Biology 3593B Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Choroid Plexus, Cerebral Cortex, Pituitary Gland
Neuroscience
Nervous system genes:
• ~8000 genes are expressed in al cells and tissues
• ~6000 / 8000 are expressed in the nervous system ONLY
Brain Structures:
• Cerebellum: balance, voluntary movement co-ordination, muscle tone
• Brainstem:
- Pons: connects both hemispheres of the cerebellum together
- Medulla: controls involuntary muscle contraction such as breathing, digestion,
heartbeat
• Corpus Callosum: connects the two cerebral hemispheres together
• Cerebral Cortex: the outer neuronal layer of the brain, involved in memory, sensory
perception, thinking, learning, voluntary movement
• Thalamus: sensory information relays between the thalamus and cerebral cortex
• Hypothalamus: involved in homeostatic regulation of somatic and visceral functions
such as body temperature, fluid balance
• Pituitary Gland: secretion of endocrine products
• Choroid plexus: secretion of cerebrospinal fluid
White Matter:
• Mainly water
• Higher lipid content due to containing bundles of neuronal axons, which are
myelinated
Grey Matter:
• Mainly water
• Low lipid content due to containing mainly the neuronal cell bodies, unmyelinated
axons and dendrites
Both grey and white matter have similar levels of protein
Document Summary
Nervous system genes: ~8000 genes are expressed in al cells and tissues, ~6000 / 8000 are expressed in the nervous system only. Brain structures: cerebellum: balance, voluntary movement co-ordination, muscle tone, brainstem: Pons: connects both hemispheres of the cerebellum together. White matter: mainly water, higher lipid content due to containing bundles of neuronal axons, which are myelinated. Grey matter: mainly water, low lipid content due to containing mainly the neuronal cell bodies, unmyelinated axons and dendrites. Both grey and white matter have similar levels of protein. General order of a reflex arc: stimulus, sensory receptor, sensory neurone, spinal cord, inter-neurone and motor neurone, motor neurone, effector muscle. The inter-neurone plays an inhibitory role, as it transmits the signal to a motor neurone, that will synapse with the flexor effector muscle. This activity prevents the flexor muscle contraction, therefore prevent joint flexion. The motor neurone synapse directly with the extensor effector muscle.
