Chapter 14
The Central Nervous System

(revised 9/30/2009)

 

  1. Know the names of the major parts of the brain.
  2. Be prepared to label the parts of the brain (for the Brain Lab Exam). 
  3. Know the regions of the embryonic primary and secondary vesicles.  Know which of regions of the primary vesicle give rise to which regions of the secondary vesicle and what structures of the adult CNS they become.
  4. Know the function of the meninges and know their layers in order.
  5. Know what the terms epidural, subdural and subarachnoid mean.
  6. Know the entire section on meningitis.
  7. Know the functions of CSF.
  8. Know the function and location of the brain ventricles.  Know the path that CSF flows through the ventricles.
  9. Know the role of ependymal cells, choroids plexus and arachnoid villi.
  10. Know what the blood-brain barrier is.
  11. Know approximately how many minutes the brain can go without oxygen and glucose before irreversible brain damage occurs.
  12. Know the location of the medulla oblongata and know the functional centers that are located in the medulla (see the “functional areas” table). By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.  Know which cranial nerves are found on the medulla.  KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY PRONOUNCE MEDULLA OBLONGATA. J
  13. Know the location of the pons and know the functional centers that are located in the pons (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.  Know which cranial nerves are associated with the pons.
  14. Know the location of the cerebellum and know the structural features and primary functions (see the “functional areas” table) of the cerebellum.  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.  Know the effects of alcohol on the cerebellum.
  15. Know the location of the midbrain in reference to the other parts of the CNS.  Know which cranial nerves originate in the midbrain.  Know the function (see the “functional areas” table) of the midbrain and substantia nigra and how it relates to Parkinson’s disease.
  16. Know the location of the reticular activating system and know its functions.  (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.
  17. Know the locations and functions of the thalamus, hypothalamus and epithalamus.  (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.
  18. Know what the cerebral cortex is.
  19. Know where the lobes are in relation to each other.
  20. Know the locations of the following functional cortex areas: primary somatosensory cortex, primary motor cortex, primary visual cortex and primary auditory cortex.  Understand what the function of each area is and know what the effects would be if there was a lesion on any of these areas.
  21. Know the effects of a lesion to the somatosensory association cortex, the visual association cortex and the auditory association cortex.
  22. Know the 3 types of white matter fiber tracts.  Understand the differences between them.  Kow what the corpus callosum is.
  23. Know the general function of the basal nuclei. (see the “functional areas” table).
  24. Know the general function of the limbic system. (see the “functional areas” table).
  25. Know what an EEG is and understand what brain waves measure.  Know the 4 types of brain waves and understand the types of activities that produce each type.
  26. Know what a coma is.
  27. Understand the stages of sleep and know the characteristics of each stage.
  28. Know what the term cognition means.
  29. Know what anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia mean.
  30. Know the primary function of the Hippocampus. (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.
  31. Know the primary function of the Amygdala.  (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.
  32. Understand the relationship between the prefrontal cortex and emotion.  Know what happens when the prefrontal cortex is artificially stimulated.
  33. Know what the special senses are.
  34. Know the language centers of the cortex.  Understand the different ways that language is controlled by the brain.  Know the different roles of Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area in speech production.  (see the “functional areas” table).  By knowing the functions you should be able to answer questions about lesions (damage) to this area.
  35. Know what “aphasia” means and understand the different types of aphasia. 
  36. Understand cerebral lateralization.
  37. Know all 12 cranial nerves in order.  Know the locations that each cranial nerve originates.  Know the functions of each cranial nerve and know whether the functions of each cranial nerve is sensory, motor or both.  Know what the effect would be if there was damage to one or both cranial nerves.
  38. Know what trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) is and know how it is treated.
  39. Know what Bell’s Palsy is.
  40. Understand how PET scans are used to determine which regions of the brain are active during various tasks.