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Title: Central Nervous System
Description: These physiology notes break down the CNS of the brain. They also go into detail about the biochemistry of cerebrospinal fluid and its function.

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Chapter 10

Physiology
Central Nervous System

Brain


Forebrain
o Cerebrum
o Diencephalon



Midbrain
o Visual & auditory



Hindbrain
o Medulla
§

Transition of spinal cord to brain

§

BP, breathing, swallowing

o Pons
§

Relay station between cerebellum & cerebrum

o Cerebellum
*Midbrain, hindbrain, medulla, & pons make up brainstem
Cerebrum
§

Cerebral cortex (bark)
o Frontal lobe
§

Behavior

§

Primary motor cortex


Control skeletal muscle movements

o Parietal lobe
§

Primary somatosensory cortex


Receives sensory information

o Temporal lobe – hearing
o Occipital lobe – vision
o Association areas
§
§



Found in all lobes
Integrate information

Chapter 10

Physiology

White & Gray matter in the brain
§

Gray Matter
o Unmyelinated nerves & cell bodies
o Nuclei/ganglia: clusters of cell bodies in the brain
o Outer layer (brain)

§

White Matter
o Myelinated axons
o Axons form Fiber tracts in the CNS
o Inner portion (brain)

Spinal Cord
Four regions based on the body
§

Cervical (C1 – C8)

§

Thoracic (T1 – T12)

§

Lumbar (L1 – L5)

§

Sacral (S1 – S5)

§

Coccygeal (1)

Spinal Cord Cross-section
§

Dorsal/posterior horn
o Sensory (afferent) information in via spinal nerve then
dorsal/posterior root to dorsal horn
o Dorsal/posterior root ganglia (DRG): sensory neuron cell
bodies housed here

§

Ventral horn
o Motor neuron cell bodies housed here
o Motor (efferent) control out via ventral root then spinal nerve



Chapter 10

Physiology

White Matter
-Outer portion (spinal cord)
-Fiber tracts (within white matter) carrying information to and from the
brain


Myelinated axons



Lateral corticospinal tract (descending)
o Voluntary control of skeletal muscles



Lateral spinothalamic tract (ascending)
o Sending sensory info about pain & temperature



Ventral spinothalamic tract (ascending)
o Sensory info about touch

White and Gray Matter in the Spinal Cord
Opposite location of the brain
Gray Matter
Unmyelinated neurons
Inner portion (spinal cord)
Ventral and dorsal horns
Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)
-Secreted by the choroid plexus
-Location


Ventricles (spaces w/in the brain)



Subarachnoid space
o Surrounds the entire brain



Central canal
o Runs through the spinal cord



Chapter 10

Physiology

CSF
Composition:


K+



Ca++



HCO3 (bicarbonate)



C6H12O6



H+



Na+



No protein, no blood cells (bad to have in CSF, if present in a
spinal tap – an indicator of problems)

CSF function
-Chemical protection


Removes water from CNS



Provides precise ECF for neurons

-Physical protection


Buoyancy-reduces the weight of the brain



Cushions brain

Blood-brain Barrier
-Composition


Capillaries
o Selectively permeable due to tight junctions



Astrocytes (glial cells) promote tight junction formation

-Function




Regulates the substances that enter the brain

Chapter 10

Physiology

Brain structures that have “leaky” blood-brain barrier
-Medulla


Vomit center



Needs to detect toxins

-Hypothalamus


Releases neurosecretory hormones



Travel through hypothalamic, hypophysial portal system to
anterior pituitary
Title: Central Nervous System
Description: These physiology notes break down the CNS of the brain. They also go into detail about the biochemistry of cerebrospinal fluid and its function.