Ch 2 Definitions: Functional Neuroanatomy & the Evolution of the Nervous System Flashcards
anterior
front
posterior
back
superior
top
inferior
bottom
midline
imaginary line that
divides the body into 2 halves
ipsilateral
structures on the same side of the midline
contralateral
structures on opposite sides of the midline
medial
midline
lateral
away from the midline
proximal
closer to center;
usually applied to limbs;
opposite of distal
distal
further away from another structure,
usually in reference to limbs
coronal/frontal section
an anatomical section dividing the brain
front to back,
parallel to the face
sagittal section
an anatomical section that is
parallel to the midline
midsagittal section
a sagittal section that
divides the brain
into to approximately equal halves
horizontal/axial/transverse
an anatomical section that
divides the brain
from top to bottom
meninges
the 3 layers of membranes
that cover the CNS and the peripheral nerves
dura mater
outermost layer of meninges
found in both CNS and PNS
arachnoid layer
middle layer of meninges
covering the CNS
pia mater
innermost layer of meninges
found in both CNS and PNS
subarachnoid space
a space filled with CSF
that lies between arachnoid and pia mater layers
of the meninges in the CNS
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
the special plasma-like fluid circulation
within the ventricles of the brain,
the central canal of the spinal cord,
and the subarachnoid space
ventricle
one of the 4 hollow spaces
within the brain
that contain CSF
choroid plexus
the lining of the ventricles,
which secretes the CSF
central canal
the small midline channel
in the spinal cord
that contains CSF
carotid artery
one of the two major blood vessels
that travel up the sides of the neck
to supply the brain
vertebral artery
one of the important blood vessels
that enters the brain from the back of the skull
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the nerves exiting the brain and spinal cord
that serve sensory and motor functions
for the rest of the body
spinal cord
a long cylinder of nervous tissue
extending from the medulla
to the first lumbar vertebra
vertebral column
the bones of the spinal column
that protect and enclose
the spinal cord
cervical nerve
1 of 8 spinal nerves
that serve the area of
the head, neck, and arms
thoracic nerve
1 of 12 spinal nerves
that serve
the torso
lumbar nerve
1 of 5 spinal nerves
that serve the
lower back and legs
sacral nerve
1 of 5 spinal nerves
that serve the
backs of the legs and genitals
coccygeal nerve
the most caudal
of the spinal nerves
white matter
an area of neural tissue
primarily made up of
myelinated axons
gray matter
an area of neural tissue
primarily made up of
cell bodies
dorsal horns
gray matter
in the spinal cord
that contains sensory neurons
ventral horns
gray matter
in the spinal cord
that contains motor neurons
reflex
an involuntary
action or response
patellar reflex
the knee-jerk reflex a spinal reflex in which tapping below the knee produces a reflexive contraction of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh, causing the foot to kick
withdrawal reflex
a spinal reflex
that pulls a body part
away from a source of pain
hindbrain
the most caudal division of the brain,
including the
medulla, pons, and cerebellum
midbrain
the division of the brain
lying between the hindbrain and forebrain,
including the
superior and inferior colliculi, periaqueductal gray, red nucleus, and substantia nigra
forebrain
the division of the brain
containing the diencephalon and telencephalon
brainstem
the hindbrain and midbrain
pons
a structure located in the metencephalon
between the medulla and midbrain
that participates in the management of states of consciousness
cerebellum
a structure located in the metencephalon
that participates in balance, muscle tone, muscle coordination, some types of learning, and possibly higher cognitive functions in humans
myelencephalon/medulla
the most caudal part of the hindbrain
nuclei
collections of cell bodies that share a function
reticular formation
a collection of brainstem nuclei,
located near the midline from the rostral medulla up into the midbrain,
that regulate consciousness, arousal, movement, and pain
metencephalon
the division of the hindbrain
containing the pons and cerebellum
cochlear nucleus
a group of cell bodies
in the pons
that receives information about sound
from the inner ear
vestibular nucleus
a group of cell bodies in the pons that receives input about location and movement of head from sensory structures in the inner ear
raphe nuclei
nuclei located
in the pons
that participate in the regulation of
sleep, arousal, mood, appetite, and aggression
locus coeruleus
a structure in the pons
