Chapter 11

List some of the neurotransmitters found in the brain. What is the function of a neurotransmitter

Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and Serotonin are important neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters regulate impulse transmission across the synapses.

Patient C is an 18-year-old male who has had a few beers once or twice a month since he turned 18. He has never consumed hard liquor until tonight, when he attended a party where he participated in a drinking contest. At that time, he drank several ounces of whiskey in a few minutes. He passed out and could not be awakened. A sober friend brought him to the ER, still unconscious. His heart rate is slow, his blood pressure down, and his breathing is irregular.

Alcohol depresses the function of the vital centers in the medulla oblongata, which in turn control heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Alcohol also decreases the activity of the reticular formation, the nerve fibers that help regulate wakefulness.

Patient B took an accidental overdose of an amphetamine and presents at the ER in a state of excitability, with rapid breathing, heart palpitations, excessive perspiration, anxiety, and irritability.

Amphetamines, when taken in excess, increase the activity of the Reticular formation, a network of nerve fibers that are found throughout the brainstem and cerebrum. The reticular formation helps regulate the degree of alertness. When overstimulated, it produces the symptoms seen in the patient.

Patient A, a 16-year-old female, took an overdose of one of the barbiturate drugs and was brought to the emergency room (ER) by her parents. She presents in the ER with a heart rate of 45, blood pressure of 85 over 55, and slow, irregular breathing.

Barbiturates, when taken in excess of the recommended dosage, depress the function of vital centers in the medulla oblongata, which lies just above the spinal cord. It controls heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.

Group of cell bodies within the cerebrum

Basal Ganglia

Coordinates body movements and posture, helps maintain equilibrium.

Cerebellum

Controls the body's higher intellectual and voluntary activities.

Cerebral Cortex

Composed of myelinated axons that conduct nerve impulses to and from the cerebral cortex.

Cerebral White matter

Largest and uppermost part of the brain

Cerebrum

Warning about limbic system

Certain addictions such as smoking and drug abuse affect these centers.

Spinal Cord

Collection of nerve axons that travel to and from the brain Afferent neurons Travel to the brain from peripheral parts of the body ̈ Efferent neurons Travel from the brain to peripheral organs and skeletal muscle

Limbic System facts

Collection of neurons and brain areas Form a specific interconnecting neural pathway Includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus Involved with the emotional and behavioral responses of the body. Such examples are punishment, sexual behavior, anger or rage, fear, and anxiety; therefore, the limbic system is important to mental health Certain areas of the limbic system are referred to as pleasure or reward centers.

Hypothalamus facts

Controls:Body temperature, appetite, sleep, Water, balance Autonomic nervous systems Specific emotions and behaviors Includes the pituitary gland

Cerebellum facts

Coordinates body movements and posture ̈Maintains body equilibrium

A patient liaison in a large metropolitan hospital, one of your duties is to educate patients and their families about their illnesses and treatments. For the following cases, explain why the patients present with the signs and symptoms that they do.

Critical thinking

Body temperature, appetite, and water balance are regulated by the

Hypothalamus

List the main structures in the brainstem.

In descending order, the main structures of the brainstem are the thalamus, hypothalamus, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Controls cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory functions.

Medulla Oblongata

Select the structure located within the brainstem.

Medulla Oblongata

Reticular formation facts

Network of nerve fibers that travel throughout the brain and spinal cord. Composed of Excitatory fibers Inhibitory fibers It also has synaptic connections with many different brain areas that are involved, for example, in motor control, cardiovascular control, sleep, and wakefulness. It is composed of two types of fibers: excitatory and inhibitory.

The axons of efferent neurons transmit nerve impulses carrying information associated with all of the following except:

Pain

Assume a patient of the doctor you assist has Parkinson's disease. He and his wife think his problem is in his muscles. Explain to them what is really affected and why he has the symptoms he does.

Parkinson's disease is due, in part, to damage to the basal ganglia, which are involved in the regulation of motor activity. As in stroke patients, the nervous control of the muscles is affected, not the muscles themselves.

Thalamus facts

Processes inputs from sensory receptors transmits processed information to the parietal lobe Integrates motor information from the basal ganglia and cerebellum

basal ganglia facts

Receives information pertaining to body movement Coordinates and regulates muscular activity known as the extrapyramidal system

medulla oblongata

Regulates the cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory centers

The Cerebrum Facts

Responsible for higher intellectual abilities Divided into right and left cerebral hemispheres. ̈Each hemisphere contains An outer layer of gray matter, and a inner layer of white matter

Regulates sensory impulses traveling to the cortex

Thalamus

Where are the basal ganglia located, and what function is associated with them?

The basal ganglia are located within the cerebral medulla. They are involved in the regulation of motor activity.

List the main functions of the hypothalamus and the medulla oblongata

The hypothalamus controls many body functions, including temperature regulation, water balance, appetite, sleep, the autonomic nervous system, and certain emotional or behavioral responses. The medulla oblongata regulates the vital centers and many important reflexes, such as swallowing, coughing, vomiting and gagging.

What is the limbic system? What functions are associated with this system?

The limbic system is a collection of neurons from the different brain areas that function together to regulate behavioral and emotional responses of the body.

What are the main functions of the central nervous system?

The main functions of the CNS are to coordinate and to control the activity of the other body systems

What are the main functions of the cerebellum and spinal cord?

The main functions of the cerebellum are to coordinate body movements and posture and to help maintain body equilibrium. The main functions of the spinal cord are to carry sensory information to and from the body and to direct organ activity and muscle movement

What is the reticular formation? How does it function to regulate the level of wakefulness or arousal?

The reticular formation is a network of nerve fibers that connect many areas of the CNS. Excitatory neurons within the reticular formation form the reticular activating system. The reticular activating system is aroused by an increase in external stimuli and various stimulant drugs. When this occurs, individuals are more alert and wakeful

basal ganglia

a group of cell bodies ( gray matter) within the white matter of the cerebrum that helps control body movement

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

a surface recording of the electrical brain

Select the correct function of the cerebellum.

equilibrium

4 lobes of the brain

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

Pons Fact

involved in sensory and motor functions

Cerebrum

largest and uppermost part of the brain that is divided into right and left cerebral hemispheres

The area of the brain that is involved with emotional and behavioral responses is

limbic system

Medulla oblongata

lower part of the brainstem that controls cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory functions

The vital centers are regulated by the

medulla oblongata

The basal ganglia are involved with regulating

muscular activity

All of the following types of nerve impulses are carried by the axons of afferent neurons except:

nerve impulse for directing organ activity.

Reticular formation

network of nerve fibers that travel throughout the central nervous system that regulates the level of wakefulness

Limbic system

neural pathway connecting different brain areas involved in regulation of behavior and emotion

Sensory sensations such as touch, pressure, and pain are perceived in the

parietal lobe

cerebellum

part of the brain that coordinates body movements and posture and helps maintain body equilibrium.

Pons

part of the brainstem that serves as a relay station for nerve fibers traveling to other brain areas; also involved in sensory and motor functions

Hypothalamus

part of the diencephalon that regulates functions such as body temperature, water balance, appetite, and the pituitary gland

Cerebral cortex

uppermost layers of the cerebrum involved in sensory perception, voluntary motor control, and all higher intellectual abilities.

Thalamus

uppermost part of the diencephalon that regulates sensory and motor impulses traveling to and from the cerebral cortex

The occipital lobe is involved with

vision