CHAPTER 12

Overview of the central nervous system brain and spinal cord

Know the anatomical structures and the function of these regions of the CNS
* cerebral hemispheres and lobes
* major gyri, fissures, sulci
* diencephalon
* brainstem
* cerebellum
* limbic system
* spinal cord
Understand the structures involved in protection of the brain and spinal cord
Differentiate between ascending and descending pathways throughout the CNS
Discuss some examples of damage to the CNS and the resulting change in function

The brain is composed of four regions: cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brainstem and
cerebellum

Grey matter = cell bodies (in the brain = cortex)

White matter = myelinated neurons forming tracts

Subcortical grey matter = basal nuclei, involved in regulating movement

Cerebral hemispheres contain 5 lobes; frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, insula know their
specific functions

Cortex delivers and receives information via the diencephalon (thalamus, basal nuclei)

Diencephalon thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus

Thalamus relay station for all incoming crude sensation to be edited and output to
specialized regions of the cortex

Hypothalamus visceral control centre important in homeostasis

Epithalamus sleep-wake cycles, mood

Unconscious CNS divisions deeper structures - brainstem, cerebellum, limbic systems

Brain stem essential for life - transports neural signals cephalad to cortex, caudally to spinal
cord, posteriorly to cerebellum

Cerebellum - important in performing smooth co-ordinated movement, control of posture and balance

Limbic system - emotional brain

CSF, meninges, BBB - nourish and protect brain and spinal cord

Spinal cord structure inverse of brain - consists of grey matter surrounded by white matter

- grey matter contains cell bodies (dorsal (sensory), lateral (autonomic motor), ventral
(motor) horns, dorsal root ganglion
- white matter made up of funiculi or columns = tracts (dorsal column medical
lemniscal system, spinothalamic and corticospinal tracts) afferent sensory fibres
project towards brain and cerebellum, efferent motor fibres projects towards effector
muscles

Damage to CNS neurons (white/grey matter) - loss of sensation, motor control, integration,
permanent damage in CNS?
Chapter 13

Understand the structure of peripheral nerves and how they function

Understand the major classes of sensory receptors and how they function
Describe how sensations are perceived
Understand the stretch reflex and how it functions
Learn the structure, location and function of the 12 cranial nerves
Describe the formation of spinal nerves and their rami
Define the major plexuses and the function of nerves arising from them

Nerves are structurally arranged similarly to muscles, with connective tissue coverings (epi,
peri, endo) instead ending in neurium

Peripheral nerves regenerate, axons in the CNS do not!

Sensory receptors functionally classified regarding type of stimulus they detect

Mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, photoreceptors, chemoreceptors,

nociceptors
Can also be classified based upon body location/structure

Sensory input is integrated at receptor, circuit and perception levels

Motor output is integrated at pre-command, projection and segmental levels
Spinal reflex arcs include 5 components
- receptor, sensory neuron, integration centre, efferent neuron, effector
organ
Stretch reflex - Patellar Tendon reflex = short stretch quadriceps muscle spindle activation
reflex arc muscle contraction
Cutaneous reflex - Plantar reflex infant = +ve Babinski; adult = -ve Babinski
Cranial nerves numbered from anterior to posterior (I-XII)
Paired peripheral nerves arise from forebrain (2) brainstem (10)
Names provide clues to function (optic, olfactory, abducens, hypoglossal)
Most nerves have mixed function - 1,2 only sensory
Create your own mnemonic device for O,O,O, T, T, A, F, V, G, V, A, H.
31 pairs of spinal nerves
Named according to spinal cord level nerve emanates from
Spinal nerve rootlets merge to form ventral and dorsal roots
Ventral root = motor efferent fibres
Dorsal root = sensory afferent fibres
Ventral root + dorsal root merge to become a mixed spinal nerve
Spinal nerve diverges into dorsal (small) and ventral (large) rami (mixed)
Ventral rami diverge and converge to produce plexi
4 plexi; cervical, brachial, lumbar, sacral (no thoracic!)
Dermatome = area of skin innervated by cutaneous branch of a single spinal nerve
Individual peripheral nerves innervate selected muscles, the overlying skin and joints
spanned by these muscles
 Chapter 14

Compare somatic and autonomic nervous systems (ANS)

Compare and contrast sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous division

function

Introduce ANS anatomy and review the neurotransmitters released from

different neurons

Describe the effects of certain neurotransmitters on ANS function

Autonomic Nervous System controls almost every essential body process

Motor division of the PNS to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and glands

Sympathetic energy expenditure

Parasympathetic energy storage

Both divisions counterbalance to increase/decrease effector organ function (variability in

receptor subclass in organ)

Acetylcholine and NorAdrenaline main neurotransmitters in ANS

Control of ANS

- Hypothalamus = boss, regulates autonomic efferent nerve

activation

- Limbic system (emotional senses and memories) can trigger

hypothalamus physiological responses to emotion

- Medulla modulates HR, vasomotor centres, respiratory centres

- Spinal cord mediates autonomic reflexes bladder and bowel

sacrifice study

sacrifice

gain in the future

no

more than ourquotor of free xn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TmyxFvo9x4&spfreload=10