that participates in
arousal, sleep, and mood
mesencephalon
another term for midbrain,
the division of the brain
lying between the hindbrain and forebrain
tectum
the “roof”
or dorsal portion
of the midbrain
tegmentum
the “covering”
or ventral portion
of the midbrain
cerebral aqueduct
the small channel running along
the midline of the midbrain
that connects the 3rd and 4th ventricles
periaqueductal gray
gray matter surrounding
the cerebral aqueduct of the midbrain
that is believed to play roles in
sleep, complex movements, and the sensation of pain
red nucleus
a structure located within
the reticular formation
that communicates motor information
between the spinal cord and the cerebellum
substantia nigra
midbrain nuclei that communicate
with the basal ganglia
of the forebrain
superior colliculi
a pair of bumps
on the dorsal surface of the midbrain
that coordinates
visually guided movements and visual reflexes
inferior colliculi
a pair of bumps
on the dorsal surface of the midbrain
that processes auditory information
diencephalon
a division of the forebrain
made up of
the hypothalamus and the thalamus
telencephalon
the division of the brain
comprising the cerebral hemispheres
cerebral hemispheres
one of the two large, globular structures that make up
the telencephalon of the forebrain
thalamus
a structure in the diencephalon
that processes sensory information,
contributes to states of arousal,
and participates in learning and memory
hypothalamus
a structure found in the diencephalon
that participates in
the regulation of hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and aggression
pituitary gland
a gland located just above the roof of the mouth
that is connected to the hypothalamus
and serves as
a major source of hormones
basal ganglia
a collection of nuclei
within the cerebral hemispheres
that participate in
the control of voluntary movement
caudate nucleus
one of the major nuclei
that make up
the basal ganglia
putamen
one of the nuclei
contained in
the basal ganglia
globus pallidus
one of the nuclei
making up
the basal ganglia
subthalamic nucleus
a small nucleus,
located ventral to the thalamus,
that is part of the basal ganglia
nucleus accumbens
a small nucleus
associated with the basal ganglia
known to be important in reward and addiction
AKA the ventral striatum
limbic system
a collection of
forebrain structures
that participate in
emotional behavior, motivated behavior, and learning
hippocampus
a structure deep within
the cerebral hemispheres
that is involved with the formation of long-term declarative memories;
part of the limbic system
parahippocampal gyrus
a fold of tissue
near the hippocampus
that is often included in the limbic system
fornix
a fiber pathway
connecting the hippocampus and mammillary bodies
that is often included in the limbic system
mammillary body
1 of 2 bumps
on the ventral surface of the brain
that participate in memory
and are included in the limbic system
amygdala
an almond-shaped structure
in the rostral temporal lobes
that is part of the limbic system
cingulate cortex
a segment of older cortex
just dorsal to the corpus callosum
that is part of the limbic system
septal area
an area anterior to the thalamus and hypothalamus
that participates in reward
and is often included as part of the limbic system
gyrus/gyri
one of the “hills” on the convoluted surface
of the cerebral cortex
sulcus/sulci
a “valley” in the convoluted surface
of the cerebral cortex
fissure
a large sulcus “valley”
granule cell
a small type of cell
found in layers II and IV
of the cerebral cortex
pyramidal cell
a large, triangular cell
found in layers III and V
of the cerebral cortex
lobe
one of the 4 major areas
of the cerebral cortex:
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
frontal lobe
the most rostral lobe
of the cerebral cortex,
separated from the parietal lobe by the central sulcus
and from the temporal lobe by the lateral sulcus
central sulcus
the fissure
separating the frontal and parietal lobes
of the cerebral cortex
parietal lobe
one of the four lobes
of the cerebral cortex;
located between
the frontal and occipital lobes
temporal lobe
the lobe of the cerebral cortex lying ventral and lateral to the frontal and parietal lobes and rostral to the occipital lobe
lateral sulcus
the fissure separating
the temporal and frontal lobes
of the cortex
occipital lobe
the most caudal lobe
of the cortex;
location of primary visual cortex
insula
the cortex located
within the lateral sulcus
between the frontal/parietal and temporal lobes
referred to as “5th lobe”
longitudinal fissure
the major fissure dividing
the 2 cerebral hemispheres
on the dorsal side of the brain
sensory cortex
an area of the cortex
that is devoted to
