Nervous System Notes Part 2
What are the two parts of the central nervous system? The two parts of the central nervous system are the brain and spinal cord. What part of the brainstem regulates breathing, heart rate, swallowing, etc.? (involuntary actions) The medulla oblongata regulates breathing, heart rate, swallowing, etc. What does the pons do? The pons acts as a bridge between cerebrum and cerebellum. What does the midbrain do? The midbrain functions in hearing and visual reflexes.
What functions in arousing and maintaining consciousness? The reticular activating system functions in arousing and maintaining consciousness. Which part of the brain process info from sensory receptors? The cerebellum processes info from sensory receptors. Which part of the brain enables smooth movements of skeletal muscles? The cerebellum enable smooth movements of skeletal muscles.
What does the hypothalamus control? Autonomic control: heart rate, blood pressure, involuntary responses Emotional responses: pain, pleasure, etc Hunger, sleep Endocrine system hormones What is the gray matter on the surface of the brain? The gray matter on the surface of the brain is the Cerebral cortex. What does the cerebral cortex do? The cerebral cortex enables us to perceive, communicate, remember, understand, move voluntarily.
What are the functional areas of the cerebral cortex? Motor areas: movement Sensory areas: awareness of sensations Association areas: connects parts of the cortex (smells, tastes, etc) What does white matter in the brain do? White matter provides communication inside the brain. List some brain disorders Some brain disorders include Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease.
EVEN MORE INTERESTING BRAIN FACTS The brain itself cannot feel pain. While the brain might be the pain center when you cut your finger or burn yourself, the brain itself does not have pain receptors and cannot feel pain. That doesn’t mean your head can’t hurt. The brain is surrounded by loads of tissues, nerves and blood vessels that are plenty receptive to pain and can give you a pounding headache. 80% of the brain is water. Living brain tissue is a squishy, pink and jelly-like organ thanks to the loads of blood and high water content of the tissue.
The Spinal Cord Cranial & Spinal Meninges 3 membranes that cover and protect the brain & spinal cord 1. Dura Matter tough connective tissue
2. Arachnoid thin, transparent
3. Pia Matter delicate, contains many blood vessels – nourishment for cells of the cord Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) important in protection and nutrition
Functions of the Spinal Cord carry sensory impulses to brain carry motor impulses from brain to muscles & glands Center for reflex activity Reflex Arc (“no brainer”) STIMULUS SENSORY NEURON INTERNEURON (in spinal cord) MOTOR NEURON MOVEMENT
all of this happens BEFORE signal is sent to the brain (“no brainer”)