lecture 1
What makes up a neuron?
Cell body, axon hillock, axon, dendrites, synaptic terminals
What is the function of a dendrite?
Receives information
main input site of the cell
receives the receptive surface
what is the main function of the axon?
Sends information to other neurons, main output unit
arises from axon hillock
group together and form nerves and tracts
What does the microglia do?
Immune system of the CNS
Clean the neural environment (phagocytes lean up and remove debris from dying cells)
activated during nervous system development following injury infection and disease
Spina Bifida
Etiology: maternal nutritional deficiencies
Pathology: inferior neuropore does not close; vertebrae do not close around the incomplete neural tube
Symptoms: varies based on location and severity of malformation (sensory and motor impairment of lower limbs)
Prognosis: impairment is usually stable
What are macroglia?
Astrocytes (CNS)
- clean the neural, part of the blood brain barrier, connect neurons and blood capillaries, providing nutrition to neurons, can regulate neuronal communication
Oligodendrocytes (CNS)
Schwann Cells (PNS)
What are stem cells?
Mature neurons cannot reproduce
stem cells undifferentiated cells
- self renew
- differentiate into most type of neurons and glial cells
- populate developing and degenerating regions of the CNS
What is grey matter?
What is white matter?
Gray matter = cell bodies
- integrates information
-CNS: nuclei
PNS: ganglia
White matter= axons and myelin
- conveys information
- CNS: tract, fasciculus, column, peduncle, lemniscus, capsule
PNS: nerve
What happens at the closure of the neural tube?
the superior neuropore closes first then the inferior neuropore closes second. The tube differentiates into two concentric circles
hydrocephalus
Etiology: congenital or acquired
Pathology: buildup of CSF in the ventricles causes enlargement of ventricles, compressing brain tissue
Symptoms: enlarged head (fetus/infant); impairments in balance, gait, bladder control, executive functions (emotions, planning memory)
What is the function of the spinal cord?
- conduit for flow of information to and from the brain
- control of limb and trunk muscles
-processing of information
- visceral functions
What does the medulla do?
What does the pons do?
What does the midbrain do?
Pons= regulates respiration; bridge to cerebellum
Midbrain= visual and auditory reflexes
What is the purpose of the cerebellum?
- controls range and force pf movement
- balance
- motor learning/ memory
What does the thalamus do?
What does the hypothalamus do?
- integrates sensation
- processes emotional information
- involved in memory- regulate consciousness, arousal, and attention
hypothalamus:
- homeostasis
- regulation of visceral and endocrine functions
Meningitis
Etiology: usually viral infection
Pathology: inflammation of meninges
Symptoms: headache, fever, confusion, vomitting, neck stiffness
Prognosis: viral meningitis rarely life threatening; bacterial meningitis is rare but potentially fatal
What is the central sulcus?
What is the Sylvia/ lateral fissure?
What is the medial longitudinal fissure?
Central sulcus divides the frontal and parietal lobes
The sylvan/ lateral fissure divides the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe
The medial longitudinal fissure divides the right and left hemispheres
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Frontal lobe= control of movement, personality, executive functions, m1 primary motor cortex
Parietal lobe= sensory, perception, body image/ schema, S1 primary somatosensory cortex
Temporal lobe= hearing, speech comprehension, memory, aspects of learning
Occipital lobe= vision
What is the function of the limbic system?
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
memory, learning emotion, and motivation
initiation and control of movement, cognition and emotion
What are the two systems that support the neurons and glial cells of the nervous system?
What is the function of the CSF?
the vascular system and the cerebrospinal fluid system (CSF)
CSF= helps maintain homeostasis, shock absorber, fluid transport system
What are the three layers of the meninges?
Dura mater= outer layer, tough, surrounds brain and spinal cord
Arachnoid mater= middle layer, delicate, loosely attached to dura mater, subarachnoid space
Pia mater= inner most layer, very delicate, tightly adheres to brain and spinal cordWhat is neuroplasticiity?
What is it involved in?
It is the ability of neurons to change their function, chemical profile, and/ or structure
involved in:
- habituation
- learning and memory
- recovery after injury
- maladaptation after injury
what is post natal development
it is the critical periods of development
- periods of time when the nervous system optimizes neural connections
- crucial for typical development
What happens to the brain when aging?
anatomical changes:
- cortex thins, white matter decreases, neurotransmitter/ receptor changes
Functional changes
- sensation, motor skills, speed, memory, vision
What are the 4 lobes?
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
What is the telencephalon?
the largest part of the brain, consists of two cerebral hemispheres