Chapter 31.2

What is the brain stem?

-Connects the brain and spinal cord -Located just below the cerebellum -Includes three regions: The midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata. Each of these regions regulates the flow of information between brain and the rest of the body -Some of the body's most important functions including regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and swalling-- are controlled by the brain stem

What is the cerebrum?

-Responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activites of the body -It is also the site of intelligence, learning, and judgment -The largest part of the brain -Does all the problem solving, thinking, and feeling -Controls movement -Consists of two layers: The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex and consists of densely packed nerve cell bodies known as gray matter. -The inner layer of the cerebrum is known as white matter. Its whitish color comes from bundle of axons with myelin sheaths

What is cerebellum?

-The second largest region of the brain -Information about muscle and join position, as well as other sensory inputs, are sent to the cerebellum -Sensory information allows the cerebellum to coordinate and balance the actions of these muscles. This enables the body to move gracefully and efficiently -Located in the back of the head

What is the thalamus and hypothalamus?

Thalamus receives messages from sensory receptors throughout the body and then relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum for further processing. Just below the thalamus is the hypothalamus that controls the center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature. Also helps coordinate the nervous and endocrine systems

How do drugs change the brain and lead to addiction?

The brain reacts to excessive dopamine levels by reducing the number of receptors for the neurotransmitter. As a result, normal activities no longer produce the sensations of pleasure they once did.

What is the role of the central nervous system?

The central nervous system plays a major role in movement, sensation, memory, speech and thinking. It is also charged with the role of transmitting messages back and forth between the brain and the peripheral nerves.

What is the relationship between the brain and the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is the main communication link between the brain and the rest of the body.

What anatomical structures make up the Central Nervous System?

The cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem, are responsible for processing and relaying information

How does the spinal cord communicate with the rest of the body?

The spinal cord is a bit like a major telephone line, carrying thousands of signals at once between the central and peripheral nervous system. 31 pairs of spinal nerves branch out from the spinal cord, connecting the brain to different parts of the body. Certain kinds of information, including many reflexes, are processed directly in the spinal cord. A reflex is a quick, automatic response to a stimulus. The way in which you pull your hand back quickly when pricked by a pin is an example of reflex.