13.7 Structure And Function Of The Brain Flashcards
What is the function of the CEREBRUM?
Controls VOLUNTARY actions
E.g. Learning, memory, personality, and conscious thought
What is the function of the CEREBELLUM?
Controls UNCONSCIOUS functions
E.g. posture, balance and non-voluntary movements
What is the function of the MEDULLA OBLONGATA?
Used in AUTONOMIC control
E.g. Controls heart rate and breathing rate
What is the function of the HYPOTHALAMUS?
Regulatory centre for water balance and temperature
What is the function of the PITUITARY GLAND?
Stores and releases horomones that regulate many bodily functions
What are the separate structures and functions WITHIN the cerebrum? What is it split into?
CEREBRUM —> CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES —> CEREBRAL CORTEX —>
• FRONTAL and PRE-FRONTAL LOBE (sophisticated processes e.g. reasoning and decision-making)
—> Contains PRIMARY MOTOR CORTEX (main region which controls movement)
• OCCIPITAL LOBE
—> Contains VISUAL AREA
- PARIETAL LOBE
- TEMPORAL LOBE
What is the structure of the pituitary gland?
Anterior pituitary
Produces SIX hormones for growth and reproduction
E.g. FSH
Posterior pituitary gland
Stores and releases hormones produced by hypothalamus
E.g. ADH
What are notable things about the cerebrum?
HUGHLY CONVULTED —> increases surface area —> increases capacity for complex activity
Each cerebral hemisphere controls one half of the body
CEREBRAL CORTEX is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres
2-4mm thick
Impulses from each side of the body CROSS at the base of the brain —> helps brain judge distance and perspective
E.g. For eyes
- Size of sensory area allocated is in proportion to the relative number of receptor cells present in the body part
- Size or motor area allocated is in proportion to the relative number of motor endings in it
What happens if the cerebrum gets damaged?
Loss of reasoning and decision-making skills —> change in personality / more prone to aggression
Loss of sensation
Inability to judge distance and perspective
Inability to move certain parts of the body
May not be able to receive impulses from one half of the body / cerebral hemispheres may not be able to communicate
What happens if the cerebellum becomes damaged?
Person suffers from jerky and uncoordinated movement
Loss of balance
What happens if the medulla oblongata is damaged?
Lack of control of reflex activities
Inability to control perilstalsis, swallowing and coughing
Heart rate cannot slow down / speed up appropriately E.g. For the fight-or-flight response
Inability to control breathing rate appropriately
What is perilstalsis?
Involuntary movement of the longitudinal and circular muscles, mainly in the digestive tract
What happens if the hypothalamus is damaged?
Increase in agression levels
Abnormal sleep patterns / feeding patterns
Inability to monitor composition of blood plasma —> too little / too much urine produced
Certain hormones may be produced excessively / not enough —> other bodily functions requiring hormones impacted
E.g. dopamine
What happens if the pituitary gland is damaged?
Uncontrolled production of growth and reproduction hormones —> too much / too little growth AND menstruation patterns affected
Urine production affected
E.g. too much / not enough
What are specific examples of what the hypothalamus controls?
Controls complex patterns of behaviour
E.g. feeding, sleeping, and aggression
Monitors composition of blood plasma (and therefore has a very RICH BLOOD SUPPLY)
E.g. concentration of water and blood glucose
Produces hormones
