Brain

Question 1

What are the general functions of the brain

Answer 1

Receives Sensory impulses
Sends Motor impulses
Cognition – acquiring knowledge and understanding
through thought, experience and senses
Emotional responses and stores memory
Our sense of Reality

Question 2

Big hole at base of skull where brain stem exits

Answer 2

Foramen Magnum, when brainstem passes through foramen magnum transitions to the spinal cord

Question 3

• Central sulcus

Answer 3

valley that divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe

• Which also divides motor (front) and sensory (back)

Question 4

– Primary motor cortex

Answer 4

Part of frontal lobe, just anterior to the central sulcus
• Initiates voluntary motor movements
(precentral gyrus)

Question 5

– Premotor cortex

Answer 5

refine motor movements, helps make movement more precise, one section more anterior to primary motor cortex

Question 6

Wernicke’s area

Answer 6

• Temporal and parietal lobes
• Understanding language
• Access complex visual and auditory memories

Question 7

Broca’s area

Answer 7

• Frontal lobe
• signals facial muscles to contract
• Helps with forming words correctly

Question 8

thalamus

Answer 8

contains relay and processing centers for sensory information. Acts as a filter for incoming sensory information,

Question 9

Diencephalon

Answer 9

the structural and functional link between the cerebral hemispheres and the rest of the CNS.
Consists of Thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus

Question 10

cerebellum

Answer 10

Partially hidden by the cerebral hemispheres, second larges structure in the brain. Located low on the posterior side of brain. Functions: coordinating and modulating motor commands from cerebral cortex.

Question 11

Hypothalamus

Answer 11

• Negative feedback loop center
• Thermoregulation
• Water balance
• Drink more water
• Hunger control
• Autonomic nervous system
• Help control Endocrine system and hormones
• Limbic area- pleasure, fear, rage
• Controls circadian rhythms

Question 12

pituitary gland

Answer 12

• Part of endocrine system
• Releases hormones
• Located off the end of the hypothalamus

Question 13

corpus callosum

Answer 13

thick tract of white matter that interconnects the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 14

Structures of the brainstem

Answer 14

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

Question 15

decussation

Answer 15

nerve fibers cross to the opposite side of the brain in the medulla oblongata

Question 16

Medulla oblongata

Answer 16

all sensory information to the brain from the spinal cord happen through the medulla oblongata.
• contains major centers that regulate autonomic function such as heart rate and blood pressure

Question 17

Pons

Answer 17

• Respiratory center
• Breathing rate and depth
• Relay between sensory input and cerebellum
• Motor cortex

Question 18

mid brain

Answer 18

• Reflex centers
• Visual and audioty
• Substantia nigra-Dark grey matter, highly vascular
• Produces dopamine
• Sends to basal nuclei to decrease activity
• Dopamine is an inhibitory NT in this area
• When Substantia nigra is diminished, it cannot send as much dopamine to the basal nuclei, and basal nuclei becomes more active
• Which increases muscle tone

Question 19

dystonia

Answer 19

a movement disorder ie can’t coordinate the muscles to swallow or use a pen for writing, but can play the piano

Question 20

basal nuclei

Answer 20

– Group of nuclei, help us move in addition to primary motor cortex, and motor association area
– General pattern and rhythm (swinging arms while walking)
– Starting and stopping
– Dopamine from the midbrain neurons inhibits this area
• Which helps smooth movements and transitions

Question 21

limbic system

Answer 21

Establishes emotional states.
Links the conscious, intellectual functions of the cerebral cortex with the unconscious and autonomic functions of the brain stem.
Facilitates memory storage and retrieval.
Affects motivation.

Includes: hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala

Question 22

gyros

Answer 22

Fold in cerebral cortex, hill

Question 23

Sulcus

Answer 23

Crevasse between two gyri, there is the central sulcus and the pre and post central gyrus

Question 24

what maintains the blood brain barrier

Answer 24

astrocytes

Question 25

what gets through the blood brain barrier easy, what is regulated, and what is kept out

Answer 25

freely: Gasses, H2O, glucose, amino acids, lipid soluble drugs, alcohol, anesthetics

Regulated: Ion’s and NT’s

Doesn’t pass: Large proteins, most pathogens like bacterial viruses

Question 26

• Hydrocephalus-

Answer 26

when there is a blockage of the drainage of CSF (due to tumor, inflammation, meningitis, injury) and due to continued production of CSF there is increased pressure and damage to the brain

Question 27

Hippocampus

Answer 27

Shape similar to sea horse. Part of limbic system Functions: Learning, especially in storage and retrieval of long term memories

Question 28

Amygdala

Answer 28

acts as interface among the limbic system.
Functions: Plays a role in regulation of heart rate, controls fight or flight response, links emotions with specific memories