1. Introduction to the Nervous System Learning Objectives

2. I. Organization of the central nervous system. A. List the main components of the CNS. B. To what does the term “brainstem” refer? C. What is the fundamental form of the CNS? D. What is found inside and outside the CNS? E. Describe the anatomical reference planes for the CNS including which planes change and where the change occurs. F. Spinal Cord 1. Describe the basic organization of the gray and white matter in the spinal cord. 2. How is the spinal cord arranged with respect to the parts of the body it serves? 3. How is sensory and motor function organized in the spinal cord. 4. What cranial nerve is associated with the spinal cord. 5. What functional role does the spinal cord play in the CNS?

3. Learning Objectives G. Brainstem 1. In what ways are some principles of organization of the brainstem similar to those of the spinal cord and in what ways do they differ? 2. Medulla a.Define the boundaries of the medulla, its special surface features and its ventricular components. b.Describe the origins of the cranial nerves it possesses, which are motor, sensory or both and their relationship to the pharyngeal arches. c.In what functions does it participate? 3. Pons and cerebellum a.Define the boundaries of the pons, its special surface features and its ventricular components. b.Describe the origins of the cranial nerves it possesses, which are motor, sensory or both and their relationship to the pharyngeal arches. c.What is its relationship with the cerebellum? d.Describe the cerebellum in terms of its cortical organization and peduncles. e.In what functions does the pons participate?

4. Learning Objectives 4. Midbrain a.Define the boundaries of the midbrain, its special surface features and its ventricular components. b.Describe the origins of the cranial nerves it possesses, which are motor, sensory or both. c.In what funtions does it participate? 5. Diencephalon a.Define the boundaries of the diencephalon, its special surface features, principle components and its ventricular components. b.Describe the origins of the cranial nerves it possesses, which are motor, sensory or both. c.In what functions does it participate? 6. Cerebral hemispheres a.Define the boundaries of the cerebral hemispheres, their special surface features and their ventricular components. b.Describe the origins of the cranial nerves it possesses, which are motor, sensory or both. c.What are the major subdivisions and in what functions do they participate?

5. Learning Objectives II. Flow of information A. Give an overview of the flow of information from the body surface to the effector muscles. B. What is the relationship of the afferent and efferent pathways to the muscles of the body?

6. Introduction to the Nervous System Organization

7. I. Organization of the Central Nervous System (CNS) A. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. Within the CNS we recognize 7 components: spinal cord, medulla, pons, cerebellum, midbrain, diencephalon, and telencephalon. Each has its own unique organization and association with peripheral nerves. B. The brain is composed of the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum. The term brain stem usually applies to the diencephalon, midbrain, pons (not the cerebellum) and medulla. The term cerebrum refers to the telencephalon. C. The CNS is a fluid-filled tube. The fluid-filled spaces within the CNS constitute the ventricular system. D. The CNS is surrounded by connective tissue coverings, the meninges, which also contain a fluid-filled compartment, the subarachnoid space. This arrangement suspends the CNS in fluid. In each component of the CNS the ventricular system takes on its own peculiar shape: 1. Spinal cord – the central canal is a tapering cylinder 2. Medulla and Pons – the fourth ventricle is tent-shaped 3. Midbrain – the cerebral aqueduct is tubular 4. Diencephalon – the third ventricle is a thin slab 5. the Cerebrum – each hemisphere contains a C-shaped lateral ventricle

10. Organization E. For the midbrain and below the anatomical reference planes are : 1. Dorsal = Posterior 2. Ventral = Anterior 3. Superior = Rostral 4. Inferior = Caudal. For the diencephalon and telencephalon: 1. Superior = Dorsal 2. Inferior = Ventral 3. Anterior = Rostral 4. Posterior = Caudal