12. The Central Nervous System

What are the two primary functional roles of the cerebellum?

What varied roles does the hypothalamus play in the body?

Stimulation of which part of the brain would produce sensations of hunger and thirst?

The establishment of emotional states is a function of the:

(a) Limbic system

(b) Tectum

(c) Mammillary bodies

(d) Thalamus

Damage to the hippocampus, a component of the limbic system, leads to

(a) A loss of emotion due to forgetfulness

(b) A loss of consciousness

(c) A loss of long-term memory

(d) An immediate loss of short-term memory

Which structure in the brain is your A&P instructor referring to when talking about a nucleus that resembles a sea horse and that is important in the storage and retrieval of long-term memories? In which functional system of the brain is it located?

What cellular mechanisms identified in animal studies are thought to be involved in memory formation and storage?

What physiological activities distinguish non-REM sleep from REM sleep?

What constitutes the blood brain barrier?

Cerebrospinal fluid is formed by

a. Arachnoid granulations

b. Dura mater

c. Choroid plexuses

d. All of these

The innermost layer of the meninges, delicate and adjacent to the brain tissue, is the

a. Dura mater

b. Corpus callosum

c. Arachnoid mater

d. Pia mater

a. How is cerebrospinal fluid formed and drained? Describe its pathway within and around the brain.

b What happens if CSF does not drain properly? Why is this consequence more harmful in adults?

List four ways in which the CNS is protected.

Which is the innermost delicate meningeal layer?

A 10-month-old infant has an enlarging head circumference and delayed overall development. Her CSF pressure is elevated, and she has a bulging anterior fontanelle (fontanelles are the as yet unossified fibrous membranes connecting skull bones in infants). Based on these findings, answer the following questions:

a. What are the possible cause(s) of an enlarged head?

b. Which tests might be helpful in obtaining information about this infant's problem?

c. Assuming the tests conducted showed the cerebral aqueduct to be constricted, which ventricles or CSF-containing areas would you expect to be enlarged? Which would likely not be visible? Respond to the same questions based on a finding of obstructed arachnoid granulations.