Introduction to the nervous system
and brain
Week Week 3
Traffic Light System Intermediate
Lecturer Dr Ian Jenkins Deputy Director of Anatomy
Learning Objectives
To be able to describe the organisation of the nervous system
To be able to list the 12 cranial nerves
Describe the anatomy of a spinal nerve (origin from dorsal/ventral spinal roots, motor and
cutaneous branches and any autonomic component).
To be able to describe the basic structure and distribution of spinal nerve
To be able to define and locate; Dorsal root, ventral root, plexus, dermatome
Define a nerve plexus
Introduction to the nervous system and brain 1
, To understand the structure of the autonomic system and its divisions
To be able to identify the major actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation
on major viscera
To be able to identify the different regions of the brain
To be able to identify the different cerebral lobes
To be able to identify the major functional areas of the cerebral cortex
To be able to identify the arterial supply to the brain
Nervous System
Central Nervous System → set of learning, intelligence & emotion
Basic Functions:
Take information from external & internal environment
Compares & contrasts the sensory information
Motor Response
Store of sensory information
Peripheral Nervous system → includes 12 pairs of cranial nerves & 31 pairs of spinal nerves
Basic Functions:
Takes information to CNS from peripheral system
Introduction to the nervous system and brain 2