Anatomy Flashcards
What are the main parts of the central nervous system (CNS)?
The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
The four lobes are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe.
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
The frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and voluntary movement (via the motor cortex).
Where is the Broca’s area located, and what is its function?
Broca’s area is located in the left frontal lobe and is responsible for speech production.
What is the primary role of the parietal lobe?
The parietal lobe processes sensory information, including touch, temperature, and pain, and is involved in spatial awareness.
What is the role of the temporal lobe?
The temporal lobe is involved in processing auditory information, memory, and emotion. It also contains the Wernicke’s area, important for language comprehension.
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for vision and visual processing.
What is the corpus callosum?
The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing communication between them.
What is the limbic system, and what is its function?
The limbic system is a group of structures (including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) involved in regulating emotions, memory, and behavior.
What role does the cerebellum play in the brain?
The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, maintaining posture, balance, and motor learning.
What is the brainstem, and what are its components?
The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic life functions. It consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
What is the primary function of the medulla oblongata?
The medulla oblongata regulates essential autonomic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, controlling body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, and circadian rhythms, and links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
What is the basal ganglia’s function?
The basal ganglia are involved in coordinating motor control, particularly voluntary movement and muscle tone, as well as motor learning and reward pathways.
What are the meninges, and what are the three layers?
The meninges are protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The three layers are the dura mater (outer layer), arachnoid mater (middle layer), and pia mater (inner layer).
What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
CSF cushions the brain and spinal cord, removes waste, and provides nutrients. It also helps maintain a stable environment for the CNS.
What is the function of the thalamus?
The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information (except smell) going to the cerebral cortex. It also plays a role in regulating consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
What are cranial nerves, and how many are there?
Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain, primarily involved in sensory and motor functions of the head and neck. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
What is the role of the ventricles in the brain?
The ventricles are interconnected cavities within the brain that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What is the role of the hippocampus?
The hippocampus is crucial for the formation of new memories and is also involved in learning and spatial navigation.
What are the two main anatomical divisions of the nervous system?
The two main divisions are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?
The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
What is the role of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
The CNS is responsible for processing information and coordinating activities of the entire body, including higher functions like thought and emotion.
What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consist of?
The PNS consists of all the nerves and ganglia outside the CNS, including cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and peripheral nerves.
