THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Phil Macfarland, Justin Arthur, Tom England

Central Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS) composed of

the brain and spinal cord

Central NS vs. Peripheral NS

Regions of the Brain

http://www.neure.com/Index.cfm?file=BrainMap.cfm

Sagittal brain MR

Axial brain MR

Sagittal reference

Coronal brain MR

Sagittal reference

Axial Brain MR

Coronal Brain MR

Neuron Organization
The nervous system consists of neurons and supporting

cells
Sensory Neurons
Motor Neurons Interneurons

Axon Membrane
Resting membrane potential Sodium-Potassium pump
Leak Channels -70mV

Equilibrium potential

Generation of Action Potential

Graded Potentials Gated ion channels
Dendrites

Action Potential Response to stimuli= depolarization

1. 2.

3.
4.

Na+ gate opens- into the cell Spike= Na+ gate closes K+ gate opens- out the cell Return to resting potential

Synapse

Neurotransmitters
Chemicals stored in the synaptic vesicles Open gates that let molecules in/out, causing various actions and regulating levels of atoms such as Na+ and K+ Found at neuron/muscle junctions Must be quickly eliminated to regulate well

Types of Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (Ach) Muscle contraction Glutamate Physiological stimulation Glycine and GABA

Neural control of body movements and brain functions

Types of Neurotransmitters
Dopamine Aids body controlling movements; improper levels can cause Parkinsons and schizophrenia Norepinephrine Aids adrenaline Serotonin Regulates sleep and emotion

Neuropeptides
Polypeptides that may act like neurotransmitters or act

more long-term as neuromodulators

Many axons can produce both transmitters and

modulators
Substance P Released when painful stimuli is receieved

Drugs and Neurotransmitters

Nervous cells exposed to stimulus that makes significant

amounts of chemically mediated signals may lose their ability to respond to said stimulus
Cocaine intensifies pleasure by binding to dopamine

transporters
More dopamine than can be bound is made, so cells respond by

removing receptors

THE BRAIN

Brain Breakdown
Forebrain Thalamus Hypothalamus Pituitary Cerebrum
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe Parietal Lobe Occipital Lobe

Brain Breakdown (contd..)

Midbrain Eyes Ears Hindbrain Medulla Oblongata Pons Cerebellum

Forebrain
Thalamus Receives sensory information to organize and pass to appropriate areas Hypothalamus Maintains homeostasis in the body

Pituitary Gland Secretes various hormones

Growth, blood pressure, sex organ functions, thyroid gland function,

metabolism, temperature regulation, water balance in the kidneys

Cerebrum
Frontal Lobe Reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, problem solving Temporal Lobe Perception & recognition, perception of auditory stimuli, memory, speech Parietal Lobe Movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli Occipital Lobe Visual processing

Midbrain
Simple job

Processing sensory and motor functions

Connects hindbrain to the forebrain

Hindbrain
Cerebellum Controls motor movement, coordination, balance equilibrium, and muscle tone. Contains neurons that relay information between body muscles and cerebellum. Comprised of white matter and a thing outer layer of densely folded gray matter.

Hindbrain
Medulla Oblongata Controls autonomic functions
Breathing, digestion, blood & heart vessel function, swallowing, and

sneezing
Relays nerve signals between brain and spinal cord Coordination of body movements

Hindbrain
Pons Connects cerebral cortex with the medulla oblongata. Part of brain stem. Transfers messages between parts of brain and spinal cord. Arousal Sleep Relay information between cerebrum and cerebellum

Corpas Callosum
Nerve fibers that divide the cerebrum into left and right hemispheres. Allows communication between the hemispheres. Transfers:
Motor Sensory Cognitive information

Controls:
Eye movement Arousal Attention