Brain Flashcards
What is the directional term used in place of “anterior” in the brain?
Rostral
What is the directional term used in place of “posterior” in the brain?
Caudal
What are the 3 meninges of the brain?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
Name the 4 ventricles of the brain
- Right lateral ventricle
- Left lateral ventricle
- Third ventricle
- Fourth ventricle
What creates cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles?
Choroid plexus
What are the 3 functions of cerebrospinal fluid?
- Buoyancy
- Protection
- Chemical stability
Name the 6 steps in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid
- Choroid plexus of both lateral ventricles produce CSF
- CSF flows through the interventricular foramina
- Into the third ventricle
- Through the mesencephalic aqueduct
- Into the fourth ventrilce
- And into the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid and pia mater
Describe hydrocephaly
Swelling of the head caused by overproduction or blockage of CSF
Describe meningitis
Swelling of the brain caused by bacterial infections of the meninges
What is the purpose of the extensive folds of the brain?
To increase surface area of the brain
Name the 4 cranial lobes
- Frontal
- Parietal
- Occipital
- Temporal
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
Higher thought
What does the precentral gyrus function as?
Primary motor cortex. Controls voluntary movements of specific body parts
What does Broca’s Area control?
The formation of speech
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
Integrates sensory information
What does the postcentral gyrus function as?
Primary somatic cortex; receives sensory information
What does Wernicke’s Area control?
Understanding of written and spoken word
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Allows for visual accuity
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
Allows for auditory, olfactory (smell), and gustatory (taste) interpretation
What does the left cerebral hemisphere control?
Language and reasoning
What does the right cerebral hemisphere control?
Artistic awareness, imagination, and music comprehension
What connects the left and right hemispheres?
Corpus callosum
Identify corpus callosum
Identify
What is the function of the thalamus?
Relay center that receives almost all the sensory information from the body on its way to the cerebral cortex
Identify thalamus
Identify
Identify hypothalamus
Identify
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
Contains hormones for growth, blood pressure, pregnancy, and sex organ development
Identify pituitary gland
Identify
What is the function of the pineal gland?
Secretes melatonin and allows for circadian rhythm
Identify pineal gland
Identify
What structures make up the corpora quadrigemina? (midbrain)
Superior and Inferior colliculi
What is the function of the superior colliculi?
Allows for the tracking of moving objects
What is the function of the inferior colliculi?
Allow for auditory reflex to abrupt sound
Identify superior and inferior colliculi
Identify
What is the function of the pons?
Relays signals from the cerebrum to the cerebellum; associated with sleep, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expression/sensation, respiration, swallowing, and bladder control
Identify pons
Identify
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Involved in autonomic functions, reflex centers for coughing, sneezing, gagging, swallowing, vomiting, salivation, and sweating
Identify medulla oblongata
Identify
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Functions for muscle coordination, maintains posture, and conceptualizes the passage of time
What is the proper name for the “tree of life” in the cerebellum?
Arbor Vitae
What is the name for the ridges of the arbor vitae?
Folia
Identify cerebellum
Identify
Name the 12 cranial nerves
- Olfactory
- Optic
- Oculomotor
- Trochlear
- Trigeminal
- Abducens
- Facial
- Vestibulocochlear
- Glossopharyngeal
- Vagus
- Accessory
- Hypoglossal
Identification and function of olfactory nerve (I)
Receives sensory information from the nose
Identification and function of optic nerve (II)
Receives sensory information from the eye
Identification and function of oculomotor nerve (III)
Transmits motor information to the eye
Identification and function of trochlear nerve (IV)
Transmits motor information to the eye
Identification and function of trigeminal nerve (V)
Transmits sensory information from the head and motor information to the head
Identification and function of abducens nerve (VI)
Transmits motor information to the eye
Identification and function of facial nerve (VII)
Receives sensory information from the tongue and transmits motor information to the head
Identification and function of vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
Receives sensory information from the ear
Identification and function of glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Receives sensory information from the tongue on taste; transmits motor information for salivation, swallowing, and gagging
Identification and function of vagus nerve (X)
Receives sensory information from the abdomen to control autonomic functions of the heart, digestive organs, spleen and kidney; transmits motor information to the tongue for swallowing and speech
Identification and function of accessory nerve (XI)
Transmits motor information to the neck
Identification and function of hypoglossal nerve (XII)
Transmits motor information to the tongue
Recite the mnemonic for the cranial nerves
OLd OPie OCCasionally TRies TRIGonometry And Feels Very GLOomy VAGUe And HYPOactive
