Brain Flashcards
What joins the spinal cord and the brain?
Brain stem
What are the three parts of the brain stem?
Medulla Oblongata
Pons
Midbrain
What is the Medulla Oblongata?
The medulla forms the inferior part of the brain stem. Contains white matter with sensory and motor neurons.
What is the Pons?
Above the Medulla, anterior to the cerebellum. Acts as a bridge/ junction point connecting several parts of brain to others.
What is the Midbrain?
Midbrain connects the Pons to the Diencephalon. Contains tracts and is a site for synapse.
Above the brainstem is the Diencephalon. What is the Diencephalon?
Contains the Thalamus and the Hypothalamus.
Above the Diencephalon is the…
Cerebrum - the largest part of the brain.
At the back of the brain, posterior to the brain stem is the…
Cerebellum
What is the function of the brain stem?
- All sensory and motor pathways pass through here
- Vital for cardiac and respiratory control
- Site of the cranial nerves (PNS)
What is the Thalamus?
The ‘relay centre’ as it is a key area for spinal cord pathways and receives input from other brain areas. Involved in:
- Visual, auditory, motor info
- temp and touch
- learn, concentrate, memory, speech
What is the Hypothalamus?
Controls temperature and hormone levels as well as thirst.
What does the Cerebellum do?
Coordinate movement and make fine adjustments for smooth movement, balance and coordination
What are the two divisions of the Cerebrum?
Right and Left Hemisphere
What links the right and left hemisphere?
Corpus Callosum
Which hemisphere controls which side of the body?
Right hemisphere - Left Side
Let Hemisphere - Right side
What is the Right hemisphere specialised in?
Complex visual patterns
What is the left hemisphere specialised in?
Language
The Cerebrum has two important parts, what are they?
Basal Ganglia
Cerebral Cortex
What is the Basal Ganglia?
Found deep within cerebrum. Key for planning and initiating movement.
What is the Cerebral Cortex?
The highly folded outer surface of the Cerebrum.
What are the four divisions of the Cerebral Cortex?
Frontal Cortex (front extending to mid point) Parietal Cortex (Top towards the back) Temporal Cortex (Middle towards bottom) Occipital Cortex (Back, lower down)
Anatomically the cortex’s can be further divided. These divisions are called?
Broadman’s Areas
The Cortex can be divided into functional areas, both sensory and motor areas. What are some examples of sensory and motor areas?
Sensory -auditory cortex -visual cortex -Somatosensory Cortex -Taste Cortex Motor -Motor Cortex -pre-motor Cortex
What does the Somatosensory Cortex do?
Allows you to pinpoint skin sensations
Where is the Somatosensory Cortex found?
Behind the primary motor cortex (which is the origin of of the cortico spinal pathway)
What dictates how much space any cortex requires?
Not the size of the body part it relates to but rather the precision the body part needs to operate at. So the hands for example have a disproportionately large area of cortex due to the precision they need to function
What are the two fluids found in the brain?
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Blood
The amounts of these fluids in the brain must be kept consistent because…
- Limited Space
- brain intolerant to lack of oxygen
- chemical environment of brain needs to be constant
Where is CSF found in the brain?
The ventricles, outer brain surface and spinal cord central canal
What is the function of CSF?
Brain protection
Constant chemical environment
The brain receives a disproportionately large degree of cardiac output - how much?
20%
What is the blood brain barrier?
The fact that the blood capillaries in the brain and not very leaky. This stops pathogens and harmful substances entering the brain via the blood. Most lipid-solvable substances can pass the BBB.
Where do arteries supplying the brain arise from?
The circle of Willis at base of brain
Name two arteries that supply the brain?
The right carotid and vertebral arteries
