Brain Intro Flashcards
Describe the following cellular elements: cell body axon terminal axon myelin dendrites
cell body- synthesizes and packages macromolecules
axon terminal- synaptic transmission to other neurons
axon- conducts action potentials toward other neurons
myelin- glial covering that speeds conduction
dendrites- site of most (but not all) synaptic inputs
Describe saltatory conduction.
charge skips from node to node- accelerating the conduction of the impulse
What are the components of the neuron?
cell membrane, nucleus, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, organelles
What are the principal PNS glial cells?
Schwann cells
PNS axons can be myelinated or unmyelinated
What are the CNS glial cells?
oligodendrocytes - some CNS axons are myelinated by oligodendrocytes but others are unmyelinated
astrocytes- provide structural and metabolic support to neurons
ependymal cells- line the ventricles
microglia- respond to CNS injury
What is CNS?
brain and spinal cord
What are the main components of the brain?
cerebrum, cerebellum, basal ganglia, diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla
Where does the long axis of the CNS bend?
cephalic flexure
dorsal ventral relationships change at the cephalic flexure between brainstem and diencephalon
Describe the following cerebral hemispheres: frontal lobe parietal lobe temporal lobe occipital lobe limbic lobe
frontal lobe- motor areas parietal lobe- somatosensory areas temporal lobe- auditory areas occipital lobe- visual areas limbic lobe- interconnected with other limbic structures buried in the temporal lobe
Describe the three sulci.
What marks the boundary between sensory and motor cortex?
What is localized near the lateral fissure?
central sulcus (between frontal and parital)
lateral sulcus )between frontal and temporal/ temporal and parietal
parietooccipital sulcus- between parietal and occipital
central sulcus marks boundary between sensory and motor cortex.
speech and audition are localized near the lateral fissure.
Which areas are important for speech?
Which area is important for auditory functions?
Complex visual functions?
What is the primary receiving area for visual impulses?
Broca’s motor speech area and Wernicke’s area (reception of speech)
superior temporal gyrus (important for auditory functions)
inferior and middle temporal gyri (complex visual functions)
occipital lobe (primary area for receiving visual impulses)
Where is the insula?
hidden deep in the lateral or Sylvian Fissure by parts of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes
What does the diencephalon include?
thalamus and hypothalamus
thalamus-conveys information to the cerebral cortex (almost all motor and sensory pathways are relayed through the thalamus)
hypothalamus- controls autonomic nervous system
What does the cerebral hemisphere include?
brainstem?
cerebellum?
cerebral hemisphere- cerebral cortex and corpus callosum
brainstem- midbrain, pons, medulla
cerebellum- vermis and hemisphere
What makes CSF?
Where is vision processed most intensely?
CSF- made in choroid
vision is processed most intensely near the calcarine fissure
What are major components of the basal ganglia?
Which are major limbic structures?
basal ganglia- caudate nucleus, putamen, ang globus pallidus
(lentiform nucleus = putamen and globus pallidus)
limbic structures- amygdala and hippocampus
Precentral gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- voluntary movement of muscles of head and head region
Associated disorders- loss of voluntary movement of body and head region
Premotor region
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- aids and integrates voluntary movements of body
Associated disorders- apraxia (loss of ability to carry out complex movements of body and head)
Frontal eye fields
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- controls voluntary horizontal movement of the eyes
Associated disorders- loss of voluntary horizontal eye movement (eyes cannot deviate to side opposite lesion)
Prefrontal cortex
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- intellectual functions, affective processes
Associated disorders-intellectual and emotional impairment
Broca’s motor speech area
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- regulates motor aspects of speech
Associated disorders- motor aphasia
Postcentral gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- conscious perception of somesthetic sensation
Associated disorders- loss of somatosensory perception
Wernicke’s area
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- receptive integration of speech
Associated disorders- receptive aphasia
Superior parietal lobule
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions-integration of sensory and motor functions; programming mechanism for motor responses
Associated disorders- posterior parietal syndrome; sensory neglect; apraxia
Superior temporal gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- auditory perception
Associated disorders- loss of auditory perception
Middle temporal gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- detection of moving objects
Associated disorders- loss of movement detection
Inferior temporal gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- recognition of faces
Associated disorders-loss of facial recognition
Upper and lower banks of calcarine sulcus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- occipital lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- visual perception
Associated disorders- partial or total loss of vision of the contralateral visual fields for both eyes, depending upon the extend of the lesion in the visual cortex
Lateral, third, and fourth ventricles and cerebral aqueduct.
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- ventricles of brain (deep brain structures)
General functions- flow of CSF throughout CNS: source of electrolytes and conduit of neuroactive and metabolic products
Associated disorders- hydrocephalus
Caudate nucleus, putament, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- basal ganglia of deep brain structures
General functions- regulation of motor functions associated with cerebral cortex
Associated disorders- dyskinesia
Thalamic nuclei
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- thalamus (diencephalon)
General functions- transmission of signals from other regions of CNS to the cerebral cortex mediating sensory, motor, cognitive, and affective (emotional) functions
Associated disorders- disruption and possible loss of sensory, motor and other functions
Hypothalamic nuclei
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- hypothalamus (hypothalamic nuclei)
General functions- visceral (feeding, drinking, autonomic, and endocrine functions and sexual and emotional behavior)
Associated disorders- disruption, loss, or alterations in visceral and affective functions and processes
Hippocampal formation, amygdala, septal area, cingulate gyrus, prefrontal cortex
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- limbic structures
General functions- modulation of hypothalamic functions; regulation of emotional behavior, short-term memory
Associated disorders- temporal lobe epilepsy; loss of control of emotions and related affective processes; loss of short term memory
Cerebellum: anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem
General functions-integration of motor functions related to all regions of CNS associated with motor and related processes
Associated disorders- loss of balance; ataxia; hypotonia; loss of coordination; disorders of movement when intentionally attempting to produce a purposeful response
Midbrain
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem
General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN III and IV)
Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits as well as deficits associated with CN III and IV
Pons
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem
General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN V, VI, and VII)
Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits as well as deficits associated with CN V, VI, VII
Medulla
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-
Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem
General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN VIII, IX, X, XII)
Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits, including respiration, as well as deficits associated with CN VIII, IX, X, XII
What is the spinal cord white matter made of mostly?
almost entirely axons and dendrites
What is the only CN to exit the brainstem from the dorsal/posterior aspect?
The trochlear nerve (CN IV) is the only cranial nerve to exit the brainstem from the dorsal/posterior aspect.
