Human Physiology Objectives
Unit 6: Central Nervous System

1. Describe the type of neurons and their organization in the gray matter and white matter of the CNS.

2. Identify the two important functions provided by the cerebrospinal fluid.

3. Describe the formation and circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid and the pathway by which it returns to the circulation.

4. Identify the regions of the brain in which the blood-brain barrier is absent.

5. Describe the need of the brain for glucose and the body’s mechanisms to meet that need.

6. Identify the important functions of the spinal cord.

7. Distinguish between the function of the white and grey matter of the spinal cord.

8. Identify the pathway by which sensory neurons enter the spinal cord and motor neurons leave.

9. Identify the location of the cell bodies of most sensory neurons.

10. Identify the location where sensory neurons synapse with somatic and autonomic sensory nuclei within the spinal cord.

11. Identify the location of the autonomic motor neuron cell bodies within the spinal cord.

12. Identify the location of the somatic motor neuron cell bodies within the spinal cord.

13. Identify the location of the ascending tracts of the spinal cord.

14. Identify the location of the descending tracts of the spinal cord.

15. Describe the mechanism by which CNS processing can occur in the spinal cord (spinal reflexes).

16. Identify the three types of nerves found among the cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

17. Identify the type of nerve and the function of the following cranial nerves: CN1 – olfactory nerve, CN2 – optic nerve, and CN8 – vestibulocochlear nerve.
18. Identify the type of nerve and the common function of the following cranial nerves: CN3 – occulomotor nerve, CN4 – trochlear nerve, and CN6 – abducens nerve.

19. Identify the additional function provided by the occulomotor nerve.

20. Identify the type of nerve and the common function of the following cranial nerves: CN11 – accessory nerve and CN12 – hypoglossal nerve.

21. Identify the type of nerve and the major functions of the following cranial nerves: CN5 – trigeminal nerve, CN7 – facial nerve, and CN9 – glossopharyngeal nerve.

22. Identify the type of nerve and important function associated with CN10 – the vagus nerve.

23. Identify the characteristic of most ascending and descending tracts passing through the medulla oblongata.

24. Identify the important physiologic reflexes controlled by the medulla oblongata.

25. Identify the functions of the pons.

26. Identify the primary function of the midbrain and one key function.

27. Identify the function of the red nuclei the midbrain.

28. Identify the function of the substantia nigra of the midbrain.

29. Identify the function of the superior and inferior colliculus of the corpora quadrigemina.

30. Describe the function of the cerebellum.

31. Describe the function of the hypothalamus.

32. Identify the function of the corpus callosum.

33. Describe the basal nuclei and identify their function.

34. Identify the primary function of the limbic system.

35. Describe the relationship between a sensory cortex (e.g. the visual cortex) and its corresponding association area.

36. Identify the senses processed by the somatosensory cortex..

37. Identify the function provided by the primary motor cortex and motor association area (premotor cortex).

38. Identify the two regions of the brain most involved in the control of internal function through the autonomic nervous system.

39. Identify the primary function of the reticular formation (reticular activating system).

40. Identify the