Brain and Eye Anatomy

Question 0

What two components make up the forebrain?

Answer 0

Telencephalon: cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb
Diencephalon: thalamus (relay center for spinal chord and cerebral cortex), hypothalamus (BEETSHAM)

Question 1

What is the outer and inner portions of the brain made of?

Answer 1

Outer brain: gray matter (cell bodies)

Inner brain: white matter (myelinated axons)

Question 2

What is the corpus callosum (colossal commissure)?

Answer 2

Bundle of neural fibers beneath the cortex that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain to facilitate interhemispheric communication

Question 3

What is another name for the midbrain, and what is its function?

Answer 3

Mesencephalon: relay center for visual and auditory impulses, and plays a role in motor control

Question 4

What are the components and functions of the hindbrain (brainstem)?

Answer 4

The hindbrain (brainstem) consists of:
Cerebellum: modulates motor impulses, balance, hand-eye coordination
Pons: helps the cortex communicate with the cerebellum
Medulla: breathing, heart rate, gastrointestinal activity

Question 5

How is the anatomy of the spinal chord different from the brain?

Answer 5

The white matter (axons) are on the outside, and the grey matter (cell bodies) are on the inside

Question 6

Through what structure does sensory input information enter the spinal chord?

Answer 6

Dorsal Horn, which contains the dorsal root ganglia

Question 7

Through what structure does sensory input information exit the spinal chord?

Answer 7

Ventral Horn

Question 8

What is the white part of the eye called?

Answer 8

Sclera

Question 9

What part of the eye helps to maintain the retina with blood and where is it located?

Answer 9

The choroid, and it is located just beneath the sclera

It also helps to reduce reflections in the eye

Question 10

What is the function of the cornea?

Answer 10

It bends and focuses light rays

Question 11

What is the function of the iris?

Answer 11

These are muscles which define the pupil opening size

Question 12

What are the function of the ciliary muscles?

Answer 12

They control the focal length

Question 13

Which type of photoreceptors is responsive to high-intensity illumination and color?

Answer 13

The cones

Question 14

Which type of photoreceptors are responsive to low-intensity illumination?

Answer 14

Rods

Question 15

What is the fovea?

Answer 15

A small area of the retina with a high density of cones, and is important for high-acuity vision

Question 16

Where is the vitreous humor and what is its function?

Answer 16

Located in the inner eye, it is a jelly-like material which helps maintain the shape and optical properties of the eye

Question 17

What is the aqueous humor?

Answer 17

A substance formed by the eye that fills the space between the lens and the cornea. It’s exists through ducts to join the venous blood

Question 18

Where is the parietal lobe and what is its function?

Answer 18

The middle part of the brain (front to back)

Contains the somatosensory cortex

Question 19

What is the frontal lobe?

Answer 19

The portion of the brain which is responsible for higher level cognition and reasoning

The motor cortex is locate here

Question 20

What is the temporal lobe?

Answer 20

Located at the bottom of the brain (top to bottom)

Contains the hippocampus (very involved in memory formation), the primary auditory cortex, speech interpretation, and language skills

Question 21

What is the occipital lobe?

Answer 21

Located at the back portion of the brain and contains the primary visual cortex

Interprets visual stimuli