Week 2

• The brain weighs approximately 3 pounds in the average adult
• The brain is composed of 60% fat and 40% a combination of water, proteins, carbohydrates, and salt
• The nervous system transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body, including internal organs
• The central nervous system includes the brain
• The peripheral nervous system is part of the nervous system
• The brain is a complex organ that controls various functions such as thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger, and other bodily processes
• Grey matter is primarily composed of neuron somas and is responsible for interpreting information
• White matter is made of axons wrapped in myelin and transmits information to other parts of the nervous system
• The forebrain includes the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus
• The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebral hemisphere involved in receiving and processing sensory information, thinking, and cognitive processes
• The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain responsible for coordinating movements, regulating temperature, speech, judgment, thinking, emotions, and learning
• The thalamus relays motor and sensory information to the cerebral cortex, except for smell
• The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, sleep patterns, hunger, thirst, memory, and emotions
• The midbrain is associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, and arousal
• The brain stem connects the cerebellum and the spinal cord
• The hindbrain includes the pons, medulla, and cerebellum
• The pons acts as a bridge or relay station in the brain
• The medulla regulates body activities such as heart rhythm, breathing, blood flow, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels
• The cerebellum controls voluntary muscle movements, posture, balance, and equilibrium
• The frontal lobe is involved in personality characteristics, decision-making, and movement
• The parietal lobe helps identify objects, understand spatial relationships, interpret pain, and touch
• The occipital lobe is associated with vision
• The temporal lobe is involved in short-term memory, speech, musical rhythm, and smell recognition
• Neurons have sensory, motor, and inter-neuron characteristics
• Nerve impulses travel at speeds of 10-12/sec to 2-270 miles/hour
• Neurotransmitters are involved in nerve impulses and synapses
• The spinal cord consists of white matter and gray matter
• The peripheral nervous system includes somatic and autonomic divisions
• The somatic division of the peripheral nervous system is voluntary and includes 12 cranial nerves and 31 spinal nerves
• The autonomic division of the peripheral nervous system is involuntary and includes sympathetic and parasympathetic branches