Guide to Studying

The Human Nervous

System
Dr Noor Ibrahim Mohamed Sakian
 Introduction
• This presentation will serve as a guide for students
who have been enquiring on what they should
study or emphasise on when studying the topic on
the nervous system in NNNB 1234 and NNPD 1013.
 Advice
• As has been repeatedly stated by us
lecturers:
o Use the lecture presentations as a study guide only.
o The actual contents that really matters will be the
points/facts stated and explained in detail by the
individual lecturers DURING your lectures.
o Always complement /add on what you learnt during
lectures by reading/referring to your textbooks.
o Use discussion groups to confirm your understanding while
reinforcing the knowledge into long term memory.
o Utilise the ‘JomPhysiology’ MOOC portal as extensively as
possible.
o Do contact the lecturers if you have any query about the
lectures.
 Lecture 1 Central Nervous
System
1. Know the 2 components of the CNS – Brain and
Spinal cord
2. Brain – know what makes up the brain, important
parts of the brain – cerebrum, cerebellum,
diencephalon, brainstem, spinal cord, the 4 lobes,
the 2 cerebral hemispheres.
3. Know and understand the important functions of
the above mentioned structures
4. Cerebrum – know the functional map of the
cerebral cortex – primary motor cortex, primary
somatosensory cortex (motor and sensory
homunculi), prefrontal cortex, Broca, Wernicke,
 CNS 2
• Brain continued –
4. Primary auditory cortex, primary visual cortex,
5. Know function/role of basal ganglia (basal nuclei),
cerebellum and common associated pathologies
eg. Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s Disease,
cerebellar ataxia – also common signs and
symptoms
6. Function of Diencephalon – thalamus and
hypothalamus
7. Brain stem as continuation/connection of
diencephalon and spinal cord
 CNS 3
8. Formation and decussation of motor tracts in
medulla oblongata - the pyramidal tract
(corticospinal tracts)
9. Medulla Oblongata ending with formation of rhe
Spinal cord at the cervical level.
10.Know parts of the spinal cord from cervical to
coccyx.
11.Know the important motor (descending) and
sensory (ascending) tracts of the spinal cord.
12.Formation of spinal nerves and cranial nerves
including nerve plexus (cervical, brachial,
lumbosacral).
 Lecture 2/Somatic Nervous
System/Peripheral Nervous System
1. Understand the peripheral nerves are made up of
Afferent (sensory) nerves and Efferent (motor)
nerves.
2. Begins with spinal nerves which form nerve plexus
before forming the peripheral nerves which
innervate the upper and lower limbs.
3. Somatic nerves innervate the skeletal muscles
(voluntary) and skin. While Visceral nerves
innervate the internal organs and include the
Autonomic nervous system (involuntary) which
innervate the cardiac muscle and the smooth
muscles found in internal/visceral organs and
glands.
 Lecture 3/Higher Order
Functions of CNS
1. Know dominancy of brain hemisphere is based on
location of Language function (usually in Left
hemisphere)
2. Both brain hemisperes are similar in function BUT is
not identical – hemispheric lateralisation means left
brain have some different functions when
compared to the right brain.
3. Know how language function is supported by
Wernicke and Broca areas (for both auditory and
visual)
4. Types of memories – immediate. short term, long
term, their mechanisms.
 That’s it!
• If you still have any further queries after this do feel
free to e mail me. Your feedback will be most
welcomed!
• Wishing you all the best in your studies and life!

• Good luck!

• Dr Noor Ibrahim Mohamed Sakian

• E Mail - nooribrahim@ukm.edu.my