Nervous System Basics
What is the main function of homeostasis?
to maintain a stable internal body environment
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Motivation and judgment
Primary motor control
Efferent neurons carry which type of signals?
Motor signals from the brain and spinal cord to the body.
A patient has a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and loses movement in their right arm. Is this a CNS or PNS condition?
Central Nervous System- CVA occurs in the brain
Which lobe of the brain processes vision?
Occipital Lobe
Which neuron type carries messages to the brain and spinal cord?
Afferent Neurons
Which structure connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain?
Corpus Callosum
Which spinal nerve plexus carries messages to and from the arm?
Brachial Plexus
A person injures their brachial plexus and experiences numbness in their hand. Is this a CNS or PNS injury?
Peripheral Nervous System- brachial plexus is a network of spinal nerves which are peripheral nerves.
Which part of the brain helps coordinate movement and balance?
Cerebellum
What are the 3 layers of meninges?
Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater
Which part of the brainstem regulates heart rate and respiration?
Medulla Oblongata
A patient touches a hot stove and quickly pulls their hand away. Which neurons are involved? and what did they do in this scenario?
Afferent Neurons: detected heat
Efferent Neurons: moved the hand
A patient is in a car accident and damages their spinal cord at T3, losing sensation and motor function below the injury site. Is this a CNS or PNS injury?
Central Nervous System includes both brain and spinal cord.
The pons is responsible for regulating what essential function?
Rate and depth of breathing
What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
Protects the brain/spinal cord
Helps the brain float
Provides nutrients
Removes waste
What is the function of the thalamus?
Acts as a switching station for incoming sensory messages (Except smell)
A patient with an incomplete spinal cord injury loses the ability to move their legs but can still feel sensations. What type of neural pathway is affected?
Bonus Points: Which spinal nerve roots were damaged?
Efferent neural pathway- motor damage
Ventral Root
A patient develops Bell's Palsy, which impacts cranial nerve 7 and leads to facial muscle weakness on one side. Is this a CNS or PNS condition?
Peripheral Nervous System-- bells palsy impacts a cranial nerve with is a peripheral nerve
What is the role of reticular formation in the brainstem?
Controls arousal and regulates sleep-wake cycles
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system, and what does each do?
Sympathetic: "Fight or Flight" Stress response
Parasympathetic: "Rest and Digest" homeostasis
Damage to which brain region would cause difficulty with speech production?
Broca's area in the frontal lobe
A patient with diabetic neuropathy experiences numbness in their toes. What type of neurons are impacted?
Afferent Neurons (sensory)
A patient experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a motor vehicle accident (MVA), leading to changes in personality, difficulty organizing tasks, and muscle weakness on one side. Is this a CNS or PNS condition?
Double Points: What lobe of the brain was impacted by this TBI? Are the symptoms related to afferent or efferent
Central Nervous System- this TBI impacted the brain.
Frontal Lobe (personality/organizing tasks).
Efferent Neurons (muscle weakness on one side)
FINAL JEOPARDY:
A patient has difficulty speaking, a weak right arm, and is unable to feel temperature changes on their right hand. Based on these symptoms, which specific part(s) of the brain are impacted? and what type of neurons are involved?
Left Frontal and Parietal Lobes and Broca's area.
Both afferent and efferent neurons are involved because there is motor weakness (efferent) and sensory deficitions (afferent).