processing of sensory information
motor cortex
an area of the cortex
that is devoted to
the processing of movement
association cortex
an area of the cortex
that does not process sensory or motor information directly
but rather serves as a bridge
between areas that do process these functions
primary visual cortex
an area of the sensory cortex
located within the occipital lobe
that provides the initial cortical processing
of visual information
primary auditory cortex
an area of the sensory cortex
located within the temporal lobe
that provides the initial cortical processing
of sound information
postcentral gyrus
the fold of parietal lobe tissue
just caudal to the central sulcus;
the location of
the primary somatosensory cortex
primary somatosensory cortex
an area of the sensory cortex
located within the parietal lobe
that provides the highest level of processing
for body senses such as
touch, position, skin temperature, and pain
primary motor cortex
an area of the cortex located
within the frontal lobe
that provides the highest level of command
to the motor systems
precentral gyrus
the fold of frontal lobe tissue
just rostral to the central sulcus;
the location of
the primary motor cortex
corpus callosum
a wide band of axons
connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres
anterior commissure
a small bundle of axons
that connects structures
in the right and left cerebral hemispheres
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPC)s
an area located at the top and sides of the frontal lobe
that participates in executive functions such as
attention and the planning of behavior
orbitofrontal cortex
an area of the frontal lobe located just behind the eyes involved in impulse control; damage to this area can produce antisocial behavior
frontal lobotomy
a surgical procedure
in which a large portion of the frontal lobe
is separated from the rest of the brain
Broca’s area
an area near
the primary motor cortex
in the frontal lobe
that participates in speech production
somatic nervous system
the PNS division that
brings sensory input to the brain and spinal cord
and returns commands to the muscles
autonomic nervous system
the division of the PNS
that directs the activity of
the glands, organs, and smooth muscles of the body
endocrine system
glands that secrete hormones
directly into the blood supply
cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves
that exit the brain
as part of the PNS
olfactory nerve (I)
smell to brain
optic nerve (II)
from eyes to brain
oculomotor nerve (III)
controls muscles of the eye
trochlear nerve (IV)
controls muscles of the eye
trigeminal nerve (V)
controls chewing movements
and provides feedback regarding facial expression
abducens nerve (VI)
controls muscles of the eye
facial nerve (VII)
produces muscle movement
in facial expressions
and that carries taste information
back to the brain
auditory nerve (VIII)
from inner ear to brain
glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
manages both sensory and motor functions in throat
vagus nerve (X)
serves heart, liver, digestive tract
spinal accessory nerve (XI)
controls muscles of neck
hypoglossal nerve (XII)
responsible for movement of the tongue
mixed nerve
spinal nerves that carry both sensory and motor information
afferent nerve
carries sensory information
TO the CNS
efferent nerve
carries motor commands
AWAY from CNS
dorsal root ganglion
a collection of cell bodies
of afferent nerves
located just outside the spinal cord
biofeedback
a set of techniques
that enable people to control
typically unconscious or involuntary functions
such as blood pressure
sympathetic nervous system
the division of
the autonomic nervous system
that coordinates arousal
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of
the autonomic nervous system
responsible for rest and energy storage
enteric nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system
consisting of neurons embedded
in the lining of the gastrointestinal system
sympathetic chain
a string of cell bodies
outside of the spinal cord
that receive input from sympathetic neurons in the CNS
and that communicate with target organs
natural selection
the process by which favorable traits would become more common
and unfavorable traits would become less common in subsequent generations
due to differences among organisms
in their ability to produce successfully
fitness
the ability of an organism with one genetic makeup
to reproduce more successfully
than organisms with other types of genetic makeup
hominin
a primate in the Hominidae,
of which Homo sapiens is the only surviving member
chordates
the phylum of animals
that possess true brains and spinal cords
also know as vertebrates
Homo sapiens
the species of modern humans
