The Central Nervous System

Fourth Edition
ISBN13: 9780195381153ISBN10: 0195381157 Hardcover, 608 pages
Mar 2010,  In Stock

Retail Price to Students:

$79.95 (05)
608 pages; 387; 8-1/2 x 11; ISBN13: 978-0-19-538115-3ISBN10: 0-19-538115-7
A textbook of neuroscience for undergraduate medical students providing a concise yet critical treatment of structure - function relationships as a basis for clinical thinking. It aims at conveying an understanding of how the nervous system performs it tasks by using data from molecular biology to clinical neurology.

Table of Contents

xi Introduction

A Bird's Eye View of the Nervous System

Studying the Structures and Function of the Nervous System

Animal Experiments Crucial for Progress

Ethics and Animal Experiments

Sources of Error in All Methods

Revising Scientific Truths from Time to Time

PART I. MAIN FEATURES OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

1. Structure of the Neuron and Organization of Nervous Tissue

An Overview

Neurons and Their Processes

Coupling of Neurons: Pathways for Signals

The Cytoskeleton and Axonal Transport

2. Glia

An Overview

Kinds of Glial Cell

Glial Cells and Homeostasis

Insulation and Protection of Axons

Microglia and Reactions of the CNS to Injury

3. Neuronal Excitability

An Overview

Basis of Excitability

The Action Potential

Impulse Propagation

How Nerve Cells Can Vary Their Messages

4. Synaptic Function

An Overview

Neurotransmitter Handling at the Synapse

Synaptic Potentials and Kinds of Synapse

Synaptic Plasticity

5. Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors

An Overview

General Aspects

Specific Neurotransmitters

Actions of Drugs in the Nervous System

6. Parts of the Nervous System

An Overview

The Spinal Cord

The Brain Stem

The Cerebrum

The Cerebellum

7. The Coverings of the Brain and the Ventricular System

An Overview

The Meninges

The Cerebral Ventricles in the Cerebrospinal Fluid

8. The Blood Supply of the Central Nervous System

An Overview

Cerebral Microregulation

Arterial System

Venous System

PART II: DEVELOPMENT, AGING, AND PLASTICITY

9. Prenatal and Postnatal Development

An Overview

Prenatal Development

Mechanisms for Establishment of Specific Connections

The Role Played by the Environment in Development of the Nervous System

10. The Nervous System and Aging

An Overview

Age-related Changes in the Normal Brain and Their Consequences

Neurodegenerative Diseases and Dementia

11. Restitution of Function after Brain Damage

An Overview

Brain Injuries and Possible Reparative Processes

Brain Processes Underlying Recovery of Function

Restitution after Damage in Early Childhood

PART III: SENSORY SYSTEMS

12. Sensory Receptors in General

An Overview

Sensory Units and Their Receptive Fields

Transduction: The Translation of Stimuli to Action Potentials

Properties and Classification of Receptors

Receptors and Subjective Sensory Experience

13. Peripheral Parts of the Somatosensory System

An Overview

Exteroceptors: Cutaneous Sensation

Proprioceptors: Deep Sensation

The Sensory Fibers and the Dorsal Roots

14. Central Parts of the Somatosensory System

An Overview

Central Somatosensory Pathways

The Somatosensory Cortical Regions

15. Pain

An Overview

Some Distinctive Features of Pain

When the Pain System gets Out of Control

Central Control of Transmission from Nociceptors and Pain Sensation

Placebo and Nocebo

Modern Views on Pain and Pain Treatment

16. The Visual System

An Overview

The Eyeball and the Refracting Media

The Retina

Organization of the Visual Pathways

The Visual Cortex and the Final Processing of Visual Information

17. The Auditory System

An Overview

The Cochlea

The Auditory Pathways

The Auditory Cortex

18. The Sense of Equilibrium

An Overview

Structure and Function of the Vestibular Apparatus

Connections of the Vestibular Nuclei

Vestibular Reflexes: Control of Eye Movements and Bodily Posture

Cortical Processing of Vestibular Signals

19. Olfaction and Taste

An Overview

The Olfactory System

Gustatory System (The Sense of Taste)

PART IV: MOTOR SYSTEMS

20. Motor Systems and Movements in General

An Overview

Motor and Other Systems are Mutually Dependent

Classification of Movements

21. The Peripheral Motor Neurons and Reflexes

An Overview

Motoneurons and Muscles

Muscle Tone

Injury of Peripheral Motor Neurons and Regeneration

22. The Motor Cortical Areas and Descending Pathways

An Overview

The Pyramidal Tract (The Corticospinal Tract)

Indirect Corticospinal Pathways

Control of Automatic Movements

Motor Cortical Areas and Control of Voluntary Movements

Symptoms Caused by Interruption of Central Motor Pathways (Upper Motor Neurons)

23. The Basal Ganglia

An Overview

Structure and Connections of the Basal Ganglia

The Ventral Striatum

Functions of the Basal Ganglia

Diseases of the Basal Ganglia

24. The Cerebellum

An Overview

Subdivisions and Afferent Connections of the Cerebellum

The Cerebellar Cortex and the Mossy and Climbing Fibers

Efferent Connections of the Cerebellum

Cerebellar Functions and Symptoms of the Disease

25. Control of Eye Movements

An Overview

Movements of the Eyes and the Eye Muscles

Brain Stem and Cerebellar Control of Eye Movements

Cortical Control of Eye Movements

PART V: THE BRAIN STEM AND THE CRANIAL NERVES

26. The Reticular Formation: Premotor Networks, Consciousness, and Sleep

An Overview

Structure and Connections of the Reticular Formation

Function of the Reticular Formation

Consciousness

Sleep

27. The Cranial Nerves

An Overview

General Organization of the Cranial Nerves

The Hypoglossal Nerve

The Accessory Nerve

The Vagus Nerve

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve

The Vestibulocochlear Nerve

The Facial and Intermediate Nerves

The Trigeminal Nerve

The Abducens, Trochlear and Oculomotor Nerves

PART VI: THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

28. Visceral Efferent Neurons: The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions

An Overview

General Organization

Peripheral Parts of the Sympathetic System

Peripheral Parts of the Parasympathetic System

The Enteric Nervous System

Functional Aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System

Neurotransmitters in the Autonomic Nervous System

29. Sensory Visceral Neurons and Visceral Reflexes

An Overview

Visceral Receptors and Afferent Pathways

Visceral Reflexes

Visceral Pain

30. The Central Autonomic System: The Hypothalamus

An Overview

Centers in the Brain Stem for Coordination of Behavior

Structure and Connections of the Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus and the Endocrine System

Functional Aspects

The Hypothalamus and the Immune System

The Hypothalamus and Mental Functions

PART VII: LIMBIC STRUCTURES

31. The Amygdala, the Basal Forebrain, and Emotions

An Overview

What is the "Limbic System?"

The Amygdala

Some Aspects of Cortical Control of Autonomic Functions and Emotions

Neuronal Groups in the Basal Parts of the Hemispheres: The Basal Forebrain

32. The Hippocampal Formation: Learning and Memory

An Overview

The Hippocampal Formation

Functional Aspects

PART VIII: THE CEREBRAL CORTEX

33. The Cerebral Cortex: Intrinsic Organization and Connections

An Overview

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex

Connections of the Cerebral Cortex

34. Functions of the Neocortex

An Overview

Association Areas

Language Functions and "Speech Areas" of the Cerebral Cortex

The Division of Tasks between the Hemispheres

Sex Differences and the Cerebral Cortex


Index