Anatomy & Physiology II 102: Chapter 2 Question Set

Question 1 The Brain 1. List the four parts of the human brain. The human brain is made up of the cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum. 2. Describe the number, location and function of the brain ventricles. There are four ventricles in the interior of the brain, chambers filled with cerebrospinal fluid which is produced there. 3. Label the ventricles. See figure in module. 4. Describe the brain meninges and the layers. The meninges are three layers of connective tissue membranes that cover and protect central nervous system organs and enclose cerebrospinal fluid. The leathery dura mater is the double-layered outer meninx. The middle arachnoid meninx is a loose layer separated from the dura mater by the subdural space. Beneath the arachnoid meninx is the subarachnoid space which contains blood vessels and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The inner pia mater meninx is a thin connective tissue tightly attached to the brain. 5. What is the function of the choroid plexus? The choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid. 6. What is the blood-brain barrier and how is it maintained? The blood-brain barrier is a diffusion barrier which prevents most particles from entering the central nervous system tissue, keeping the brain and spinal cord separate from general blood circulation. The blood-brain barrier is formed by the relatively impermeable brain capillaries, due to the glial cells astrocytes. Maintenance of the blood-brain-barrier is important to provide a stable chemical environment for the nervous system. A stable internal environment is important to protect neurons from chemical variations which could cause uncontrollable firing of neurons. 7. Describe the cerebrum. The cerebrum, the foremost part of the brain, is the largest part of the brain in humans comprising about 83% of total brain mass 8. What is the median longitudinal fissure? It separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres from one another. 9. Raised ridges on the cerebrum are called____. Gyri 10. The _______ separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum. The transverse fissure Question 2 The Brain 11. The outer portion of the cerebral hemispheres is called the ______and is highly convoluted and gray in color. Cerebral cortex 12. Describe the functions of the lobes of the cerebrum. The frontal lobe controls higher level executive functions such as reasoning and decision making. The frontal lobe also controls motor functions and permits control over voluntary muscle actions. The parietal lobe receives sensory information from receptors in the mouth for taste and located in the skin, such as those for touch, pressure, and pain. The occipital lobe interprets visual input. The temporal lobe has sensory areas for hearing and smelling. Question 8 Nervous System Injury and Disease 72. List and describe brain damage that would occur from a slight head injury. A slight injury of this type is called a concussion since the symptoms are mild and transient including dizziness or brief loss of consciousness. 73. What is intracranial pressure? Intracranial pressure is the amount of pressure available inside the skull. 74. What is the difference between apraxia and ataxia? Apraxia, or impaired motor planning resulting in rigid movements and difficulty executing a motor plan. Ataxia is impaired motor coordination, resulting from an injury to the cerebellum. 75. What are the two types of strokes? Ischemic and hemorrhagic 76. True or False: Alzheimer’s patients have fully functioning brain tissue. For example, CT scans demonstrate no difference between an Alzheimer’s brain and a healthy brain. False 77. What is quadriplegia? Paralysis of all four limbs 78. Compression of the ______ nerve results in carpal tunnel syndrome. Median Nerve 79. Compression of the ______ nerve results in the ulnar claw sign. Ulnar 80. Sciatica results from compression of what nerve? Sciatica