N5315 Advanced Pathophysiology
Neurologic System
Core Knowledge Objectives with Advanced Organizers
Examine the anatomy and physiology of the Central Nervous System.
CNS: central nervous system; consists of the brain and spinal cord, enclosed within the protective
cranial vault & vertebrae
PNS: peripheral nervous system; composed of cranial nerves which project from brain and pass
through foramina (openings in skull), and spinal nerves which project from spinal cord and pass
through intervertebral foramina of the vertebrae. Peripheral nerve pathways are differentiated into
afferent pathways (ascending pathways) that carry impulses toward the CNS and efferent
pathways (descending pathways) that innervate effector organs such as skeletal/cardiac/smooth
muscles, also glands by transmitting motor impulses away from CNS. If organs are innervated by
specific components of nervous system, they are called effector organs. PNS can be divided into
somatic nervous system (consists of motor & sensory pathways regulating voluntary motor
control of skeletal muscle) and autonomic nervous system (ANS; consists of motor & sensory
components and is involved w/ regulation of the body’s viscera through involuntary control of
organ systems. ANS is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic. *Some ANS
aspects can be controlled through mental practice w/ or without biofeedback techniques.
1. Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the brain and brain stem.
Brain allows individuals to function intellectually, express personality and mood, and interact
w/ environment. Pink-gray organ that weighs approx. 3 lbs and has consistency of
tofu/custard. 15-20% total cardiac output. There are 3 major divisions of the brain:
1.forebrain formed by two cerebral hemispheres 2.midbrain which includes the corpora,
quadrigemina, tegmentum, and cerebral peduncles and 3.hindbrain includes cerebellum,
pons, and medulla.
Brain stem made up of: midbrain, medulla oblongata, and pons. Brainstem connects the
hemispheres of the brain, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Nuclei w/in brainstem collectively
constitute reticular formation (large network of connected tissue nuclei that regulate vital
reflexes, such as cardiovascular function and respiration. Essential also for maintaining
wakefulness and in conjunction w/ cerebral cortex is called reticular activating system (some
nuclei w/in reticular formation involved w/ motor movements).
a. Explain the function of the twelve cranial nerves
Cranial nerves are mostly modified spinal nerves w/ specialized tasks
Cranial Nerve Function Sign of Dysfunction
I Olfactory Olfactory; purely Loss of sense of smell
sensory; carries
impulses for sense of
smell
,II Optic Purely sensory; Decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity;
carries impulses for impaired color vision, and an afferent pupillary
vision. defect (blindness)
III Oculomotor Contains motor Drooping of eyelid, eyeball moves outward,
fibers to inferior and dilation of pupil, double vision.
medial rectus
extraocular muscles
that that direct
eyeball; levator
muscles of eyelid;
smooth muscles of
iris and ciliary body
and proprioception
(sensory) to brain
from extraocular
muscles
IV Trochlear Proprioreceptor and Rotation of eyeball upward and outward;
motor fibers for double vision
superior oblique
muscle of the eye
(extraocular muscle)
V Trigeminal Both motor and Sensory: Pain or loss of sensation in the face,
sensory for face; forehead, temple and eyes.
conducts sensory
Motor: affects the jaw, trouble chewing.
impulses from
mouth, nose, surface
of eye and dura
mater; also contains
motor fibers that
stimulate chewing
muscles
VI Abducens Contains motor Deviation of eyes outward, double vision
fibers to lateral
rectus muscle and
proprioreceptor
fibers from same
muscle to the brain
VII Facial MIXED; supplies Paralysis of all muscles on one side of the face,
motor fibers to inability to wrinkle the forehead, close the eye,
muscles of facial whistle, deviation of the mouth. Bell’s Palsy.
