brain Flashcards
what 2 types of tissue is the nervous system/brain predominately made of
grey and white matter
what does grey matter consist of + its function?
the processing components of the neurons, cell bodies which have nucleus.
- neuronal cell bodies for processing info
which area is grey matter predominantly found in the brain
- areas where the brain is processing information
- present in the periphery of the cerebrum aka cerebral cortex
what does white matter consist of
- the axons of the neurons
- axons that form tracts
what is the main function of white matter/the axons found in white matter
- relaying or sending information
what is the main function of the cerebellum
- process and coordination of movement
why is grey matter more superficial in the brain tissue
- increase the surface area available for the processing cell bodies
the organisational structure of superficial grey matter and deep white matter continues onto the cerebrum
what is the main role/ function of the corpus callosum and how
sending information from the right to the left side of the brain
- formed of white matter tracts and forms a bridge between left and right cerebral hemispheres allowing communication
- communication pathway is sent through the white matter tracks of the axons of the neurons
corpus callosum = formed of white matter tracts
thalamus = grey matter
Not all grey matter is superficial such as the thalamus
what is the main function of the thalamus
- assists in relaying sensory information
- memory, learning and function
describe the tissue structure of the thalamus
- general superficial grey matter and deep white matter
- but there is pockets of deep grey matter
main role of spinal cord
- sending info up and down our body
describe the tissue structure of the spinal cord
- superficial WHITE matter
- deep butterfly/H shaped grey matter
why is the cerebral cortex folded?
- to increase surface area
what is arbor vitae + function
tree-like white matter tracts found in cerebellum
- provide sensory and motor info to and from cerebellum
which 2 lobes are separated by the central sulcus
frontal and parietal
what is the falxcerebri
a large, crescent-shaped fold of dura mater that descends vertically into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres of the human brain,
what is the cerebellar tentorium
- dura mater that separates the inferior aspect of the occipital lobe and the superior aspect of the cerebellum
what is the function/structure of the longitudinal fissure
long tissue that separates the left and right hemisphere of the brain
- physically divided by the falx ceribra
what is the transverse fissure
horizontal fissure that separates the cerebrum superiorly from the cerebellum inferiorly
transverse fissure is deep enough to allow infolding and tentori cerebellum to fit within that deep groove
sulca is not deep enough to have dura matter to be within it
right before and after the central sulcus sits a pre and post central gyrus
what 2 lobes does the lateral sulcus seperate
parietal and temporal
what 2 lobes does the parietal-occipital sulcus seperate
parietal and occipital
what is brodmann’s area/what is it used for
numbered map which identifies which part of the brain is associated to what function
what does cerebellum translate from latin into english
little brain
what is the primary role of the cerebellum
- coordination of movement
- doesnt initiate movement but focuses on precision, timing etc
what structure separates the left and right cerebellar hemispheres
vermis
what is the function of the vermis of the cerebellumn
- receive sensory/motor input from the spinal cord and other parts of brain
- then integrate inputs into motor activity
what do you call the delicate foldings found on the cerebellum and what is its function
- follium
- allows cerebellum to hold more neurones than the rest of th brain whilst only taking up 10% of the brains volume
all connections to and from the cerebellum from the nervous system travels through 3 paired connections known as what?
cerebella peduncle
- coming to and from the pons
describe the connection of the 3 cerebral peduncles to the rest of the anatomy
- superior cerebral peduncle connects to the cerebral cortex
- middle peduncle connects with the pons
- inferior peduncle connects with the other brain centres like those connected with auditory pathway or the spinal cord
what are the 3 components of a brain stem
- pons
- midbrain
- medulla oblongata
10/12 cranial nerves are from he brains stem
what occurs on the anterior aspect of the brain stem
- motor relay from the rest of the brain to the target structures in body thru cortico spinal tracts
what occurs on the posterior aspect of the brain stem
- sensory info relayed from the rest of the body to the brain via posterior column (for sensations such as fine touch etc)
what is the function of the medulla oblongata
- ## regulate key homeostatic functions e.g respiration, BP, heart rate
how does the medulla oblongata work
vagus nerve carries parasympathetic fibres to heart and lung to regulate those functions
- arise from medulla along with cranial nerves 11, 9 and 12
what do you call the medial and lateral ridges found on the anterior side of the medulla
lateral ridges = medullary plive
medial ridges = medullary pyramid
what does the medullary pyramid contain
- motor pathway from the cerebrum to spinal cord or cranial nerve
what does the medullary olives contain
different nuclei that can help us learn complex motor movements that relate to the cerebellum or can help associate with sound
where is the pons located
- between the midbrain and medulla
- anterior to the cerebral aqua duct thats travelling down and the 4th ventricle
what is the function of the pons
- communication hub/bridge between the major pathways coming up to cerebrum or down from cerebrum to body
- communication pathway in and out and out the cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord
what component of the brain can predominately be found in the midbrain
cerebral peduncles (allows communication in and out of the cerebral hemispheres)
what component can be found posterior to the midbrain
corpora quadrigemini
- 4 paired bodies located on posterior aspect of midbrain
what is the function of corpora quadrigemini
2 superior pairs are responsible for visual reflexes
2 inferior pairs responsible for auditory reflexes
All functions within brainstem are going to be below concious awareness
why is it good that functions within the brainstem are below conscious awareness?
- dont need to regulate heart rate or BP during sleep
what are the 3 types of white matter tracts
- association
- commissural
- projection
what is association white matter tract and the types of classifications
communication of information from one region to another within the same cerebral hemisphere
- short if spanned from one gyrus to another
- long is they span the distance between different regions
what is commissural white matter tract
communication of info from one cerebral hemisphere to the other
- e.g if u pulling something heavy you want to know how to distribute weight between the left and right hand
what is projection white matter tract
communication of info between higher and lower brain areas and spinal cord centres
- relays motor and sensory info
what type of white matter tract is the corpus collosum
commissural
what is multiple sclerosis
demyelination of the myelin sheath of the axons in the white matter, disrupting communication pathways
- results in mental or psychiatric problems
describe the structure of the ventricles in the brain
- ## right and left / 1st and 2nd lateral ventricle
what is the choroid plexus
- delicate structure that filters and creates the cerebralspinal fluid
- found within all ventricles
