Brain Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

The Human Brain

A

organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals; weighs 3 lbs; consumes 20% of the body’s oxygen supply; it consists of 86 billion neurons and 85 billion glial cells

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2
Q

neuron

A

specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell

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3
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

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4
Q

cerebrum

A

largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, memory

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5
Q

cerebral cortex

A

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

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6
Q

right and left cerebral hemispheres

A

the two sides of the cerebrum joined by the corpus callosum; comprised of four lobes; some functions shared by redundant areas, while others (e. g. speech – Broca’s area) are focused on one side

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7
Q

frontal lobe

A

lobe that includes behavioral traits (personality, decision making), motor control, and makes sense of info about the environment, memories, and emotions

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8
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

part of the frontal lobe that exercises executive functions–the ability to make complex and socially mindful decisions based on memories and predictions

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9
Q

motor cortex

A

part of the frontal lobe that ensures movements are intentional, precise and coordinated with sensory perception

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10
Q

broca’s area

A

part of the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe responsible for production and coordination of speech

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11
Q

occipital lobe

A

lobe that decodes visual signals from the retina via the thalamus

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12
Q

parietal lobe

A

lobe that integrates info from our senses

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13
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

part of the parietal lobe that receives info from touch receptors

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14
Q

temporal lobe

A

lobe that houses memories, emotions, and language comprehension

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15
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

part of the left temporal lobe that allows language comprehension, both written and spoken

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16
Q

cingulate cortex

A

inner part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing the emotional distress of pain; considered to be part of the limbic system

17
Q

meningeal layers

A

3 membranes that lie underneath the skull; the dura mater (tough mother) arachnoid (spider web-like), and pia mater (tender mother); arteries and veins bring blood to and from brain and heart in this area

18
Q

brain stem

A

directs heart rate and breathing; involved in sleep-wake cycle, attention, temperature regulation, vision, hearing, and motor control of muscles in the face and neck; divided into 3 structures: midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, and the reticular formation

19
Q

midbrain

A

cluster of dopamine-producing cells in the brain stem that help regulate movement

20
Q

pons

A

part of the brain stem that contains the locus ceruleus, and area important for attention

21
Q

medulla oblongata

A

part of the brain stem that controls breathing

22
Q

reticular formation

A

part of the brain stem that has a central role in states of consciousness like alertness and sleep

23
Q

spinal cord

A

bundle of nerves that run through the backbone from the medulla oblongata to the lower back

24
Q

limbic system

A

consists of a group of structures responsible for motivation, emotion, learning and memory; includes: the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus/cortex

25
Q

amygdala

A

small, almond-shaped part of the limbic system that links fear, aggression, and anxiety to knowledge of people or places; ensures that threats can be recognized and avoided in the future

26
Q

hippocampus

A

part of the limbic system responsible for short and long-term memory; produces new neurons even when the rest of the brain stops growing early in childhood; creates mental maps of places (spatial memory)

27
Q

hypothalamus

A

part of the limbic system that links the brain and spinal cord (the CNS or central nervous system) with the endocrine system (glands that release hormones); controls the pituitary gland; regulates body temperature, thirst, hunger, circadian rhythms; promotes bonding between family members; bridges subconscious signals from brain stem with signals from the cerebral cortex

28
Q

thalimus

A

“grand central station” located in middle of brain; relays info about most of our senses (vision, hearing, touch, proprioception–awareness of body position, and taste) with the rest of the brain

29
Q

ventricles

A

4 cavities; contain cerebrospinal fluid which protects nourishes and cleans up after brain; supports weight of brain

30
Q

pituitary gland

A

produces and releases hormones controlling bodily functions and behaviors; relays signals from hypothalamus to glands throughout body

31
Q

basal ganglia

A

group of structures in the limbic system (including the caudate nucleus which is associated with pursuing rewards) that control voluntary movements, habitual behaviors, and emotions

32
Q

cerebellum

A

the “little brain” which coordinates muscular activity, maintains equilibrium; important in honing practices, talents; contains 70 billion neurons (5x the cerebral cortex)

33
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick wide bundle of neural connections linking the left and right hemispheres

34
Q

olfactory bulb

A

specialized area of the cortex that processes sense of smell; closely tied to emotion and memory due to direct connections with amygdala and hippocampus

35
Q

cranial nerves

A

group of 12 fiber bundles that transmit impulses of sensation; control muscles in the neck and head; 10 originate in the brain stem, 2 originate in the cerebral cortex

36
Q

optic nerve

A

cranial nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

37
Q

optic chiasm

A

point at which optic nerve fibers cross in the brain

38
Q

sulci

A

shallow grooves that separate gyri

39
Q

gyri

A

ridges of the brain