Brain Stuff Flashcards
What are the major areas of the brain? (Not Lobes)
Medulla Oblongata
Pons
Cerebellum
Mesencephalon (Midbrain)
Diencephalon
Cerebrum
What is the medulla oblongata?
It relays information to thalamus and brain stem
All communication between the brain and spinal cord pass through the medulla oblongata
It also has several nuclei
What is the function of the pons?
It relays information between thalamus and cerebellum
It also regulates subconscious motor centers
What is the function of the cerebellum?
It coordinates somatic motor function (heavily impacted by alcohol)
What is the function of the Mesencephalon (midbrain)?
It maintains consciousness and alertness and processes visual and auditory data
What makes up the Diencephalon?
The Thalamus and Hypothalamus
What is the function of the Thalamus?
It relays info to cerebrum and processes sensory information
What are the functions of the hypothalamus?
Subconscious control of skeletal muscles
Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestive functions
Secretion of anti diuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin
Emotional and behavioral drives and thirst drives
Coordination between voluntary and autonomic functions
Body temp
Circadian Rhythm
What is the Telencephalon also know as?
The cerebrum
What is the function of the Telencephalon?
It facilitates memory storage, conscious regulator skeletal muscle, and the conscious thought process
What does the cerebrum consist of? (Brain matter)
An Inner region of gray matter (cell bodies) surrounded by tracts of white matter
What are ventricles?
Fluid filled cavities
What is contained in the ventricles of the brain?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
How many ventricles of the brain are there?
4 (2 big lateral ventricles in the cerebral hemispheres, a 3rd ventricle, and a 4th ventricle (between the pons and cerebellum) (They are all connected via foramen and aqueduct to central canal)
What are ways the brain is protected?
Skull bones
Cranial meninges
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Blood-Brain barrier (BBB)
What are the names of the cranial meninges?
The Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater
How many layers does the Dura Mater have?
2: The Endosteal layer (This is the layer that’s felt within the anterior fontanel of a baby) and the Meningeal layer
What is the space between the layers of the Dura Meter called?
The dural sinus
What should you know about Arachnoid mater?
It’s weblike and CSF flows into subarachnoid space
What should you know about the Pia Meter?
It follows the sulci and gyri of the brain
How is CSF made?
It is produced by ependymal cells of choroid plexus which also remove waste from the CSF and transport nutrients, vitamins, and ions into the CSF
What is the BBB
It’s a lining of blood vessels that consists of endothelial cells that are highly interconnected by tight junctions (Due to this only lipid soluble material can pas between brain cells and spinal cords)
What does the cerebrum consist of?
Two hemispheres
Lobes
Gyri (Elevations) and Sulci (Indentations)
Longitudinal fissure
Corpus callosum
Basal nuclei
Limbic system
What are the 5 lobes of the brain?
The Frontal lobe
The Occipital lobe
The Parietal lobe
The Temporal lobe
The Insula
What are the two elevations near the central sulci called?
The Precentral gyrus (Primary motor cortex) (Anterior) and Postcentral gyrus (Somatosensory cortex) (Posterior)
What does the left hemisphere specialize in?
Speech, Writing, Language, Mathematics
What does the Right hemisphere specialize in?
Analysis by touch, spatial visualization
What does the Basal Nuclei consist of?
Caudate nucleus
Amygdaloid body
Claustrum
Putamen
Globes pallidus
Where is the limbic system?
It’s located between the cerebrum and the diencephalon
What is the function of the limbic system?
It establishes emotional states, links the conscious functions with the unconscious autonomic functions, and facilitates memory storage and retrieval
What does the limbic system consist of?
The Cingulate gyrus
The Dentate gyrus
The Parahippocampal structure
Hippocampus
How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
12 pairs (24 total)
