Brain Flashcards
Contains almost 97% of the body’s neural tissue
Brain
Hollow cylinder that develops into the primary brain vesicles during embryonic development
Neural tube
What are the 3 primary brain vesicles?
Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain
When does the forebrain and hindbrain divide into secondary brain vesicles?
5 weeks
What are the 3 parts of the brainstem?
Midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Regulate autonomic function such as heartbeat and breathing
`Crossing over of most descending (motor) tracts; reason why each side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body
Decussation
What is the function of the pons?
Controls smooth transition between inhalation and exhalation
Where does CSF begin?
Lateral ventricles
After the lateral ventricles CSF goes to….
Interventricular foramen
After the interventricular foramen CSF goes to…
3rd ventricle
After the 3rd ventricle CSF goes to…
Cerebral aqueduct
After the cerebral aqueduct CSF goes to…
4th ventricle
After the 4th ventricle CSF goes to…
Lateral and medial apertures
After the lateral and medial apertures CSF goes to…(3)
Subarachnoid space of brain and spinal cord, central canal of spinal cord
After the subarachnoid space of the brain CSF goes to…
Arachnoid villi of dural sinus
After the arachnoid villi of the dural sinus CSF goes to…
venous blood
After venous blood CSF goes to…
Heart
After the heart CSF goes to…
Blood circulation
CSF filled chambers of the brain
Ventricles
Ventricles in each cerebral hemisphere
Lateral ventricles
What are the lateral ventricles drained by?
Interventricular foramen
Ventricle that lies near the thalamus; ventricle of diencephalon
Third ventricle
What is the 3rd ventricle drained by?
Cerebral aqueduct
Ventricle that lies anterior to cerebellum; extends into medulla oblongata; becomes continuous with central canal of the spinal cord
4th ventricle
What are the coverings of the brain?
Skull, meninges
Surrounds all exposed surfaces of the CNS
CSF
What are the 2 functions of the CSF?
Cushions neural structures, transport nutrients, chemical messengers and waste products
What produces CSF?
Choroid plexus
Specialized ependymal cells and blood capillaries that secrete CSF and remove wastes
Choroid plexus
What is the function of the midbrain?
Process visual and auditory data then generates startle reflexes
Regulates involuntary muscle actions and is associated with Parkinson’s disease
Substantia nigra
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Controls and coordinates the contraction of skeletal muscle
Connects cerebral hemispheres to the brainstem
Diencephalon
Relay center for sensory and motor pathways
Thalamus
Controls body temperature, regulates eating and drinking, involuntary control center
Hypothalamus
Narrow stalk that connects hypothalamus to the pituitary gland
Infundibulum
Emotional brain
Limbic system
Links emotions with memory
Amygdala
Importnat in learning and memory
Hippocampus
Conscious thought processes, intellectual function, memory storage
Cerebrum
Gray matter of the cortex
Cerebral cortex
Where are the sensory areas located in the cerebral cortex?
Parietal (postcentral gyrus)
Where are the motor areas located in the cerebral cortex?
Frontal (precentral gyrus)
Performs abstract intellectual functions
Prefrontal cortex
Auditory and olfactory area
temporal lobe
Motor speech area
Left cerebral hemisphere
Visual area
Occipital lobe
Interpret incoming data or coordinate a motor response
Association area
Functional differences between left and right hemispheres
Hemispheric lateralization
Written report of electrical activity of the brain
EEG
Pain receptors
Nociceptors
Temperature receptors
Thermoreceptors
Sensitive to water soluble and lipid soluble substances that are dissolved in body fluids
Chemoreceptors
Sensitive to stimuli that distort their plasma membranes
Mechanoreceptors
From receptor to synapse in spinal cord
First order neuron
Crosses spinal cord and reaches thalamus
Second order neuron
From thalamus to sensory cortex; carry crude touch, pressure, pain and temperature sensations from body
Third order neuron
Carries sensations of highly localized fine touch
Posterior column pathway
Carries proprioceptive information about position of skeletal muscles, joints, and tendons to cerebellum
Spinocerebellar pathway
CSF builds up and forces cranial bones to enlarge
Hydrocephalus
Condition of substantia nigra that involves increased muscle tone due to loss of inhibitory neurons that innervate the basal nuclei
Parkinson’s disease
Progressive degenerative disorder that affects motor neurons; causes atrophy of associated skeletal muscles
ALS
