimuli, like when someone claps their hand in front of your face, the auditory reflex jerks your head away and the visual reflex causes you to close your eyes)
Term
PONS
Definition
Bulging area located between the midbrain and medulla oblongata

Contains conduction tracts leading in two directions (Pons means "bridge"); houses respiratory centers involved in breathing rhythm

connected to the cerebellum through tracts called the middle cerebellar peduncles
Term
MEDULLA OBLONGATA
Definition
Most inferior portion of the brain stem;blends into the spinal cord

Cardiovascular center (vasomotor center and cardiac center), respiratory centers and other reflex activities (hiccuping, vomiting)

Serves as ANS reflex center; connected to cerebellum through inferior cerebellar peduncles; olives involved with muscle stretch sensory info
Term
CEREBELLUM
Definition
RELATED STRUCTURES ARBOR VITAE, CEREBELLAR PEDUNCLES, VERMIS

Posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata; inferior to occipital lobe of cerebrum;

separated into two hemispheres which are connected by the vermis

Processes information from the cerebral cortex and from proprioceptors and visual pathways and provides "instructions" to cerebral motor cortex that result in proper balance and equilibrium; coordinates smooth skeletal muscle movement

Composed of inner white and outer gray matter; connected to spinal cord through the brain stem through tracts called cerebellar peduncles; damage here results in loss of muscle tone and clumsy disorganized movements (ataxia) like a drunken person.
Term
RETICULAR FORMATION
Definition
Composed of nuclei throughout the brainstem

Control the arousal of the cerebral cortex; filters sensory information (dampens out extraneous info)

Reticular Activating System is an important part of the RF which is responsible for cortical arousal; damage to the area can result in permanent coma; RAS is depressed by alcohol and tranquilizers
Term
Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by
Definition
The choroid plexus and ependymal cells which line the ventricles of the brain
Term
CONNECTIVE TISSUE COVERING OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD THAT ANCHOR AND LOCK THE ORGANS INTO PLACE AS WELL AS PROTECTING BLOOD VESSELS AND ENCLOSING VENOUS SINUSES
Definition
MENINGES

(OUTSIDE TO INSIDE)
1.DURA MATER
2.ARACHNOID
3.Pia Mater
Term
BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER IS FORMED BY THE
Definition
ASTROCYTES AND BLOOD CAPILLARIES feeding the brain tissue
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