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BILD X13 > brain (major structures and functions) > Flashcards

brain (major structures and functions) Flashcards

1
Q

what does the CNS first start out as? (brain embryology)

A

the neural tube

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2
Q

what is the lumen of the neural tube?
what is it filled with?
what does it become?

A
  1. neurocoel
  2. fluid
  3. eventually forms the brains ventricles
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3
Q

what 3 regions form at 4 weeks?

A
  1. prosencephalon
  2. mesencephalon
  3. rhombencephalon
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4
Q

what does the prosencephalon form?

A
  1. telencephalon
  2. diencephalon
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5
Q

what does the telencephalon form?

A

the cerebrum and the lateral ventricle

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6
Q

what does the diencephalon form?

A

the hypothalamus, thalamus, and the epithalamus

also the third ventricle

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7
Q

what does the mesencephalon form?

A

it becomes the midbrain

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8
Q

what does the rhombencephalon form?

A
  1. metencephalon
  2. myelencephalon
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9
Q

what does the metencephalon form?

A

the pons and cerebellum

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10
Q

what does the myelencephalon form?

A

the medulla oblongata

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11
Q

what are the major regions of the brain? (6)

A
  1. medulla
  2. pons
  3. midbrain
  4. diencephalon
  5. cerebellum
  6. cerebrum
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12
Q

general functions of the medulla oblongata

A
  1. relays info to the thalamus and the brainstem
  2. HR, BP, and digestion regulation
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13
Q

general functions of the pons

A
  1. relays info to the cerebellum and the thalamus
  2. somatic and visceral motor center regulation
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14
Q

pons (professor’s notes)

A

contains higher respiratory control centers

  1. apneustic
  2. pneumotaxic
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15
Q

apneustic pons

A

inhibits exhalation for inhalation

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16
Q

pneumotaxic pons

A

inhibits inhalation for exhalation

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17
Q

medulla (prof’s notes)

A

the medulla relays communication between the midbrain and the cerebellum

ex… you can’t maintain balance if your eyes are closed

balance = comes from cerebellum
eyes closed = comes from superior colliculi

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18
Q

general functions of the mesencephalon (midbrain)

A
  1. processes visual and auditory data
  2. maintains consciousness
  3. helps with reflexive somatic motor responses

visual = superior colliculi
auditory = inferior colliculi

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19
Q

midbrain (prof’s notes)

A

the reticular formation of the midbrain helps with maintaining consciousness

ex… when we’re walking down a dark alley and we’re scared, we become very alert

this is also an example of reverberation

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20
Q

general functions of the diencephalon

A

contains…
1. thalamus
2. epithalamus
3. hypothalamus

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21
Q

thalamus functions

A
  1. relays info from the cerebrum
  2. center for sensory information relaying

the spinothalamic tract runs through here

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22
Q

epithalamus functions

A
  1. contains the pineal gland

the pineal gland secretes hormones like melatonin and controls the secretion of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland

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23
Q

hypothalamus functions

A
  1. involved in emotions, thirst, and habitual activity
  2. involved in temperature control
  3. involved in circadian rhythm control
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24
Q

circadian rhythm control (prof’s notes)

A

in the morning, melatonin decreases and cortisol increases

the opposite is true for when you go to sleep

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25
Q

hypothalamus (prof’s notes)

A

the hormones released by the hypothalamus often control the release of hormones of the anterior pituitary gland

ex… corticotropic releasing hormone from the hypothalamus controls the release of cortisol from the ant. pituitary gland

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26
Q

general functions of the cerebellum

A
  1. coordinates complex somatic motor patterns
  2. adjustment of somatic motor centers for smooth movement
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27
Q

cerebellum (prof’s notes)

A

this basically controls balance and coordination

ex… to test balance, have one walk in a straight line

recall that communication with the corpus quadrigemina is maintained by the medulla

this also contains the vasomotor center (VMC) for blood vessel diameter control

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28
Q

general functions of the cerebrum

A
  1. conscious SKM regulation
  2. conscious thought
  3. intellectual thinking
  4. memory
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29
Q

cerebrum (prof’s notes)

A

contains the cortex which is grey matter

the junction between the grey and white matter are the pyramidal cells

the hippocampal gyrus is responsible for memory

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30
Q

what is the function of the ventricular system of the brain?