, expression and to
lacrimal and salivary
glands; carries
sensory fibers from
taste buds of anterior
part of tongue
VIII Purely sensory; Deafness or ringing in the ears, dizziness,
Vestibulocochlear vestibular branch nausea and vomiting
(acoustic) transmits impulses
for sense of
equilibrium;
cochlear branch
transmits impulses
for sense of hearing
IX MIXED: motor Difficulty in swallowing and disturbance of
Glossopharyngeal fibers serve pharynx taste
(throat) and salivary
glands; sensory
fibers carry impulses
from the pharynx
posterior tongue
(tastebuds) and
pressure receptors of
carotid artery
X Vagus Fibers carry sensory Hoarseness and difficulty swallowing and
and motor impulses talking, this nerve also regulates the stomach
for pharynx; a large (peristalsis), thus damage to it can can
part of this nerve is decreased digestion, nausea/vomiting, and
parasympathetic bloating.
motor fibers which
supply smooth
muscles of abd.
Organs; receives
sensory impulses
from viscera
XI Spinal Provides sensory Drooping of shoulder; inability to rotate head
Accessory and motor fibers for away from affected area
sternocleidomastoid
and trapezius
muscles and muscles
of the soft palate,
, pharynx, and larynx
XII Hypoglossal Carries motor fibers Paralysis of one side of the tongue; deviation of
to muscles of tongue tongue toward paralyzed side, thick speech.
and sensory
impulses from
tongue to brain.
b. Explain the function of the cerebrum, cerebellum, parietal lobe, frontal lobe,
occipital lobe, temporal lobe, brain stem, reticular formation reticular activating
system, and limbic system.
Lobe Location Function Sign of Injury/Lesion /
Disorder
Cerebrum Brain; two hemispheres. Each area has specific Depends on location; major
Consists of the function. Frontal lobe, divisions of brain are
telencephalon (forebrain) temporal lobe, parietal… associated w/ specific
includes cerebral cortex etc functions. Many activities are
and basal ganglia. performed in several regions of
Cerebral cortex= contains
the brain, so more than one
cellbodies and dendrites of
lobe can have similar
neurons (gray matter)
functions.
which receive integrate
store and transmit info and
white matter is below
cerebral cortex (send
neuron messages
throughout the nervous
system and body)
Frontal Anterior portion of brain Responsible for goal- Damage to this area can result
(front of skull) to the oriented behavior ability to from cerebrovascular accident
Pg.456
central sulcus of the brain concentrate, short-long (stroke). Results in the
Neurologic System
Core Knowledge Objectives with Advanced Organizers
Examine the anatomy and physiology of the Central Nervous System.
CNS: central nervous system; consists of the brain and spinal cord, enclosed within the protective
cranial vault & vertebrae
PNS: peripheral nervous system; composed of cranial nerves which project from brain and pass
through foramina (openings in skull), and spinal nerves which project from spinal cord and pass
through intervertebral foramina of the vertebrae. Peripheral nerve pathways are differentiated into
afferent pathways (ascending pathways) that carry impulses toward the CNS and efferent
pathways (descending pathways) that innervate effector organs such as skeletal/cardiac/smooth
muscles, also glands by transmitting motor impulses away from CNS. If organs are innervated by
specific components of nervous system, they are called effector organs. PNS can be divided into
somatic nervous system (consists of motor & sensory pathways regulating voluntary motor
control of skeletal muscle) and autonomic nervous system (ANS; consists of motor & sensory
components and is involved w/ regulation of the body’s viscera through involuntary control of
organ systems. ANS is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic. *Some ANS
aspects can be controlled through mental practice w/ or without biofeedback techniques.
1. Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the brain and brain stem.
Brain allows individuals to function intellectually, express personality and mood, and interact
w/ environment. Pink-gray organ that weighs approx. 3 lbs and has consistency of
tofu/custard. 15-20% total cardiac output. There are 3 major divisions of the brain:
1.forebrain formed by two cerebral hemispheres 2.midbrain which includes the corpora,
quadrigemina, tegmentum, and cerebral peduncles and 3.hindbrain includes cerebellum,
pons, and medulla.
