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Central Nervous System Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (24)

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) functions
    Cushions the brain and maintains a stable interstitial fluid environment.
  • CSF production and circulation
    Produced by the choroid plexus at 400–500 mL/day, circulates through ventricles to subarachnoid space, total volume 125–150 mL, reabsorbed by arachnoid villi.
  • Brain ventricles
    Includes lateral ventricles (first and second), third ventricle, and fourth ventricle which connects to the central canal of the spinal cord.
  • Blood supply to the CNS
    CNS is 2% of body weight but receives 15% of blood; brain uses 20% of oxygen and 50% of glucose consumed at rest.
  • Blood-brain barrier components
    Formed by capillary endothelial cells with tight junctions and astrocyte foot processes that protect brain from toxins and pathogens.
  • Regions lacking blood-brain barrier
    Hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system and vomiting center of medulla oblongata.
  • Gray matter in CNS
    Contains unmyelinated nerve cell bodies, dendrites, and axon terminals; clusters called nuclei.
  • White matter in CNS
    Composed of myelinated axons; bundles called tracts connect CNS regions.
  • Types of white matter fibers in brain
    Projection fibers, association fibers, and commissural fibers.
  • Spinal cord length and structure
    Approximately 44 cm long, continuous with brain, surrounded by vertebral column, origin of 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
  • Spinal cord gray matter divisions
    Dorsal horn for sensory functions and ventral horn for motor functions.
  • Spinal cord white matter function
    Forms ascending tracts carrying sensory info to brain and descending tracts carrying motor commands from brain.
  • Spinal nerves composition
    Mixed nerves containing both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) axons.
  • Brain stem main functions
    Controls somatic motor, cardiovascular functions, pain modulation, sleep, consciousness, and habituation.
  • Medulla oblongata functions
    Controls involuntary functions like blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, swallowing, and vomiting; site of pyramidal tract crossing.
  • Pons functions
    Acts as relay between cerebrum and cerebellum and coordinates breathing control.
  • Midbrain functions
    Controls eye movement and relays signals for hearing and visual reflexes.
  • Thalamus role
    Relay station and integrator of sensory input to the cerebral cortex.
  • Hypothalamus functions
    Regulates homeostasis, hunger, thirst, and endocrine functions.
  • Cerebellum functions
    Coordinates movement, equilibrium, and balance.
  • Cerebral cortex specializations
    Divided into sensory areas (perception), motor areas (skeletal muscle control), and association areas (integrate sensory and motor info).
  • Basal ganglia function
    Controls movement.
  • Limbic system components and functions
    Includes amygdala (emotion and memory), hippocampus (learning and memory), and cingulate gyrus (emotion).
  • Corpus callosum function
    Connects the two cerebral hemispheres.