Chapter 12: The Central Nervous System

What is a trainsient ischemic attach (TIA) and how is it different from a stroke

A TIA is a temporary loss of blood supply to brain tissue, and it differs from a stroke in that the resulting impairment is fully reversible.

What is CSF? Where is it produced? What are its funcitons?

CSF formed by the choroid plexues as a filtrate of blood plasma, is a watery "broth" similar in composition to plasma. It protects the brain and spinal cord from blwos and other trauma, helps nourish the brain and carries chemical signals from one part of the brain to another.

Where are the cell bodies of the first, second, and third order sensory neurons in the spinothalamic pathway located?

Cell bodies of the first order sensory neurons are outsid ethe spinal cord in the ganglion. Cell bodies of the second order are dorsal horn and cell bodies of the third order are in the thalamus

Which type of fiber allows the two cerebral hemispheres to "talk to eachother"?

Commissural fibers (which form commissures) allow the cerebral hemispheres to "talk to each other".

What is the function of convolutions of the brain?

Convolutions increase surface area of the cortex, which allows more neurons to occupy the limited space within the skull.

When would you see delta waves in an EEG?

Delta waves are typically seen in deep sleep in normal adults

Which two states of consciousness are between alertness and coma?

Drowsiness (or lethargy) and stupor are stages of consciousness between alertness and coma.

The primary motor cortex, broca's areas and the premotor cortex are located in which lobe

Frontal

Tervor was tackled while playing football. Ater hitting the gorund, he was unable to move his lower limbs. What is a loss of motor function called? What level of his spinal cord do ou think was injured? Is this a permanent injury?

Loss of motor funciton is called paralysis Lower limb paralysis oculd be caused by a spinal cord injury in the thoracic region (btw T1 and L1) If the spinal cord is transeced, the result is parapelegia. If the cord is only bruised, he may regain function in the limbs.

During which sleep stage are most skeletal muscles actively inhibited?

Most skeletal muscles are actively inhibited during REM sleep.

Mike, who is left handed, decided to wear his favorite T-shirt to his anatomy class. On his T-shirt were the words "Only left-handed people are in their right minds." What does this statement mean?

Motor functions on the left side of the body are controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain because motor tracts from the right hemisphere cross over (in the medulla oblongata) to the left side of the spinal cord to go to the left side of the body.

What is the explanation for the cervical and lumbar englargements of the spinal cord?

Nerves serving the limbs arise in the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord

Mrs Lee, a neurology patient, seldom smiles, has a shuffling, stooped gait and often spills her coffee. what degenerative brain disorder might she have?

Parkinson's disease

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

Pia Matter

When taylor begins to feel drowsy while driving, she opens her window, turns up the volume of the car stereo, and sips ice-cold water. How do these actions keep her awake

Taylor is increasing the amount of senseory stimuli she recieves, which will be relayed to the reticular activating system, which, in turn, will increase activation of the cerebral cortex.

A brain surgeon is about to make an incision. Name all the tissues layers that she cuts through from the skin to the brain

The brain surgeon cuts through (1) the skin of the scalp, (2) the periosteum, (3) skull bone, (4) dura mater, (5) arachnoid matter, and (6) pia mater to reach the brain

Name the components of the basal nuclei

The caudata nucleus, putmen, and globus pallidus together form the basal nuclei.

Which two areas of the adult brain have an outside layer of gray matter in addition to central gray matter and surrounding white matter?

The cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum have an outside layer of gray matter in addition to central gray matter and its surrounding white matter.

Which region of the brain stem is associated with cerebral peduncles and the superior and infecior colliculi?

The cerebral peduncles and the colliculi are associated with the midbrain.

The limbic system is sometimes called the emotional-visceral brain. Which part of the limbic system is responsible for the visceral connection?

The hypothalamus is part of the limbic system and also an autonomic (visceral) control center.

The hypothalamus oversees a branch of the peripheral nervous system. Which branch?

The hypothalamus oversees the autonomic nervous system

What are the pyramids of the medulla? What is the result of decussation of the pyramids?

The pyramids of the medulla are the corticospinal (pyramidal) tracts, the large voluntary motor tracts descending from the motor cortex. The result of decussation (crossing over) is that each side of the motor cortex controls the opposite side of the body

Which ventricle is surrounded by the diencephalon?

The third ventricle

In what ways are the cerebellum and the cerebrum similar? In what ways are they different?

There are many possible answers to this question - here ar ea fewy. Structurally, the cerebellum and cerebrum are similar in that they both have a thin outer cortex of gray matter, internal white matter, and deep gray matter nuclei. Also, both have body maps (homunculi) and large fiber tracts connecting them to the brain stem. Both recieve sensory input and influence motor output. A major difference is that the cerebellum is almost entirely concerned with motor output, whereas the cerebrum has much broader responsibilities. Also, while a cerebral hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body, a cerebellar hemisphere controls the same side of the body.

Name three factors that can enhance transfer of information from STM to LTM.

Transfer of memory from STM to LTM is enchanced by (1) rehearsal (2) association (trying "new" information to "old" information) and (3) a heightened emotional state (for example, alert, motivated, surprised, or aroused)

Why is the thalamus called the "gateway to the cerebral cortex"

Virtually all inputs ascending to the cerebral cortex synapse in the thalamus en route.

Fiber tracts that allow neurons within the same cerebral hemisphere to communicate are

association fibers

Cerebrospinal fluid is formed by

choroid plexses

Patient has suffered a cerebral hemorrage that has caused dysfunction of the percentral gyrus of his right cerebral cortex. As a result,

he cannot voluntary move his left arm or leg

Which of the following tracts convey vibration and other specific sensations that can be precisely localized?

medial lemmiscus

A professor unexpectedly blew a loud horn in his class. the students were startled, the reflexive movements of their eyes were mediated by the

superior colliculi

What anatomical landmark of the cerebral cortex separates primary motor areas from somatosensory areas?

the central sulcus separates primary motor areas from somatosensory areas.

All of the following descriptions refer to dorsal column- medial lemniscal ascending pathways except one:

their connections are diffuse and poorly localized; they are concenred with precise transmission of one or a few related types of sensory input

desctuction of the ventral horn cells of the spinal cord results in loss of

voluntary motor impulses