Brain stem made up of: midbrain, medulla oblongata, and pons. Brainstem connects the
hemispheres of the brain, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Nuclei w/in brainstem collectively
constitute reticular formation (large network of connected tissue nuclei that regulate vital
reflexes, such as cardiovascular function and respiration. Essential also for maintaining
wakefulness and in conjunction w/ cerebral cortex is called reticular activating system (some
nuclei w/in reticular formation involved w/ motor movements).
a. Explain the function of the twelve cranial nerves
Cranial nerves are mostly modified spinal nerves w/ specialized tasks
Cranial Nerve Function Sign of Dysfunction
I Olfactory Olfactory; purely Loss of sense of smell
sensory; carries
impulses for sense of
smell
,II Optic Purely sensory; Decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity;
carries impulses for impaired color vision, and an afferent pupillary
vision. defect (blindness)
III Oculomotor Contains motor Drooping of eyelid, eyeball moves outward,
fibers to inferior and dilation of pupil, double vision.
medial rectus
extraocular muscles
that that direct
eyeball; levator
muscles of eyelid;
smooth muscles of
iris and ciliary body
and proprioception
(sensory) to brain
from extraocular
muscles
IV Trochlear Proprioreceptor and Rotation of eyeball upward and outward;
motor fibers for double vision
superior oblique
muscle of the eye
(extraocular muscle)
V Trigeminal Both motor and Sensory: Pain or loss of sensation in the face,
sensory for face; forehead, temple and eyes.
conducts sensory
Motor: affects the jaw, trouble chewing.
impulses from
mouth, nose, surface
of eye and dura
mater; also contains
motor fibers that
stimulate chewing
muscles
VI Abducens Contains motor Deviation of eyes outward, double vision
fibers to lateral
rectus muscle and
proprioreceptor
fibers from same
muscle to the brain
VII Facial MIXED; supplies Paralysis of all muscles on one side of the face,
motor fibers to inability to wrinkle the forehead, close the eye,
muscles of facial whistle, deviation of the mouth. Bell’s Palsy.
, expression and to
lacrimal and salivary
glands; carries
sensory fibers from
taste buds of anterior
part of tongue
VIII Purely sensory; Deafness or ringing in the ears, dizziness,
Vestibulocochlear vestibular branch nausea and vomiting
(acoustic) transmits impulses
for sense of
equilibrium;
cochlear branch
transmits impulses
for sense of hearing
IX MIXED: motor Difficulty in swallowing and disturbance of
Glossopharyngeal fibers serve pharynx taste
(throat) and salivary
glands; sensory
fibers carry impulses
from the pharynx
posterior tongue
(tastebuds) and
pressure receptors of
carotid artery
X Vagus Fibers carry sensory Hoarseness and difficulty swallowing and
and motor impulses talking, this nerve also regulates the stomach
for pharynx; a large (peristalsis), thus damage to it can can
part of this nerve is decreased digestion, nausea/vomiting, and
parasympathetic bloating.
motor fibers which
supply smooth
muscles of abd.
Organs; receives
sensory impulses
from viscera
XI Spinal Provides sensory Drooping of shoulder; inability to rotate head
Accessory and motor fibers for away from affected area
sternocleidomastoid
and trapezius
muscles and muscles
of the soft palate,
, pharynx, and larynx
XII Hypoglossal Carries motor fibers Paralysis of one side of the tongue; deviation of
to muscles of tongue tongue toward paralyzed side, thick speech.
and sensory
impulses from
tongue to brain.
b. Explain the function of the cerebrum, cerebellum, parietal lobe, frontal lobe,
occipital lobe, temporal lobe, brain stem, reticular formation reticular activating
system, and limbic system.
Lobe Location Function Sign of Injury/Lesion /
Disorder
Cerebrum Brain; two hemispheres. Each area has specific Depends on location; major
Consists of the function. Frontal lobe, divisions of brain are
telencephalon (forebrain) temporal lobe, parietal… associated w/ specific
includes cerebral cortex etc functions. Many activities are
and basal ganglia. performed in several regions of
Cerebral cortex= contains
the brain, so more than one
cellbodies and dendrites of
lobe can have similar
neurons (gray matter)
functions.
which receive integrate
store and transmit info and
white matter is below
cerebral cortex (send
neuron messages
throughout the nervous
system and body)
Frontal Anterior portion of brain Responsible for goal- Damage to this area can result
(front of skull) to the oriented behavior ability to from cerebrovascular accident
Pg.456
central sulcus of the brain concentrate, short-long (stroke). Results in the
