Anatomy of the Brain Flashcards
What is the cauda equina?
A bundle of nerves at the end of the spinal cord that controls the bladder, bowels, and sensation in the legs and genitals.
What are the major arteries of the brain?
Posterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
Anterior cerebral artery
What is the DLPFC?
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
What is the function of the DLPFC?
It is involved in working memory, emotional regulation, and cognitive control.
What does M1 stand for?
Primary motor cortex.
What does S1 stand for?
Primary somatosensory cortex.
What is the granular cortex?
It consists of well-defined granular layers with a well-developed layer IV, located in the sensory areas.
What is the agranular cortex?
It consists of poorly defined granular layers and lacks a layer IV, located in the motor areas.
What is the role of the insula cortex?
Controls aspects of emotion
Involved in homeostasis
What is the optic chiasm?
Fibres from each eye’s optic nerve intersect and cross to the other side of the brain to create binocular vision.
What is decussation?
The intersection or crossing of nerve fibres.
What are commissures?
Fibre tracts that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.
What are ascending connections?
Superficial neurons that communicate with mid-layers.
What are descending connections?
Neurons that originate deep in the cortex and innervate both deep and superficial layers.
