Basic Neurology: Gross Functional Neuroanatomy

Question 1

central nervous system

Answer 1

This segment or portion of the nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 2

cortex

Answer 2

This is the portion of the cerebrum (brain) where most processing occurs.

Question 3

hemisphere

Answer 3

A term used to describe the two halves of the brain.

Question 4

tract, peduncle, fasciculus, nerve

Answer 4

This is a term, which refers to a collection of axons that transmit a message.

Question 5

central sulcus

Answer 5

This groove, or sulcus, roughly divides the brain into anterior and posterior segments.

Question 6

white matter

Answer 6

This nervous tissue transmits information.

Question 7

grey matter

Answer 7

This nervous tissue processes information.

Question 8

longitudinal cerebral fissure

Answer 8

This structure divides the brain into two hemispheres.

Question 9

internal capsule/corona radiata

Answer 9

These two massive bundles of nerve fibers transfer information from the cortex to the rest of the CNS.

Question 10

Where is the cell body for spinal and cranial nerves?

Answer 10

in the CNS

Question 11

reticular activating system (RAS)

Answer 11

This system works together with the thalamus to facilitate control of our state of arousal and alertness.

Question 12

cerebellar peduncles (inferior, middle, and superior)

Answer 12

These structures connect the cerebellum to the brainstem.

Question 13

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 13

This segment or portion of the nervous system includes cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and peripheral nerves.

Question 14

sulcus (sulci)

Answer 14

This refers to a minor infolding or groove in cortical tissue.

Question 15

corticospinal tract, corticobulbar tract or motor strip

Answer 15

This segment of the motor pathways is responsible for initiating voluntary motor acts.

Question 16

basal ganglia or cerebellum

Answer 16

This modulating system of motor pathways is responsible for higher order motor refinement, posture, balance, and precise voluntary movements like speech.

Question 17

lateral fissure

Answer 17

This fissure roughly divides the brain into superior and inferior regions.

Question 18

hippocampus

Answer 18

This structure is central to a process referred to as consolidation, or transferring new memories from short-term to long-term. It’s shaped like a seahorse.

Question 19

gyrus (gyri)

Answer 19

This refers to a convolution or outfolding of cortical tissue.

Question 20

amygdala

Answer 20

This structure is involved in emotional memory, as well as ascribing emotion to events and behaviors.

Question 21

fissure

Answer 21

This term refers to a major infolding or groove in cortical tissue, sometimes including complete separation of two cortical structures.

Question 22

somatotopic

Answer 22

This term refers to the topographic organization of the cortex.

Question 23

motor homunculus

Answer 23

This term refers, more specifically, to the topographic organization of the motor strip in the cortex.

Question 24

somatosensory homunculus

Answer 24

This term refers to the topographic organization of the somatosensory areas in the cortex; the size of different body parts reflects the relative density of their innervation

Question 25

primary motor cortex, motor strip, pre-central gyrus

Answer 25

This gyrus, or topographical region of the cortex, is responsible for initiation of voluntary motor movements.

Question 26

premotor cortex and Supplementary Motor Area (SMA)

Answer 26

These gyri, or topographical regions of the cortex, include a pair of association cortices, which are responsible for motor planning. Selects voluntary movements.

Question 27

functions of frontal lobe

Answer 27

language expression, executive functions, planning, initiation, inhibition of voluntary motions, motor planning, problem solving, higher order attention

Question 28

functions of temporal lobe

Answer 28

language comprehension, auditory processing, memory

Question 29

functions of the parietal lobe

Answer 29

somatosensory processing, motor planning for speech, reading comprehension, integration of visual-auditory-sensory information

Question 30

functions of the occipital lobe

Answer 30

visual processing, higher order visual processing

Question 31

major roles of the cerebellum

Answer 31

motor learning, balance, motor refinement

Question 32

basal ganglia

Answer 32

Interconnected subcortical masses of grey matter responsible for motor refinement and control of background movement.

Question 33

thalamus

Answer 33

This structure is a major relay center for sensory information directed toward the cerebral cortex. It works cooperatively with the reticular activating system (RAS) to facilitate arousal and modulate attention processes.

Question 34

hypothalamus

Answer 34

The main role of this structure is as a homeostatic mechanism. It regulates basic drives including hunger, thirst, sexual desire, and sleep wake cycles. It modulates autonomic control including temperature regulation. Finally, it has many reciprocal connections with the limbic region.

Question 35

limbic lobe, limbic system, hippocampus, amygdala, mammillary bodies

Answer 35

Sometimes referred to as the “sixth” lobe of the brain, these structures support emotions, memory, hunger, and temperature regulation.

Question 36

Broca’s area

Answer 36

This frontal lobe structure or region is essential for language expression.

Question 37

Wernicke’s area

Answer 37

This temporal lobe structure or region is responsible for language comprehension.

Question 38

corpus callosum

Answer 38

This prominent white matter tract connects the two hemispheres, allowing for information exchange between the two sides of the brain.