Brain structure and function Flashcards
what are the meninges
a series of membranes covering the brain, including the dura mater and Pia mater
what is the blood brain barrier
a semipermeable membrane that allows nutrients into the brain and blocks pathogens
what is CSF and where is it produced
cerebrospinal fluid, produced in the ventricles, acts as a mechanical and immune buffer for the brain
how many neurons and synapses are in the human brain
86 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses
what percentage of body mass and energy does the brain use
2% of body mass, 20% of energy
how many connections can a single neuron have
between 1,000 and 10,000
what does dorsal mean in brain anatomy
towards the top
what does ventral mean in brain anatomy
towards the bottom
what does anterior or rostral mean
towards the front
what does posterior or caudal mean
towards the back
what are the three main planes of the brain
- sagittal (left/right)
- axial/horizontal (top/bottom)
- coronal (front/back)
what does the hindbrain include
medulla, pons, cerebellum
what does the medulla oblongata control
life functions such as breathing, HR, and detecting toxins (vomiting)
function of cerebellum
coordinates fine motor control and voluntary movements
role of the pons
connects brainstem to cortex; relays signals between brain and spinal cord
what is the midbrain and why is it important
a small but essential link between the hindbrain and forebrain
what does the tectum include and what are their functions
- superior colliculus (vision)
- inferior colliculus (audition)
functions of tegmentum
coordinates movement, suppresses pain, and contributes to alertness
what are cerebral peduncles
bundles of nerve fibres that transport signals from the cortex to the CNS
what is the largest brain region
the largest brain region is the forebrain
what does the forebrain include
- cerebrum/cerebral cortex
- thalumus
- hypothalamus
what does cerebrum/cerebral cortex do
responsible for thinking, planning, and processing input (85% of brain volume)
what is the role of the thalamus
processes sensory information and regulates sleep
what does hypothalamus regulate
homeostasis, including temperature and blood pressure
what is cerebral cortex
the highly folded outer layer of the brain
thickness of cerebral cortex
1.5mm to 5mm thick
what are gyri and sulcus
- gyri = ridges in cerebral cortex
- sulci = grooves in cerebral cortex
why is cortical folding important
increases surface area of the brain and linked to higher cognitive ability
how is sensory input and motor control usually organised in the brain
contralaterally - e.g. left brain controls right body
what is the longitudinal fissure
a deep groove that separates the two brain hemispheres
what is corpus callosum
a thick band of 200 million axons that connects and allows communication between hemispheres
is brain lateralisation real?
partially - some functions such as language and visuospatial processing are lateralised
what does the central sulcus separate
the frontal and parietal lobes
what does the lateral sulcus separate
the frontal/parietal lobes from the temporal lobe
what question does the frontal lobe answer
“what should I do about it?”
what question does the parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes answer?
“what’s happening”
what percentage of the cortex is the frontal lobe
around 30%
what are the main regions of the frontal lobe
- PFC
- Premotor MC
- Primary MC
function of PFC
executive function
function of Premotor MC
plans movement
function of Primary MC
executes movement
where is parietal lobe located
behind the frontal lobe
what does parietal lobe do
integrates sensory information and supports spatial orientation
what is somatosensory cortex responsible for
processing touch, pain, and temperature information
what is the homunculus
a map showing how much cortical area is devoted to different body parts - more sensitive areas have more space
where is the temporal lobe
below the parietal and behind the frontal lobe
what does the temporal lobe do
processes auditory information, language, faces, and memory
which brain area is responsible for vision
the occipital lobe
A person with a severed corpus callosum cannot:
name objects presented to the left of their visual field
The crevices in the surface of the cortex are called:
sulci
One example of asymmetry in the brain is that the left side of the body is controlled by the ______ side of the brain.
right
Planning and decision making involve the ______.
PFC
The ______ lobe is located anterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral fissure.
frontal
