Brainstem functions & Autonomic System Flashcards
The function of the Medulla Oblongata is…
- responsible for several functions of the autonomous nervous system which include:
- respiratory via cheoreceptors of the carotid and aortic bodies
- vasomotor via baroreceptors
- heart rate (cardiovascular center) - sympathetic NS & PSNS
Nerves that originate in the medulla oblongata are:
- CN IX - glossopharyngeal
- CN X - vagus
- CN XI - accessory
- CN XII - hypoglossal
Spinal tracts that cross at the medulla oblongata are:
- Dorsal columns
- Lateral corticospinal tract
The function of the Pons is:
- Secondary respiratory center
- apneutic and pneumotaxic centers
- Damage: will not have smooth transition from inspiration to expiration
Nerves that originate in the Pons are:
- CN 5
- CN 6
- CN 7
- Cn 8
Elevated regions of the brain are called
Gyri
Fissures in the brain are called
sulci
The Cerebrum consists of
- Cerebral cortex (exterior layer of gray matter), white matter and basal ganglia (islands of gray matter in interior)
The Cerebral cortex (exterior layer of the cerebrum) is sometimes called ________ and is composed of
- the “executive suite”, the conscious mind
- composed of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and associated glia and blood vessels
The cerebral cortex has the following three types of functional areas:
- Motor areas
- Sensory areas
- Association areas
All neurons in the cerebral cortex are
inteneurons
Each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is concerned with the sensory and motor functions of
- the contralateral (opposite) side of the body
- Damage to one hemisphere will affect the functions of the opposite side of the body
The primary motor cortex is located _______; it’s function is _________.
- In the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex on the precentral gyrus between the central sulcus and premotor cortex
- control of precise or skilled voluntary movement
- illustrated by the motor homunculus
Is the primary motor cortex ipsilateral or contralatera?
- Contralateral
- DAMAGE will result in loss of voluntary control of muscles on the opposite side of the body
Body regions of fine motor control as illustrated by the motor homunculus are:
- Lips, face, eye, thumb and fingers
Body regions of course motor control as illustrated by the motor homunculus are:
- Wrist, elbow, knees, toes, arm
The Premotor cortex is located ___________ and its function is _________
- anterior to the precentral gyrus in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex
- help plan movements
Broca’s Area is located ____________ and its function is ____________
- Anterior to the inferior region of the premotor cortex within the frontal lobe
- As a motor speech area which directs the muscles involved in speech production
What is Broca’s aphasia
- A type of aphasia where comprehension is usually preserved, but language production is not fluent. Aka expressive aphasia
- The language deficit ranges from muteness to slowed, simple speech using key words.
- They often express nouns as only singular and eliminate adjectives or adverbs (eg. “the large gray cat” becomes “gray cat”)
The Prefrontal cortex is located __________; its function is ___________
- At the anterior portion of the frontal lobe
- Function is integration of visual, auditory, and sensory info and plans the proper motor response
The Parietal lobe somatic sensory cortex (aka. Postcentral gyrus) is located ___________; its function is __________
- Postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe
- To receive information from the somatic sensory receptors of the skin and from proprioreceptors in skeletal muscles, joints and tendons and identify the body region being stimulated (spatial discrimination)
- represented by the sensory homunculus
Regions of high sensitivity (many receptors) as represented by the sensory homunculus are:
- Large: fingers, hands, cheek
Regions of low sensitivity (few receptors) as represented by the sensory homunculus are:
- Small: elbows, knees, back
The location of the somatosensory association cortex is __________; its function is ___________.
- Just posterior to the primary somatosensory cortex within the parietal lobe
- Integrate of sensory inputs (temperature, pressure etc) relayed by the primary somatosensory cortex to produce understanding of an object
- DAMAGE results in inability to recognise objects by touch
The gustatory cortex is located ________; it’s function is ________
- insula (parietal) deep to the temporal lobe
- perception of taste
The temporal lobe consists of
- Primary auditory cortex
- Auditory association cortex
- Olfactory cortex
The primary auditory cortex is located _________; it’s function is _______
- Temporal lobe
- perception of sound
The auditory association area is located ________; it’s function is ________.
- Temporal lobe
- memory to interpret perceived sound
Werniche’s Aphasia is
- aka. receptive aphasia of the left posterior temporal lobe
- Patient has the ability to speak, but does not understand being information being heard
- Cannot respond appropriately
- May have auditory hallucinations
The Occipital lobe consists of
- Primary visual cortex
- Visual association area
The Primary visual cortex is located ______; it’s function is _________
- Occipital lobe
- perception of light
The visual association center is located _________; it’s function is ________
- Occipital lobe
- integration and interpretation of visual inputs
The basic function of the cerebellum is
- control and integration of somatic motor activities
- smooth pursuit of movement
- Damage results in past pointing
- smooth pursuit of movement
- vestibular and postural reflexes
Past pointing is _________ and is caused by damage to the _______
- reaching past an object and using the eyes to walk back to pick it up
- Damage to the cerebellum
The left side of the cerebrum is associated with strengths in
- logical thought
- problem solving, particularly with math
- Motor control
- Speech
The right side of cerebrum is associated with strengths in
- intuitive thought
- subtle meanings of thought
- understanding jokes
- 3D spatialization
- musical aptitude
The Diencephalon consists of
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
- Epithalamus - Pineal body
The Thalamus is located in the ________; it’s function is __________
- diencephalon
- a relay station for all sensory information
- Govenor of sensory information
- Integrates all sensory info before reaching the cerebral cortex
The Hypothalamus is located _______; it’s function is _________
- maintenance of homeostasis through regulation of body “set” points
- Autonomic control center
- Endocrine control center
- Provides motivation for behavioral drives
The pineal body is located _________; it’s function is _______.
- part of the epithalamus within the diencephalon
- production of melatonin
- regulates circadian rhythm
- regulates reproductive cycles
The mesencephalon is located _______; it’s function is________
- contains visual and auditory reflex centers
- pupillary reflexes - sensory, motor, pupilloconstriction and accommodation reflex
- contains subcortical motor centers
- contains nuclei for CN III (occulomotor) and IV (trochlear)
- contains projection fibers which carry sensory impulses to other regions of the brain
The superior colliculi is the center for
visual reflex
The inferior colliculi is the center for
auditory reflex
The substantia nigra and red nuclei are
subcortical motor centers
