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The Nervous System, Notes

The document summarizes the structure and function of the nervous system. It describes the central nervous system as including the brain and spinal cord. The brain is divided into four major lobes - the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes - each of which has distinct functions. The spinal cord communicates with senses and muscles. It also describes the peripheral nervous system, including the autonomic and somatic systems. Finally, it briefly outlines genetics concepts including genes, DNA, inheritance, and heritability of traits.

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nadshink
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345 views

The Nervous System, Notes

The document summarizes the structure and function of the nervous system. It describes the central nervous system as including the brain and spinal cord. The brain is divided into four major lobes - the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes - each of which has distinct functions. The spinal cord communicates with senses and muscles. It also describes the peripheral nervous system, including the autonomic and somatic systems. Finally, it briefly outlines genetics concepts including genes, DNA, inheritance, and heritability of traits.

Uploaded by

nadshink
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The nervous system:

Central nervous system (CNS): control center of the nervous system


-includes the brain and the spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS): connects the CNS to the rest of the body.
-Somatic nervous system: consists of axons conveying messages from the
sense organs to CNS and from the CNS to the muscles.
-Autonomic nervous system: controls the heart, intestines, and other organs.
-Has some cell bodies within the brain or spinal cord or in clusters along the
sides of the spinal cord.
___________________________________________
The Central Nervous System: The Brain and Spinal cord

















The Occipital Lobe:
-Located at the posterior end of the cerebral cortex
-Also referred to as the striate cortex or the primary visual cortex
-Highly responsible for visual input
-Damage can result in cortical blindness

The Parietal Lobe:
-Contains the primary somatosensory cortex
-Primary target for touch sensations and information from muscle-stretch
receptors and joint receptors.
-Also responsible for processing and integrating information about eye, head, and body
positions from information sent from muscles and joints.

The Temporal Lobe
-Located on the lateral portion of each hemisphere near the temples.
-Target for auditory info and essential for processing spoken language.
-Also responsible for complex aspects of vision, including movement and some
emotional and motivational behaviors.
-Kluver-Bucy syndrome associated with temporal lobe damage.

The Frontal Lobe:
-Contains the prefrontal cortex and the precentral gyrus
-Precentral gyrus: also known as the primary motor cortex; responsible for the
control of fine motor movement.
-Prefrontal cortex: the integration center for all sensory information and other
areas of the cortex.
-Responsive for higher functions such as abstract thinking and planning.
-Responsible for our ability to remember recent events and information.
-People with damage to the prefrontal cortex exhibit delayed-response task: have to
respond to something they see or hear after a delay.









The Spinal Cord:
-Spinal Cord: part of the CNS found within the spinal column.
-Communicates with the sense organs and muscles, except those of the head.
-Bell-Magendie Law: Entering dorsal roots carry sensory info and exiting ventral
roots carry motor info.
-Cell bodies of the sensory neuros are located in clusters of neurons outside the
spinal cord, called the dorsal root ganglia.
-The spinal cord is comprised of:
-Grey matter: located in the center of the spinal cord and is densely packed with
cell bodies and dendrites.
-White matter: composed mostly of myelinated axons that carries information
from the gray matter to the brain or other areas of the spinal cord.
-Each segment sends sensory information to the brain and receives motor commands.

The Peripheral Nervous System:
-Autonomic Nervous System
-Controls involuntary muscles
-Two main divisions:
-Sympathetic
-Prepares the body for vigorous activity.
-Parasympathetic
-Calms the body after vigorous activity.
--Facilitates vegetative, non-emergency responses.
-Somatic Nervous System:
-Controls voluntary muscles
-Conveys sensory information to the central nervous system.

Genetics and Heritability:
-19th century monk Gregor Mendel developed what became known as Mendelian
Genetics
-Demonstrated that inheritance occurs through genes.
-Genes are aligned along chromosomes and come in pairs.
-A gene is a portion of a chromosome and is composed of deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA)
-DNA serves as a model for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA)
-RNA is a single strand chemical that can serve as a template/model for the
synthesis of proteins.
-Proteins determine the development of the body by:
-Forming part of the structure of the body.
-Serving as enzymes, biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions
in the body.
Two main types of chromosomal pairs:
-Homozygous: a person has an identical pair of genes on the 2
chromosomes.
-Heterozygous- a person has an unmatched pair of genes
On the two chromosomes.
Genes are either Dominant or Recessive:
-Dominant: shows a strong effect in either the homozygous
Or heterozygous.
-Recessive- shows it effect only in the homozygous condition.

Types of Genes:
-Autosomal genes: all other genes except for sex-linked
Genes.
-Sex-Linked genes: genes located on the sex chromosomes.
-During reproduction:
-Females contribute an X chromosome.
-Males contribute either an X or a Y chromosome
That determine the sex of the child.
-The human Y chromosome has genes for 27 proteins,
While the chromosome has genes for approximately 1500
proteins.
-The reason why sex-linked genes usually refer
to an X-linked gene.
-Sex-limited genes: genes that are present in both sexes but mainly have an
effect on one sex (Chest hair, breast size, etc.)

Heredity:
-Heritability refers to how much characteristics depend on genetic differences.
-Researchers have found evidence for heritability in almost every
Behavior they have tested.
Heritability of a certain trait is specific to a given population.
-Strong environmental influences may cause genetic influences to
Have less of an effect.

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