A

to filter and move CSF which brings nutrients and removes waste from the CNS

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31
Q

the 4 brain ventricles

A
  1. lateral ventricles (2x)
  2. third ventricle
  3. fourth ventricle
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32
Q

septum pellucidum

A

separates the 2 lateral ventricles

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33
Q

lateral ventricle horns

A
  1. anterior horn
  2. posterior horn
  3. inferior horn
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34
Q

pathway of CSF through ventricles

A
  1. CSF is made by the choroid plexus
  2. CSF is in the lateral ventricles
  3. goes through interventricular foramen to the third ventricle
  4. goes through the cerebral aqueduct to the fourth ventricle
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35
Q

fourth ventricle to the spinal cord

A

the lateral and median apertures let CSF into the subarachnoid space which CSF then enters the central canal

36
Q

what are the two layers of the dura mater?

A
  1. endosteal
  2. meningeal

these layers surround the dural sinus

the endosteal layer is directly attached to the skull

37
Q

what are the four dural folds?

A
  1. falx cerebri
  2. tentorium cerebelli
  3. falx cerebelli
  4. diaphragma sellae
38
Q

what does the falx cerebri separate?

A

it separates the two hemispheres of the cerebrum by folding into the longitudinal fissure

39
Q

what does the tentorium cerebelli separate?

A

it separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum by folding into the transverse fissure

40
Q

what does the falx cerebelli separate?

A

it separates the two cerebellar hemispheres

41
Q

what does the diaphagma sellae separate

A

it protects the pituitary gland from in the sella turcica

42
Q

what do the arachnoid granulations do?

A

they maintain CSF volume and pressure by dumping excess CSF into the dural veinous sinuses

veinous sinuses bring blood to the jugular vein

43
Q

high CSF pressure pathology (prof’s notes)

A

high CSF pressure presents with projectile vomiting, headaches and blurry vision

these are signs of meningitis

44
Q

what can pass through the blood brain barrier?

A
  1. lipid soluble material
  2. 3rd generation antibiotics
45
Q

the BBB is continuous throughout the brain except for the following three areas?

A
  1. parts of the hypothalamus
  2. pineal gland
  3. parts of the 3rd and 4th ventricles
46
Q

what are medulla’s relay functions?

A

since the medulla is continuous with the brain stem and spinal cord, all communication passes through the medulla

47
Q

what are the 5 cranial nerves that innervate the medulla

A

CN’s 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12

*the cochlear branch of CN 8 only

12 = hypoglossus
11 = accessory
10 = vagus
9 = glossopharyngeal
8 = vestibulocochlear

48
Q

what are the nuclei relay stations of the medulla

A
  1. olivary nuclei –> cerebellum relay
  2. nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus –> somatic sensory relay to thalamus
49
Q

what is the pyramidal decussation

A

the pyramids of the medulla is the region of cross over form motor neurons

50
Q

what are the major reflex centers of the medulla? (think HR and RR)

A
  1. cardiovascular centers
  2. respiratory centers
51
Q

what are the two cardiovascular centers?

A
  1. CIC (inhibitor)
  2. CAC (accelerator)

both centers provide nervous system control to increase or decrease the heart rate

52
Q

what cranial nerves innervate the pons? (4x)

A

CN’s 5, 6, 7, and 8

5 = trigeminal
6 = abducens
7 = facial
8 = vestibular branch

53
Q

what do cerebellar peduncles do?

A

they are the nuclei of the pons that relays to the cerebellum

54
Q

aside from the corpus quadrigemina (superior and inferior colliculi) what else is part of the mesencephalon (midbrain)

A
  1. red nucleus
  2. substantia nigra
  3. cerebral peduncles
55
Q

red nucleus function

A

integrates info between the cerebrum and cerebellum

56
Q

substantia nigra function

A

regulates motor output of the basal nuclei

this tissue can affected in parkinsons

57
Q

cerebral peduncles

A

consists of ascending and descending fibers (think spinothalamic and corticospinal)

58
Q

substantia nigra and parkinsons

A

the substantia nigra controls muscle tone and fine movement which can affected by parkinsons

59
Q

what does the hypothalamus consist of?

