Nervous System Anatomy
Human Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Brain
Meninges
Dura Mater
Arachnoid
Pia Mater
Ventricles
Fluid filled cavities (cerebrospinal fluid)
Hindbrain
Medulla
Vital reflexes (breathing, coughing, heart rate)
Pons
Bridges axons from each half of brain to opposite side
Cerebellum
Regulates motor movement, balance, co-ordination and shifting attention
Forebrain
Thalamus
Relay station from sensory organs to cortex
Limbic System
Olfactory bulb
Hypothalamus
Motivated behaviours (hormone release via pituitary gland)
Hippocampus
Memory and learning
Amygdala
Evaluating emotional information
Cingulate Gyrus
Cerebrum
Frontal Lobe
PFC, precentral gyrus, primary motor cortex
Higher functioning thinking
Parietal Lobe
Primary somatosensory cortex
Touch sensations, info on body position & spatial info
Temporal Lobe
Auditory, language processing
Occipital Lobe
Primary visual cortex
Vision
Mid Brain
Tectum
Superior Colliculus
Visual processing
Inferior Colliculus
Auditory processing
Substantia Nigra
Pathway releasing dopamine
Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Somatic
Sensory nerves
Motor nerves
Autonomic
Sympathetic
Network of nerves that prepare organs for vigorous activity - fight or flight
Parasympathetic
System of nerves that facilitate vegetative, nonemergency responses by body's organs - rest and digest
Anatomical Directions
Anterior
Toward front
Posterior
Toward back
Medial
Toward midline
Lateral
Towards side (away from midline)
Dorsal
Toward the top
Ventral
Toward the stomach (bottom)