Chapter 13: Brain and Its Regions Flashcards
What are the four main areas of the brain
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Diencephalon
What are the three regions of the brain stem? What is the function of the brain stem?
medulla oblongata
pons
midbrain
The brain stem houses a lot of involuntary functions
medulla oblongata
The most inferior part of the brain stem. It is continuous with the spinal cord. The nuclei here help control heart rate, respiration, etc. as well as vomiting, hiccuping, etc.
On the anterior side there is a projection called the Pyramids.
Cranial nerves V, IX-XII
pons
superior to the medulla oblongata. Cranial nerve nuclei for V-VII.
pyramids
descending motor tracks from the medulla oblongata that cross or “decussate” which means that opposite sides of the brain control opposite sides of the body.
midbrain
the smallest portion of the brain stem.
houses nuclei for cranial nerves III-V
Has the tectum, red nuclei, and the substantia nigra
also called the mesencephalon
tecutem
four small projectsion on tthe superior part of the midbrain. each one is specific to certain senses (top two for sight, bottom two for hearing.
red nuclei
In the tegmentum: aid in unconscious regulation and coordination of motor activities
substantia nigra
pigmented with melanin; interconnected with basal nuclei of the cerebrum
tegmentum
ascending tracts such as spinal and medial lemniscus from spianl cord to brain.
descending tracts of midbrain
crebral penduncles from cerebrum through brain stem to spinal cord.
reticular formation
throughout the brainstem, these nuclei play rols in awareness, posture, pain, as well as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.
cerebellum
posterior and inferior portion of the brain. The ridges and folds are called “folia” that is white matter that resembles a tree. Also called “arbor vitae”
what are the three main portions of the cerebellum?
vermis
two lateral hemispheres (divided by primary fissure and anterior and posterior lobes)
flocculonodular lobe
purkinje cells
largest cells in the cerebellum. Over 200,000 synapses because it’s picking up a lot of information. One of the major jobs of the cerebellum is to coordinate movement from the cerebellum to the cerebrum.
diencephalon
internal to the cerebrum and superior to the cerebellum
what are the four parts of the diencephalon?
thalamus
subthalamus
epithalamus
hypothalamus
thalamus
two lateral portions connected through the “interthalemic adhesion”
Function is to receive sensory and emotional information and project it to the brain
What are the three sensory portions of the thalamus?
medial geniculate nucleus: auditory
lateral geniculate nucleus: visual
ventral posterior nucleus: other sensory
what portions of the thalamus suppports motor function?
ventral anterior and ventral lateral nuclei
what portions of the thalamus support mood modification?
anterior and medial nuclei which are connected to the limbic system
subthalamus
functions as part of the basal nuclei and supports ascending and descending tracts through the “subthalamic nuclei”
epithalamus
above and posterior to the thalamus.
habenula: influences behavior and motivation
pineal gland: influences sleep-wake cycle and other biorhythms (melatonin)
hypothalamus
the connection between the endocrine system and the nervous system.
Influences fight or flight response and sexual pleasure.
“mammillary bodies” are bulges on ventral side that control olfactory responses and emotional responses to odors.
“infundibulum” the stalk on the floor that controls the endocrine system from hypothalamus to pituitary gland.
