Brain Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What does the brain consist of?
Cerebrum (R and L)
Cerebellum
Brain stem
What is the brain composed of?
Gray matter on outer surface, white matter tracts inside
What are the supportive structures of the brain?
Skull/cranium
Meninges
What supportive structure has 3 layers of membranes all continuous with membranes that cover and protect the spinal cord?
Meninges
What are the three types of meninges membranes?
Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
What is the outermost meninges layer known as “tough mother”?
Dura mater
What meninges is a thick, fibrous membrane that adheres to the cranium?
Dura mater
Where is the epidural space located?
area between the dura mater and the skull
What is the middle meninges layer?
Arachnoid
Where is the subdural space located?
The area between the dura mater and arachnoid layer
What meninges is the innermost layer, adheres to the brain itself, and contains cerebral circulation?
Pia mater
Where is the subarachnoid space located?
Area between the arachnoid and pia mater layers
What bathers the brain and circulates within the pia mater?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What is the highest center of the CNS and largest part of the brain?
Cerebral cortex
What is a large information storage area?
Cerebral cortex
What is termed gray matter?
Cerebral cortex
What are the two halves of the cerebral cortex called?
Hemispheres
What are the grooves in the cortex called?
Fissures or sulci
What are the lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal lobe
Occipital lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Where is the frontal lobe located?
frontal part of the cortex
Where is the occipital lobe located?
back part of the cortex
Where is the parietal lobe located?
in between the frontal and occipital and sort of on top
Where is the temporal lobe located?
above the ear
What lobe is the primary motor cortex and responsible for voluntary control of complex motor activities (Speech (Broca’s Area))?
Frontal lobe
What lobe has motor function mostly initiated from precentral gyrus area of this lobe and has been mapped to represent the portion of the brain dedicated to the motor function of specific body regions?
Frontal lobe
What lobe also exhibits strong influence over cognitive functions (judgement, attention, awareness, abstract thinking, mood, aggression “executive” functions (the boss)?
Frontal lobe
What lobe is the primary sensory cortex?
Parietal
What lobe processes incoming sensory information and meaning (perception) of stimuli attached thats delivered to the postcentral gyrus area?
Parietal
What lobe plays a role in short-term memory functions?
Parietal
What lobe is the primary auditory cortex?
Temporal
What part of the temporal lobe allows one to hear and comprehend language?
Wernicke’s area
What lobe processes visual perception, musical discrimination, and long-term memory?
Temporal
What lobe is the primary visual cortex?
Occipital
What lobe organizes, integrates, and interprets visual information?
Occipital
How does the right and left hemisphere of the cerebrum communicate?
corpus callosum
What is a large group of axons that connect the two hemispheres that allow individuals to be analytic yet still grasp broad general concepts?
Corpus callosum
What is considered the dominant hemisphere?
The one responsible for language
Approx. 95% of the population is considered which hemisphere dominant?
Left
What are the left hemisphere functions?
- Verbal or analytic side
- Allows for processing of information in sequential, organized, logical, or linear manner
- Expression of positive emotions
- Common impairments (apraxia (difficulty with motor planning); difficulty in initiating, sequencing, processing a task; difficulty in producing or comprehending speech; perseveration of speech or motor behaviors; anxiousness)
What are the right hemispheres function?
- Responsible for individual’s nonverbal or artistic abilities
- Allow individuals to process info in complete or holistic fashion without specifically reviewing all details
- Hand eye coordination, spatial relationships, perception of one’s position in space
- Ability to communicate nonverbally and comprehend what is being expressed
- Understanding facial gestures and recognizing visual-spatial relationships and being aware of body images
- Mathematical reasoning and judgement, sustaining a posture or movement, and perceiving negative emotions
- Common impairments (poor judgement, unrealistic expectations, denial of disability or deficits, disturbances in body image, irritability, and lethargy)
What are the deeper brain structures?
Internal capsule
Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus)
Basal Ganglia
Limbic System
What deeper brain structure includes parts of the thalamus, hypothalamus, and portion of the frontal and temporal lobes?
Limbic system
What deeper brain structure appears to control memory, pain, pleasure, rage, affection, sexual interest, fear, and sorrow?
Limbic System
What deeper brain structure contains all pathways that allow information to be transferred between the cerebral cortex and spinal cord, brainstem, and subcortical structures?
Internal capsule
What deeper brain structure contains the corticospinal tract?
Posterior limb of the internal capsule
What can occur if a lesion appears in the posterior limb of the internal capsule?
Can cause contralateral loss of voluntary movement and the ability to perceive tactile and proprioceptive input due to it containing so many vital communication tracts
What deeper structure is composed of the thalamus and hypothalamus?
Diencephalon
What deeper structure is where the major sensory tracts (dorsal columns and spinothalamic) and visual and auditory pathways synapse?
Diencephalon
What deeper structure is a central relay station for sensory impulses traveling upward from the body/brain to the cerebrum?
Thalamus-Diencephalon
What deeper structure receives all sensory impulses (except smell) and channels them to the appropriate cortex region for interpretation and motor neuron from the basal ganglia and cerebellum to the appropriate motor region?
Thalamus-Diencephalon
What deeper structure is a group of nuclei at the base of cerebrum?
Hypothalamus-Diencephalon
What deeper structures regulates homeostasis?
Hypothalamus-Diencephalon
What deeper structures is primarily involved in automatic functions (regulation of hunger, thirst, digestion, body temp, blood pressure, sexual activity, and sleep-wake cycles?
Hypothalamus-Diencephalon
What deeper structure regulates the pituitary gland?
Hypothalamus-Diencephalon
