Lecture 5: Organization of Nervous System

• What is one of the major coordinating systems of the body?

  The nervous system
• Why are concepts regarding the nervous system important?

  They help in understanding other body systems
• What must the body do to maintain homeostasis?

  Receive and respond to environmental information
• What are the two main components of the central nervous system?

  The brain and spinal cord
• What is the central processing unit of the entire nervous system?

  The central nervous system
• What is the cerebrum made up of?

  The right and left cerebral hemispheres
• What does each hemisphere of the cerebrum consist of?

  Gray matter, white matter, and basal ganglia
• What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

  It has specific functions in brain activity
• What are the three areas of the cerebral cortex?

  Motor areas, sensory areas, association areas
• What is the neocortex associated with?

  Higher brain functions like conscious behavior
• What do motor areas control?

  Voluntary functions of the body
• What do sensory areas perceive?

  Various sensations from the environment
• What is the role of association areas?

  Integrate motor and sensory signals
• What are the three projection areas in the cortex?

  Projection areas, rhinencephalon areas, association areas
• What do association fibers allow for?

  Complex problem-solving and creative thinking
• What functions are associated with the parietal and occipital lobe association areas?

  Cognitive functions
• What do frontal association areas involve?

  General alertness, intelligence, and temperament
• What is the role of the temporal association area?

  Involved with learning and memory
• What do association fibers connect?

  Different parts of the cortex
• What do projection fibers connect?

  Cortex with subcortical structures
• What is the function of commissural fibers?

  They cause muscle movements on the opposite side
• What are the basal nuclei previously known as?

  Ganglia
• What movements do basal nuclei control?

  Semi-voluntary movements like walking
• Which structures are included in the basal nuclei?

  Caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus
• How do projection fibers affect motor movement?

  They travel through the thalamus to the cortex
• How does the development of the cortex in birds compare to basal nuclei?

  Cortex is poorly developed, basal nuclei are highly developed
• What is the role of the limbic system?

  Involved in emotional and behavioral patterns
• What structures are part of the limbic system?

  • Cingulate gyrus
  • Dentate gyrus
  • Parahippocampal gyrus
  • Fornix
  • Anterior nucleus thalamus
  • Amygdaloid body
• What are the functions of the limbic system?

  Establishing emotional states and memory
• What emotional changes can the rabies virus cause?

  Bouts of terror and rage
• What does the cerebellum enable the body to do?

  Make automatic adjustments to prevent distortion
• From where does the cerebellum receive impulses?

  Proprioceptive receptors and visual cortex
• How does the effect of the cerebellum differ from the cerebrum?

  Cerebellum affects the same side of the body
• What is the composition of the brain stem?

  Interbrain, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
• What structures make up the interbrain?

  Hypothalamus, thalamus, epithalamus
• What is the role of the hypothalamus?

  Integration of autonomic nervous system functions
• What does the thalamus serve as?

  A relay center for body impulses
• What does the epithalamus contain?

  The olfactory correlation center and pineal gland
• What is the function of the pineal gland?

  Regulates gonadal hormones and daily rhythms
• What does the midbrain contain?

  Auditory and visual reflex centers