A
  1. the infundibulum (pituitary stalk)
  2. mammillary body
60
Q

what does the hypothalamus do?

A
  1. subconscious SKM control
  2. HR, BP, RR, and digestive control
  3. secretion of hormones (supraoptic nucleus)
  4. emotion
  5. behavior
  6. thirst
  7. temp control
  8. circadian rhythm (suprachiasmatic nucleus)
61
Q

what is the function of the mamillary bodies?

A

they are involved in feeding control

ex… swallowing, licking ice cream

62
Q

what are the structures and contents of the cerebellum?

A
  1. vermis
  2. folia
  3. arbor vitae
  4. purkinje cells
63
Q

what are purkinje cells?

A

these are cells analogous to the pyramidal cells of the cerebrum

they are at the junction between grey and white matter

64
Q

what are the 3 cerebellar peduncles?

A

each cerebellar peduncle facilitates cerebellum communication with different parts of the brain stem

  1. superior –> to the midbrain
  2. middle –> to the pons
  3. inferior –> to the medulla
65
Q

what lies behind the lateral sulcus?

A

the insula which processes taste and smell

66
Q

what does the frontal lobe do?

A

controls SKM

67
Q

what does the occipital lobe do?

A

the occipital lobe perceives visual stimuli

68
Q

what does the parietal lobe do?

A

perceives touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temp and taste

69
Q

what does the temporal lobe do?

A

perceives visual and auditory stimuli

70
Q

what does the cerebral cortex do?

A

the cerebral cortex maintains higher order functions of the left and right cerebral hemispheres

specifically it integrates sensory stimuli and motor responses

71
Q

what are the noteable centers of the cerebrum

A
  1. general interpretive area
  2. speech center (Broca and Wernicke)
  3. prefrontal cortex
  4. brodmann’s area
72
Q

what does the general interpretive area do?

A

the general interpretive area is present on the left cerebral hemisphere and is the analytical center

73
Q

what does wernicke’s area do?

A

wernicke’s area helps us discern spoken language

ex… I can distinguish that someone is talking to me in english

74
Q

what does broca’s area do?

A

broca’s area regulates breathing patterns and speech vocalization

75
Q

what does the prefrontal cortex do?

A

the prefrontal cortex performs complicated learning and reasoning functions

76
Q

what are the 3 fiber types of the central white matter that connect the cerebrum and other parts of the brain?

A
  1. association fibers
  2. commissural fibers
  3. projection fibers
77
Q

association fibers

A

includes arcuate and longitudinal fibers that connect different lobes together

78
Q

commissural fibers

A

includes the anterior commissure which connects the two cerebral hemispheres

79
Q

projection fibers

A

fibers that link the cerebrum to other parts of the brain and spinal cord

80
Q

what are the basal nuclei?

A

this is grey matter imbedded in the white matter

general functions include..
1. SKM tone control
2. learned movement pattern coordination
3. info processing, integration and relay from the cerebral cortex

81
Q

examples of basal nuclei

A
  1. globus pallidus
  2. putamen
  3. amygdaloid body –> initiates fear
  4. caudate nucleus
  5. claustrum
82
Q

caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus function

A

controls arm and leg cycles when walking

83
Q

claustrum function

A

subconscious processing of visual information

84
Q

amygdaloid body

A

part of the limbic system, initiates emotions such as fear

85
Q

what is the function of the limbic system?

A

it’s primary function is for memory storage and retrieval, it can also establish emotional states

structures to note…
1. hippocampus
2. parahippocampal gyrus
3. cingulate gyrus
4. fornix

86
Q

taxi driver example

A

since the limbic system is involved in memory storage, UK taxi drivers were found to have large hippocampuses because they need to memorize routes in the UK

BILD X13 (26 decks)

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