Brain and Cranial Nerves Flashcards
What are the three Meninges (brain coverings) that protect the brain?
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
Explain the structure of a blood vessel in the blood-brain barrier and its function
Endothelial cells with tight junctions create a thick membrane, this is then surrounded by astrocytes ends.
Blood-brain barrier separates the brain tissue from potentially harmful substances in the blood
Where is cerebrospinal fluid produced and what are its functions in the brain?
Produced in the Choroid Plexus
functions include
- Mechanical protection: shock absorption and buoyancy
- Homeostatic function: regulation of pH, transport for hormones
- Circulation: exchange of nutrients and waste, adjusts intracranial pressure
What are the 4 major parts of the brain?
Cerebrum
Brain Stem
Cerebellum
Diencephalon
Dura mater function
Drains blood from brain
Arachnoid mater function
Projections from arachnoid villi which reabsorb CSF
Pia mater function
Contains blood vessels which supply brain tissue
What three major parts make up the brain stem?
Medulla oblongata
Pons
Midbrain
What three major parts make up the Diencephalon?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
The epithalamus contains what gland? and what hormone does this gland produce?
Pineal gland which produces the hormone melatonin
The cerebrum contains the cerebral cortex, explain what the different ridges of the cerebral cortex are
Highly folded ridges (Gyri)
shallow groves (sulci)
deep groves (fissures)
What are the 4 lobes that make up the cerebral cortex?
Frontal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe
The frontal Lobe is responsible for?
Cognition and personality
The parietal Lobe is responsible for?
Housing the somatosensory cortex (sense of touch)
The Temporal Lobe is responsible for?
Processing auditory information
The Occipital Lobe is responsible for?
Primary visual cortex (visual perception and interpretation)
What are the functions of the Primary Motor Cortex and the Primary Somatosensory Cortex?
Primary Motor Cortex receives nerve impulses for somatic sensations
Primary Somatosensory controls voluntary movement of muscles or muscles groups
What thick bundle of nerve tracts connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum?
Corpus Callosum
What is the function of the Thalamus?
Acts as a relay station for sensory impulses
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Coordinates contractions of skeletal muscle and regulates posture and balance
