Name: __________________________________________________

Central Nervous System – The Spinal Cord & Brain

Region Structures Description/Location Special areas or Function(s)

parts contained in
this structure?
Protective Dura mater Outermost covering; leathery One layer (periosteal protects
connective tissue; surrounded layer) attaches to
structures of by an epidural space in the skull; second layer
Spinal Cord & spinal cord (meningeal layer)
covers brain and
Brain continues as dura
mater of spinal cord
Arachnoid Middle meningeal layer; “cob Arachnoid villi – Threadlike extensions span subarachnoid
mater webby” protrude through dura space (filled with CSF and blood
mater – absorbs CSF vessels)to attach it to the pia mater
into venous blood

Pia mater Clings tightly to surface of protects

brain and spinal cord
Cerebrospinal Watery broth similar to blood
fluid plasma – contains less protein
and more vitamin C
Formed by blood of choroid
plexus (made by ependymal
cells)
Forms and drains at a Watery cushion that protects
constant rate so that
pressure and volume
are maintained;
changes in pressure/vol
= pathology

The Blood-Brain Composed of least permeable Passes only water, glucose, and essential
Barrier capillaries in body amino acids. Most wastes, toxins,
proteins, and drugs are prevented from
passing. But fat soluble chemicals can
pass (b/c membrane is fat) – alcohol,
nicotine, and anesthetics can affect brain
Meninges
Name: __________________________________________________

Region Structures Description/Location Special areas or Function(s)

parts contained in
this structure?
Spinal cord – Posterior Dorsal roots fuse with ventral Have cell bodies and sensory fibers that lead
roots to form spinal nerves on to dorsal horns; If damaged – loss of
Spinal nerves (dorsal) root sensation from a body area
periphery of spinal cord
ganglion and
root
Anterior Same Contain axons of motor neurons; If damaged –
flaccid paralysis of muscle (atrophy)
(ventral) root

Spinal cord – Posterior Part of the “H” shape in middle Contains interneurons
of cord (unmyelinated fiber
Gray matter (dorsal) horns
tracts); two posterior
projections of gray matter
Anterior Part of the “H” shape in middle Contain cell bodies of motor neurons of
(ventral) horns of cord (unmyelinated fiber somatic nervous system
tracts); two anterior
projections

Central canal Oval opening in center of spinal Contains CSF

cord surrounded by gray matter

Spinal cord – Posterior White matter made of Has ascending tracts Carries sensory input (touch, position,
(dorsal) column myelinated axonal fiber tracts and pressure) to brain
White matter
Lateral column White matter made of Has ascending tracts Carries sensory input (pain and
myelinated axonal fiber tracts and descending tracts temperature) to brain;
Maintains muscle tone and skilled
movements (esp. hands)
Anterior White matter made of Has ascending tracts Carries sensory input (body position) to
(ventral) column myelinated axonal fiber tracts and descending tracts brain;
Spinalcord Maintains tone & trunk muscle movement
Name: __________________________________________________

Region Structures Description/Location Special areas or Function(s)

parts contained in
this structure?
Superficial layer (2-4 mm thick) of Has gyri – ridges; sulci – Houses billions of neurons which are involved
Brain - Cerebral
cerebrum that is gray matter shallow grooves; and in speech, memory, logic, emotion, movement
cortex
Cerebral (unmyelinated fiber tracts); lots of fissures – deep grooves
folds (ie. central & longitudinal)
hemispheres
(cerebrum)
Frontal lobe Anterior to the central sulcus Premotor area and Plans movement and consciously controls
Primary motor cortex; skeletal muscle (face, mouth, hands);
(“higher order
Prefrontal area; Broca’s regulates motivation and emotional
brain”)
area (left side only) behavior/mood; vocalizes words and
interprets word meanings

Damage to Broca’s area - inability to produce

meaningful language

Parietal lobes Paired lobes on both sides of the
longitudinal fissure; separated from
frontal lobe by central sulcus;
separated from each other by
longitudinal fissure
Somatic sensory cortex, Interprets sensory stimuli (pain, temperature,
Gustatory area; Speech touch, taste); sound out words
area

Occipital lobe Posterior part of brain Visual cortex Receives and interprets visual stimuli

Temporal lobe Paired lobes under the temporal Auditory area; Olfactory Interprets characteristics of sound like pitch
bones; below lateral fissure area; Wernicke’s area and rhythm; determines if sound is speech,
(left side only), Memory music, or noise; also, meaning of speech;
area receives impulses related to smell

Damage to Wernicke’s area – inability to

understand language
Name: __________________________________________________

Cerebral white Deep to the cerebral cortex w/ Association fibers, Transmit impulses in same hemisphere
myelinated fiber tracts that run in Commissural fibers (Association), across to other hemisphere
matter (corpus callosum),
3 directions (commissural), to other areas like spinal cord
Projection fibers
(projection)

Basal nuclei Islands of gray matter in the white Corpus striatum – made of Receives vol. motor input and provides output
matter area caudate nucleus and to cerebral cortex, thalamus, and
lenticular nucleus hypothalamus; helps maintain muscle tone and
posture

Damage to basal nuclei – Parkinson’s and

cerebral palsy

Limbic System Encircling the brain stem on the Hippocampus, cingulate Governs emotional aspects of behavior,
inner border of cerebrum gyri, amygdala, olfactory memory, rage, pleasure, and pain as related to
(“emotional
bulbs, & mammillary survival; responds to olfactory stimulation
brain”)
bodies

Region Structures Description/Location Special areas or Function(s)

parts contained in
this structure?
Brain - Epithalamus Forms the roof of the third Pineal gland (“pine cone”), Pineal gland secretes melatonin (promotes
ventricle; highest part of the Choroid plexus of third sleepiness, sets timing of body’s biological
Diencephalon diencephalon ventricle clock); in sheep, contributes to seasonal
breeding capability
Choroid plexus have capillaries (covered by
ependymal cells) that form CSF from blood
plasma
Thalamus Forms the superior part of the Interthalamic adhesion Relays sensory impulses from the spinal cord
lateral walls of the third ventricle; crosses the third to the sensory cortex (pleasant and
(80% of
encloses the third ventricle; below ventricle to join the right unpleasant sensations: pain, temperature,
diencephalon) somatic sensory area and left portions of pressure, emotions/memory, maybe cognitive
thalamus function)
Name: __________________________________________________

Hypothalamus Forms the inferior part of the Mammillary bodies, Relay reflexes related to sense of smell;
lateral walls and floor of the third Infundibulum (attaches to controls Autonomic Nervous Sys (heart rate,
(major
ventricle; “under the thalamus,” pituitary gland which digestive and bladder function); Produces
regulator of autonomic nervous sys center secretes GH, LH, and hormones (oxytocin and ADH) and controls
homeostasis) FSH) pituitary gland; with limbic system, regulates
feelings of rage, pain, and pleasure; regulates
hunger and thirst; controls body temperature;
establishes daily patterns of sleep

Brain – Reticular Gray matter in the larger portion Reticular Activating Regulates cyclical motor functions –
of the brain stem System (RAS) respiration, walking, and chewing;
formation
Brain Stem RAS maintains consciousness and awakening
from sleep

Damage to reticular formation - coma

Midbrain Extends from pons to diencephalon
(about 2.5 cm);
Pons (“bridge”) Superior to medulla and anterior to
the cerebellum (about 2.5 cm long)
Colliculi; Cerebral Colliculi = respond to visual stimuli (visual
peduncles; Cerebral reflexes) and auditory stimuli;
aqueduct pass through Cerebral peduncles = convey ascending and
connecting third ventricle descending impulses from cerebral cortex to
to fourth ventricle; pons, medulla, and spinal cord
Nuclei of origin for
cranial nerves III and IV
Nuclei of origin for Connects spinal cord and medulla to the
cranial nerves V, VI, VII, midbrain; also helps control breathing,
and VIII swallowing, balance, chewing, and salivation

Medulla Begins at the foramen magnum and
extends upward to pons (about 3
oblongata
cm long); inferiorly, it merges with
brain stem
Pyramids – involved in Regulates vital visceral activities, such as rate
conscious control of and force of heartbeat & diameter of blood
muscles; vessels (bp), breathing, swallowing, vomiting,
Nuclei of origin for coughing, sneezing, and hiccuping
cranial nerves VIII, IX,
X, XI, and XII

Brain – Cerebellum Posterior to medulla and pons; Cerebellar cortex (gray Provides precise timing for skeletal muscle
inferior to the posterior portion of matter), arbor vitae activity, controls balance and equilibrium, and
Cerebellum cerebrum (separated by transverse (white matter) regulates posture
fissure); shaped like a butterfly –
vermis is constricted area
Brain
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