2.3 Brain Flashcards
Medulla
Forms marrow or core of brainstem. Lies closest to spinal cord. Controls vital processes like heart rate and breathing, reflexes such as swallowing, coughing and sneezing.
Pons
Above the medulla, helps regulate sleep and wakefulness. In the hindbrain. Transfers info from spinal chord and hindbrain through midbrain and into forebrain.
Brainstem
The stalk in the lower part of the brain. That connects the spinal chord to higher regions of the brain.
Cerebellum
Balance and coordination. Located behind pons. Damage to this can inhibit voluntary movements.
Midbrain
Above the hindbrain and below forebrain. Contains reticular formation.
Reticular formation
Weblike formation of neurons form the hindbrain to the thalamus in the forebrain. Regulates attention, alertness and arousal. It screens audio and visual information, processes the important information to a higher point in the brain, even when asleep.
Forebrain
Top and largest part of the brain. Contains thalamus, hypothalamus , limbic system and cerebral cortex.
Thalamus
Relay station. Egg shaped. Route sensory information touch, vision, hearing and taste not smell to cerebral cortex. Sends info to correct parts of cortex. Important role in sleep and wakefulness. Receives input form basal ganglia.
Basal ganglia
Assemblage of neurons lying in the forebrain that is important in controlling movement and coordination.
Hypothalamus
Beneath the thalamus “hypo” pea sized weighs 4 grams. Regulates hunger, thirst, daily sleeps cycles, body tempt, stress response, reproductive process, emotional states, aggressive behavior. Part of endocrine system, triggers release of hormones in body.
Limbic system
Interconnected structures include amygdala, hippocampus, parts of thalamus and hypothalamus and nearby structures. Important in memory and emotional process.
Amygdala
Two almond shaped structures. In limbic system. Triggers fear.
Hippocampus
Resembles seahorse. Behind the amygdala. It plays a role in forming new memories.
Cerebral cortex
Wrinkles outer layer of grey matter that covers the cerebral hemispheres. Controls higher mental functions such as language and thought voluntary movement, motivation, emotional arousal . Processes sensory info. 1/8 inch thick as a napkin. %80 of brain mass.
Cerebrum
Largest mass of the forebrain containing two cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral hemispheres
Right and left parts of the brain connected by the corpus callosum.
Corpus callosum
Thick bunked of nerves that connect both hemispheres of the cerebrum.
Occipital lobes
Back of head, process visual info. Helps us recognize peoples faces. Blows to the back of head can stimulate this and they see stars.
Parietal lobes
Sides of brain above and in front of occipital lobe. Process bodily sensations. Front contains somatosensory cortex.
Somatosensory cortex
Receive sensory information from skin such as touch, pressure, temp, pain. Also gets info from muscles and joints to know what position or body is in.
Frontal lobes
The parts of the cerebral cortex located the the front of the cerebral hemispheres that are considered the executive center of the brain because their role in higher mental function. Makes you, you.
Motor cortex
A region of the frontal lobes involved in regulating body movement.
Mirror neurons
Neurons that fire both when an action is performed and when the same action is merely observed.
Temporal lobes
The parts of the cerebral cortex lying beneath and somewhat behind the frontal lobes that are involved in processing auditory info.
