Chapter 3: STRUCTURE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Chapter Overview
Chapter 3 consists of three major sections on the structure of the nervous system. The first section provides details on general anatomical terms, as well as an overview of the nervous system. The blood supply of the nervous system is described as are the ventricular systems of the brain. The second major section outlines the structures that comprise the central nervous system, starting with the forebrain and ending with the spinal cord. The final section of chapter 3 describes the organization of the peripheral nervous system, including the spine and cranial nerves as well as the autonomic nervous system.
Learning Objectives
After completing the chapter, each student should be able to:
- Define and use the directional terms of neuroanatomy including
- Anterior vs. posterior (rostral vs. caudal)
- Dorsal vs. ventral
- Lateral vs. medial
- Contralateral vs. Ipsilateral
- Define and use the various sections or views of the brain including:
- Cross or frontal sections
- Horizontal sections
- Sagittal sections
- Differentiate the central nervous system from the peripheral nervous system.
- Describe the flow of blood within brain.
- Name and describe the three layers of meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
- Describe the progression of CSF within the brain ventricles (lateral to 4th)
- Define obstructive hydrocephalus.
- Name the major divisions of brain including:
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
- Mesencephalon
- Metencephalon
- Myelencephalon
- Identify the major structures comprising the forebrain including:
- Cerebral cortex
- Sulci, fissures, and gyri
- Divisions of cerebral cortex
- Primary visual
- Primary auditory
- Sensory association cortex
- Motor association cortex
- Prefrontal cortex
- Corpus callosum
- Limbic cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus
- Identify the major structures of the diencephalon including
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Identify the major structures of the mesencephalon including:
- Tectum (colliculi)
- Tegmentum (reticular formation, PAG, red nucleus, SN)
- Name the divisions that comprise the hindbrain.
- Identify the major structures that comprise the myelencephalon:
- Medulla oblongata
- Spinal cord
- Differentiate between afferent and efferent nerves.
- Name the 12 cranial nerves.
- Name the divisions of the ANS.
- Differentiate between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.