Responses to Altered Perception

Central Nervous SystemBrainSpinal CordPeripheral Nervous SystemBrain—100 billion cells

Neurons - Functional unit of the brainDendrites—receiving electrochemical messages.Axon—carries

electrical impulses away from the cell body.Myelin sheath—increased conduction speed

Neurotransmitterscommunicate messages from one neuron to anotherstored in synaptic vesicles;

released into the synapsepotentiates, terminates, or modulates a specific action (inhibitory or
excitatory)

BrainCerebrumHemispheres—left & right4 lobes (distinct fissures)Frontal: motor control, problem

solving, speech productionParietal: touch perception, body orientation, sensory
discriminationTemporal: auditory processing, language comprehension, memoryOccipital: sense of
sightThalamus—memory, sensation (except smell), and pain impulsesHypothalamus—metabolism,
appetite, sleep-wake pattern regulation, temperature regulationBasal Ganglia—fine motor
movementsCerebellumunder the cerebrumcoordination & balanceposition (postural) sense or
proprioception (awareness of where each part of the body is)Brain Stemrelay center connecting the
cerebrum & cerebellum to the spinal cordMedulla oblongata—vital centers: RR, HR, vomiting,
hiccuppingPons—respiratory patternsMidbrain—reflex centers: vision and hearingRAS—arousal in
sleep-wake cycle

The brain accounts for approximately 2% of the total body weight; in an average young adult, the brain
weighs approximately 1400 g, whereas in an average elderly person, the brain weighs
approximately 1200 g.Brain ProtectionDura materArachnoidCSF in subarachnoid space 500 ml.
per dayfor immune and metabolic functionsextracellular fluids (such as blood plasma)Pia mater

Cerebral Circulation15% of cardiac output (750 ml. per minute of blood flow)Two-layer blood
vesselCircle of Willis provide collateral circulationVeins have no valves
Blood-Brain BarrierThe CNS is inaccessible to many substances that circulate in the blood plasma
(e.g., dyes, medications, and antibiotics) because of the blood–brain barrier.The blood–brain barrier has
a protective function but can be altered by trauma, cerebral edema, and cerebral hypoxemia; this has
implications in the treatment and selection of medication for CNS disorders.