- Consists of CNS and PNS o CNS = brain and spinal cord o PNS = connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body Somatic nervous system: controls voluntary muscles and passes sensory information to CNS Autonomic nervous system: controls heart, intestines and other organs
Anatomical Terms for directions
- Planes o Coronal (front) frontal plane that shows brain structures as seen from the front o Sagittal (side) shows brain structures as seen from the side o Horizontal (transverse) transverse plane that shows brain structures as seen from above - Directions o Dorsal towards the back, away from the ventral (stomach side) o Ventral towards the stomach., away from the dorsal o Anterior front o Posterior back o Superior above something o Inferior below something o Medial towards the middle o Lateral towards the sides o Proximal close to something o Distal far from something o Ipsilateral same side of the body (left or right) o Contralateral different side of the body (left or right)
Parts of nervous system (terms)
- Lamina a row or layer of cell bodies separated from other cell bodies by a layer of axon and dendrites - Column a set of cells with similar properties that are perpendicular to the surface of the cortex - Tract (projection) a set of axons within the CNS. If axons extend from cell bodies in structure A to synapses onto B, the fibers “project” from A onto B - Nerve a set of axons in the periphery, either from the CNS to a muscle or gland or sensory organ to CNS - Nucleus a cluster of neuron cell bodies within the CNS - Ganglion a cluster of neuron cell bodies, usually outside of CNS (sympathetic nervous system) - Gyrus a protuberance on the surface of the brain - Sulcus a fold or groove that separates one gyrus from another - Fissure a long and deep sulcus Spinal cord - It is found in the CNS inside the spinal column - Communicates with all the sense organs and muscles outside of the head - Segmented structure each segment has a sensory and motor nerve o Dorsal roots (axon bundles) carry sensory information in o Ventral roots carry motor information out o Dorsal root ganglia: cell bodies of sensory neurons located outside of the spinal cord - Grey and white matter o Grey matter: located in the center of spinal cord Densely packed with cell bodies and dendrites o White matter: outer part of the spinal cord Consists of myelinated axons that carries information form the grey matter to the brain or to other areas of the spinal cord
Autonomic Nervous System
- Sends and receives messages to regulate automatic behaviors of the body o Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration etc. - Sympathetic & Parasympathetic nervous system o Sympathetic: a network of nerves that prepare organs for rigorous activity Consist chains of ganglia to the left and tight of spinal cord Ganglia connected by axons to the spinal cord Prepare for fight-or-flight mode increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiration etc. Mainly uses norepinephrine
Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Facilitates vegetative/resting and non-emergency responses - Does the opposite of sympathetic activities o E.g. when the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate/bp/respiration, the parasympathetic nervous system decreases it - Aka craniosacral system o Consists of cranial nerves and nerves from the sacral spinal cord - Long preganglionic axons extend from spinal cord to parasympathetic ganglia close to each internal organ - Shorter postganglionic fibers then extend from the parasympathetic ganglia into the organs themselves (uses acetylcholine)
Major components of the brain
- Hindbrain o Medulla and cranial nerves Medulla located just above the spinal cord Responsible for vital reflexes (breathing, heart rate, vomiting etc.) Cranial nerves allow medulla oblongata to control: Sensations from the head Muscle movements in the head Parasympathetic outputs o Pons Axons from each half of the brain cross to the opposite side of the spinal cord here Left hemisphere controls right side, vice versa o Cerebellum Many deep folds Regulates motor movements, balance, and coordination Important for shifting attention between auditory and visual stimuli - Midbrain o Tectum o Superior colliculus o Inferior colliculus o Tegmentum o Substantia nigra - Forebrain o Occipital lobe o Parietal lobe o Temporal lobe o Frontal lobe o Limbic system o Pituitary gland o Basal ganglia o Hippocampus