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Anatomy & Physiology: Central Nervous System and Brain

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  • Central nervous system (CNS)

    Consists of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and integrating information.

  • Directional terms unique to the CNS

    Rostral means toward the nose; caudal means toward the tail.

  • Functions of the spinal cord

    Provides a two-way conduction pathway, serves as a major center for reflexes, and spinal nerves attach to it.

  • Location of the spinal cord

    Runs through the vertebral canal, extending from the foramen magnum to vertebra L1 or L2.

  • Conus medullaris

    The inferior end of the spinal cord.

  • Filum terminale

    A long filament of connective tissue that attaches the spinal cord to the coccyx inferiorly.

  • Cauda equina

    A collection of spinal nerve roots resembling a horse's tail below the spinal cord.

  • White matter of the spinal cord

    Located in the outer region, composed of myelinated and unmyelinated axons, allowing communication between spinal cord and brain.

  • Gray matter of the spinal cord

    Shaped like an H, contains dorsal horns (interneurons) and ventral/lateral horns (motor neuron cell bodies).

  • Meninges protecting the spinal cord

    Three layers: dura mater (outer), arachnoid mater (middle), and pia mater (innermost, delicate layer).

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) functions

    Provides a liquid cushion, nourishes brain and spinal cord, removes wastes, and carries chemical signals within the CNS.

  • Primary brain vesicles in embryonic development

    Prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain).

  • Secondary brain vesicles

    Prosencephalon divides into telencephalon and diencephalon; rhombencephalon divides into metencephalon and myelencephalon; mesencephalon remains undivided.

  • Brain stem components

    Includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

  • Functions of the brain stem

    Produces automatic behaviors for survival, serves as a passageway for fiber tracts, and innervates the face and head.

  • Medulla oblongata landmarks

    Includes pyramids (ventral surface), decussation of pyramids (motor tract crossing), inferior cerebellar peduncles, and the olive (inferior olivary nucleus).

  • Cranial nerves attached to the medulla

    Cranial nerves VIII (Vestibulocochlear), IX (Glossopharyngeal), X (Vagus), XI (Accessory), and XII (Hypoglossal).

  • Pons functions and cranial nerves

    Acts as a bridge between midbrain and medulla; contains nuclei for cranial nerves V (Trigeminal), VI (Abducens), and VII (Facial).

  • Midbrain features

    Contains the cerebral aqueduct, cerebral peduncles (corticospinal tracts), superior cerebellar peduncles, and nuclei like substantia nigra and red nucleus.

  • Cerebellum functions

    Coordinates body movements, maintains equilibrium, and receives input about limb, neck, and trunk movements.

  • Diencephalon components

    Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus, surrounding the third ventricle.

  • Thalamus role

    Acts as a relay station for sensory messages to the cerebral cortex and modulates signal intensity.

  • Hypothalamus functions

    Controls autonomic nervous system, emotional responses, body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep-wake cycles, endocrine system, and memory formation.

  • Epithalamus and pineal gland

    Forms part of the roof of the third ventricle; pineal gland secretes melatonin to regulate circadian rhythms.

  • Cerebral cortex functions

    Home of the conscious mind; enables awareness, voluntary movement, communication, memory, and understanding.

  • Primary somatosensory cortex location and function

    Located in the postcentral gyrus; involved in conscious awareness and spatial discrimination of somatic senses.

  • Motor homunculus

    A body map of the motor cortex showing spatial representation of body parts controlling voluntary movements.

  • Broca's area

    Located in the left cerebral hemisphere; responsible for speech production and connected to language comprehension areas.

  • Blood-brain barrier

    Protects the brain by preventing most blood-borne toxins from entering; allows nutrients like oxygen but permits alcohol, nicotine, and anesthetics.