BIOL 243 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Spinal Cord, Central Nervous System, Acetylcholine
7 Nov 2016
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Functions of the nervous system: communication and coordination. Adapt and respond to changes from both inside and outside the body: site of reasoning-your brain, 2 main divisions. Central nervous system (cns)- brain and spinal cord. Neuron= basic structural unit of the nervous system. Axon= carries impulse away from the cell. Nerve are made of many nerve cells. Afferent= sensory nerves carry message to brain. Efferent= motor neurons carrying message from brain to muscle. Cerebrum= largest part of the brain; responsible for reasoning, thought, memory, speech, sensation etc. Further divides into lobes: occipital, parietal, temporal, frontal. Brain stem= most basic functions- respiration, swallowing, blood pressure. Lower part (medulla oblongata) is continuous with spinal cord. Spinal cord= begins at foramen magnum and ends at second lumbar vertebrae. Both brain and spinal cord are covered by membrane system called the meninges. Brain has 4 hollow areas called ventricles: cerebrospinal fluid (csf) is produced in ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column.
