Brain anatomy Flashcards
3 Basic Parts of the brain
The brain may be roughly divided into three sections:
1. The Cerebellum
2. The Brain Stem
3. The Cerebrum
The Cerebellum
Has an important role in balance,
* Some cognitive functions (language, attention, fear/pleasure)
* Procedural memories (how to do things like riding a bike, tying shoelaces)
without conscious thought
The Brain Stem
Includes the medulla, the pons and the midbrain,
* Controls breathing, digestion, heart rate and other autonomic processes,
* Connects the brain with the spinal cord and the rest of the body
The Cerebrum (also called “forebrain”). why is the cerebrum so large and heavy?
NA
gyri
bumps
Sulci
Shallow grooves
Fissures
deep grooves
Longitudianl fissures splits what?
The cerebrum into 2 hemispheres
Brain hemispheres are linked by what bundle of nerve fibres?
Corpus callosum (large) and commissures (small)
What does the corpus callosum do?
Provides communication between the hemispheres
Cerebrum is Covered by a 2mm to 4mm thick sheet of neural tissue called…
cerebral
cortex (or neocortex)
Six layers of the Cerebral Cortex are?
molecular
external granular
External pyramidal
Internal granular layer
Internal pyramidal layer
Multiform layer
Is grey or white matter closest to the surface of the brain?
Grey matter
Three specific systems of the brain
Sensory
* Motor
* Limbic
Sensory System
Sensory receptors= cells detect
stimuli and produce a nerve signal
travels to brain via
spinal cord
- Skin, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, muscles &
joints & ear canals for balance.
Motor System
Muscles are composed of
‘spindles’
that can control
when a muscle contracts or
stretches.
- After receiving information
from the senses, the brain
may send a signal to muscle
spindles to contract or
expand.
Limbic System
Under the cerebral cortex and
above the brain stem.
* Deals with emotions, memory and
arousal.
Limbic important parts
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Amygdala
9 functions of the prefrontal cortex
- Empathy
- Insight
- Response flexibility
- Emotion regulation
- Body regulation
- Morality
- Intuition
- Attuned communication
- Fear modulation
9 functions of the prefrontal cortex
- Empathy
- Insight
- Response flexibility
- Emotion regulation
- Body regulation
- Morality
- Intuition
- Attuned communication
- Fear modulation
The PFC plays a central role in memory
formation, decision-making, reasoning,
‘personality’.
What is dura mater?
The outmost part of the meninges (tough & flexible)
What is the arachnoid membrane?
The middle layer of the meninges between dura mater and inner pia mater
What do ventricles do?
They product & contain cerebral spinal fluid
What is the cerebral aqueduct?
Narrow tube
Interconnects the 3rd & 4th ventricles of the brain
What is pia mater?
Meninge layer -
Surface of the brain
thin & delicate
What is pia mater?
Meninge layer -
Surface of the brain
thin & delicate
What is the subarachnoid space?
Fluid filled space
Cushions the brain
Located between arachnoid membrane & pia mater
What are arachnoid granulations?
Small projections of arachnoid membrane
Via dura mater
To Superior sagittal snius
CSF flows through to be reabsorbed into blood supply
Where is the cerebral spinal fluid produced?
Choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles
