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Central Nervous System Anatomy & Physiology

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  • What are the two main components of the central nervous system (CNS)?

    The brain and the spinal cord.

  • What are the primary brain vesicles during embryonic development?

    Prosencephalon (forebrain), Mesencephalon (midbrain), and Rhombencephalon (hindbrain).

  • What secondary brain vesicles develop from the prosencephalon?

    Telencephalon and Diencephalon.

  • Which adult brain structures arise from the secondary brain vesicles?

    Cerebral hemispheres from telencephalon, diencephalon structures (thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus) from diencephalon, midbrain from mesencephalon, pons and cerebellum from metencephalon, medulla oblongata from myelencephalon.

  • What is the basic pattern of the spinal cord in terms of gray and white matter?

    A central cavity surrounded by gray matter (neuron cell bodies) and outer white matter (myelinated axons).

  • What are the three meninges layers protecting the CNS?

    Dura mater (tough outer layer), arachnoid mater (middle web-like layer), and pia mater (delicate inner layer).

  • What is the function of the dura mater's dural septa?

    They subdivide the cranial cavity and anchor the brain to the cranium.

  • What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and where is it produced?

    CSF is a liquid cushion around the brain and spinal cord, produced by the choroid plexuses in the ventricles.

  • What is the blood-brain barrier and what does it allow to pass?

    A selective barrier maintaining brain environment; allows glucose, electrolytes, and essential amino acids but blocks most toxins and drugs.

  • What are the three types of cerebral white matter fibers?

    Association fibers (within hemisphere), commissural fibers (between hemispheres), and projection fibers (connect cortex to lower CNS).

  • What is the role of the basal nuclei in the brain?

    They filter out unnecessary movements and are involved in cognition and emotion.

  • What are the three parts of the diencephalon?

    Thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

  • What is the main function of the thalamus?

    It sorts and directs sensory information to the appropriate cerebral cortex areas.

  • What are key functions of the hypothalamus?

    Controls autonomic nervous system, body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep/wake cycles, and endocrine system.

  • What structures make up the brain stem?

    Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

  • What is the significance of the decussation of the pyramids in the medulla oblongata?

    It is the crossover point where motor control switches to the opposite side of the body.

  • What are the main functions of the cerebellum?

    Coordinates smooth, skilled skeletal muscle movements and maintains balance and posture.

  • What is the limbic system responsible for?

    Emotions, memory, and linking higher and lower brain regions.

  • What are Broca's and Wernicke's areas responsible for?

    Broca's area controls speech production; Wernicke's area controls language comprehension.

  • What is the functional significance of the primary motor cortex?

    Controls precise voluntary skeletal muscle movements.

  • What is the role of the primary somatosensory cortex?

    Receives sensory input from skin and proprioceptors for spatial discrimination.

  • What is the function of the premotor cortex?

    Directs complex learned motor skills and coordinates movements.

  • What is the function of the reticular formation?

    Regulates alertness and consciousness.

  • What is the cauda equina?

    A bundle of spinal nerve roots extending from the end of the spinal cord.

  • What is the function of the dorsal root ganglion?

    Contains cell bodies of sensory neurons transmitting signals to the CNS.

  • What are the three directions of spinal cord fiber tracts?

    Ascending (sensory), descending (motor), and transverse (connect both sides).