Anatomy of Brain & pathology Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the mamillary bodies involved in?
The mamillary bodies are involved in memory and navigation.
What condition is associated with atrophied mamillary bodies?
Korsakoff’s syndrome is associated with atrophied mamillary bodies.
What type of amnesia is characterized by anterograde amnesia?
Diencephalic amnesia is characterized by anterograde amnesia.
What is the main function of the pineal gland?
The main function of the pineal gland is the secretion of melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms.
What is unique about the pineal gland?
The pineal gland is an unpaired structure, meaning there is only one per brain.
What is the role of the hypothalamus in hormone release?
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland, which releases hormones for various functions, including growth.
What is the main function of the thalamus?
The thalamus acts as a major relay point and processing center for all sensory impulses, excluding olfaction.
What percentage of the diencephalon is composed of the thalamus?
The thalamus comprises about 80% of the diencephalon.
What types of functions are associated with the thalamus?
The thalamus is involved in memory, visual, auditory, motor, and emotional functions.
What is the amygdala?
An almond-sized collection of nuclei found in the medial temporal lobe. Key role in processing emotion.
What is the function of the amygdala?
Involved in the consolidation of memories which have a strong emotional relevance of stimuli (e.g. fear and threat detection).
What is the hippocampus?
Part of the limbic system. Major role in memory, storage, formation of long-term memory, and spatial navigation.
What is the striatum?
Part of the basal ganglia. Input nuclei, control and regulate activities of the motor and premotor cortical areas.
What is the corpus callosum?
The major bridge of white fibres that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.
What is the insula?
Region of the cerebrum deep within the lateral sulcus; processes information associated with hearing and equilibrium.
What is the temporal lobe?
Processes information associated with hearing and equilibrium.
What is the occipital lobe?
Processes visual information and is related to our understanding of the written word.
What is the parietal lobe?
Contains the primary sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus) and is involved in language acquisition.
What is the frontal lobe?
Contains the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) and is involved in complex learning.
What is the anterior commissure?
Bridge of white matter inferior to the corpus callosum; links regions of the limbic system (‘emotional’ brain) together.
What is the fornix?
Part of the limbic system; involved in learning and memory.
What is anomia?
Difficulty in finding the correct word, particularly nouns and verbs.
What is alexia?
The inability to read.
What is aphasia
where there is an impairment of the ability to produce or comprehend language.
