cerebral cortex Flashcards
what does the cerebral cortex consist of?
The cerebral cortex consists of the outer layer of cells on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres
what is the cerebral cortex?
It is the part of the brain to which all sensory information is eventually sent, and where it is consciously perceived
(The cortex is also where motor actions initiated)
why is the cerebral cortex important?
The cerebral cortex is vital for conscious awareness, thought, memory and intellect.
what are the outer cells of the cerebral cortex called?
grey matter (neuronal cell bodies)
what do the axons of the neurones in the cortex do?
The axons of the neurones in the cortex extend inward, contributing to the white matter in the cerebral hemispheres.
what does grey matter represent?
grey matter represents sites of neural processing
what is neural processing?
Neural processing refers to the way in which the nervous system receives, interprets, and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals between neurons.
when does neural processing occur?
neural processing only occurs where neurones synapse on the cell bodies and dendrites of other neurones
what does white matter reflect?
White matter reflects the pathways that carry the neural message: they are millions of axons that connect one part of the brain with others, or with segments of the spinal cord.
how thick is the cortex?
3-5 mm
what do the folds in the cortex produce?
The folds produce gyri, sulci and fissures.
what do the folds in the cortex do?
the extensive folding increases the area of cortex, allowing more neurones to be packed into a smaller space
what is the Gyri and the sulci?
Gyri (sing. Gyrus) are the bulges of the folds
and sulci (sing. Sulcus) are the valleys
what is the fissures?
Fissures are valleys that are considerably deeper than sulci
how is communication between the areas of the cortex possible?
Communication between areas of the
cortex is possible via white matter
pathways
