Question

Describe the central nervous system and its anatomical and physiological components i.e. neurons, glial cells, etc. Be able to discuss the structure and function of the brain and its various structures i.e. Limbic System, RAS, Memory, Cerebrum, Cerebellum, mid-brain, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, pons, medulla, etc. Discuss how the lateralization of function is important with movement, reflexes, senses, etc. Discuss the various conditions and diseases that can cause damage to the CNS.

Answer 1

CNS : The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. It is referred to as “central” because it combines information from the entire body and coordinates activity across the whole organism.

Anatomical and physiological components :

The brain and the spinal cord are the central nervous system, and they represent the main organs of the nervous system. The spinal cord is a single structure, whereas the adult brain is described in terms of four major regions: the cerebrum, the diencephalon, the brain stem, and the cerebellum.

Neuron of CNS:There are three types of neurons in the nervous system – afferent, efferent and interneurons. Afferent neurons carry signals towards the CNS – afferent means “towards”. ... These action potentials are transmitted along the length of the axon towards the spinal cord (which is part of the CNS).

Glial cells: They maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons. In the central nervous system, glial cells include oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, and microglia, and in the peripheral nervous system glial cells include Schwann cells and satellite cells.

Structure and function of the brain:

Structure of brain: The human brain is the central organ of the human nervous system, and with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. The brain consists of the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum. ... The cerebral cortex is an outer layer of grey matter, covering the core of white matter.

Structure & Functions oft thebrain:

The brain controls our thoughts, memory and speech, movement of the arms and legs, and the function of many organs within our body. The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Limbic system: The limbic system is a complex set of structures that lies on both sides of the thalamus, just under the cerebrum. It includes the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and several other nearby areas.

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a network of neurons located in the brain stem that project anteriorly to the hypothalamus to mediate behavior, as well as both posteriorly to the thalamus and directly to the cortex for activation of awake, desynchronized cortical EEG patterns.

Memory:The main parts of the brain involved with memory are the amygdala, the hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the prefrontal cortex. The amygdala is involved in fear and fear memories. The hippocampus is associated with declarative and episodic memory as well as recognition memory.

Cerebrum: the principal and most anterior part of the brain in vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and right, separated by a fissure. It is responsible for the integration of complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary activity in the body.

Cerebellum :The cerebellum receives information from the sensory systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of the brain and then regulates motor movements. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth and balanced muscular activity.

Mid brain- Midbrain, also called mesencephalon, region of the developing vertebrate brain that is composed of the tectum and tegmentum. The midbrain serves important functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye, and in auditory and visual processing.

A major role of the thalamus is to support the motor and language system. ... The important function of hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. It also secretes neurohormones. These hypothalamic hormones stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones.

Hippocampus is a complex brain structure embedded deep into temporal lobe. It has a major role in learning and memory. It is a plastic and vulnerable structure that gets damaged by a variety of stimuli.

The thalamus is a small structure within the brain located just above the brain stem between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain and has extensive nerve connections to both. The main function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex.

The pons is the largest part of the brainstem, located above the medulla and below the midbrain. It is a group of nerves that function as a connection between the cerebrum and cerebellum (pons is Latin for bridge).

The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up part of the brainstem. It is anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum. It is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for autonomic (involuntary) functions ranging from vomiting to sneezing.

due to time constraints I am unable to solve the all parts of the question.you can post again.