Chapter 2 Terms Flashcards
afferent
a pathway toward the brain or a particular structure
amygdala
a temporal lobe limbic system structure that controls emotional association
anterior thalamic nucleus
a thalamic nucleus that projects to the frontal cortex, complete of of the limbic circuits
arachnoid mater
the middle spongy layer of meninges
autonomic nervous system
nerves that control the visceral organs and involuntary muscles
basal ganglia
a collection of forebrain nuclei that are necessary for gross motor movements
basal forebrain
the telencephalic brain region anterior to the hypothalamus
blood brain barrier
a set of mechanisms the prevent the blood system form directly contacting the CSF
caudate nucleus
a basal ganglia nucleus that receives multimodal sensory input from the cortex.
central sulcus
the boundary between the frontal and parietal lobe
central canal
the CSF filled cavity that runs down the centre of the spinal cord
central nervous system
the brain and the spinal cord
cerebellum
a brain structure responsible for coordination of movements
cerebral peduncles
the midbrain pathways that appear to support the cerebral hemispheres
cerebral cortex
the convoluted surface layer of the brain
cerebral aqueduct
a narrow tube in the brain stem connecting the third ventricle with the fourth ventricle
cerebral hemisphere
one of the two halves of the forebrain
CSF
the extracellular fluid formed in the ventricles that surrounds, protects and nourishes cells in the nervous system
choroid plexus
spongy, highly vascularized tissue in the ventricles that produce CSF
cingulate gyrus
cortical gyrus through which information reaches the limbic system via the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus
commissure
a neural pathway connecting the same locations in the hemisphere
convolutions
prominent ridges on the surface of the brain
corpus callosum
the large pathway that connects the same cortical regions in each hemisphere
diencephalon
the most posterior division of the forebrain
dorsal horn
spinal region where sensory axons terminate in the spinal cord
dorsal root
entry pathway of sensory axons into the spinal cord
dura mater
the tough outermost layer of the meninges
dural sinus
an cavity found within the dura that collects used CSF
efferent
a pathway from the brain or a particular structure
entorhinal cortex
the outer cortex covering the hippocampus
ependymal cells
glial cells the line the brain ventricles
fight or flight response
a coordinated set of responses that prepares the body to deal with physical threats
fissure
deep valleys in the surface of the brain
fornix
a main limbic system pathway that connects the hippocampus with the septum and mammillary body
frontal lobe
the cortical lobe is responsible for planning and organization of responses
ganglion
a region in the peripheral nervous system where cell bodies of neurons are located
globus pallidus
the main output nucleus in the basal ganglia
gyrus
a ridge of cortical tissue (a convolution)
hippocampus
a central structure of the limbic system that mediates memory consolidation and plays a role in several mental disorders
hydrocephaly
a condition in which impaired circulation of CSF produces damaging pressure in the brain and can cause an infant’s skull to swell
hypothalamus
a diencephalic structure comprised of nuclei that control homeostasis and motivated behaviour
inferior colliculi
a midbrain relay structure for auditory information
insula
an area of cortex revealed by pulling the temporal lobe away from the hemisphere
internal capsule
the diverging fiber pathway
lateral fissure
this fissure that separates the temporal lobe from the rest of the brain
limbic system
a collection of brain nuclei that control emotions and mediate storage of memories
locus coeruleus
a brainstem nucleus that regulates arousal and attention
longitudinal fissure
a deep valley that divides the brain into two hemispheres
medial forebrain bundle
axons that travel through the hypothalamus and connect the brain stem with the forebrain
medulla oblongata
the lower brain region that controls vital functions
meninges
a series of 3 layer tissue layers that cover and protect the brain
mesencephalon
the middle division of the brain
metencephalon
the anterior division of the hindbrain
myelencephalon
the most posterior division of the hindbrain
neural tube
a tube in which the nervous system develops
nucleus accumbens
a major basal forebrain component of the pleasure system
occipital lobe
cortical lobe containing the visual cortex
parasympathetic nervous system
the branch of the autonomic nervous system the preserves energy in the body and promotes relaxation
parietal lobe
the cortical lobe responsible for spatial information processing - location of the “where” visual system
PNS
motor and sensory nervous in the body
pia mater
the delicate inner layer of the meninges
pineal gland
the diencephalic gland that rhythmically releases melatonin
pituitary gland
the main endocrine gland controlled by the hypothalamus
pons
the bridge that carries axons to and from the cerebellum
post central gyrus
the primary somatosensory cortex located in the parietal lobe
pre central gyrus
the primary motor cortex located in the frontal lobe
putamen
a basal ganglia nucleus that receives multimodal sensory input from the cortex
raphe nucelus
a brainstem nucleus that plays an important role in sleep
red nucleus
a midbrain motor nucleus
reticular formation
a collection of brainstem nuclei that is instrumental in controlling states of sleep and arousal
sensorimotor cortex
the pre and post central gyrus
septum
the basal forebrain component of the limbic system
somatic nervous system
sensory nerves and voluntary muscle motor neurons
somatotopic organization
a mapping of the regions of the body onto the regions of a gyrus
sub-arachnoid space
the compartment between the pia mater and the arachnoid mater that contains used CSF
substantia nigra
a mid brain motor nucleus that provides a dopaminergic pathway to the basal ganglia
sulcus
an indentation in the cortex that defines a convolution
superior colliculi
the midbrain visual nucleus that controls tracking movements
sympathetic nervous system
the branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to respond to stress
sympathetic chain ganglia
a series of connected ganglia just outside the spinal cord that allow a coordinated global sympathetic response
tectum
the dorsal surface of the midbrain
tegmentum
the ventral potion of the midbrain
telencephalon
the most anterior division of the forebrain
temporal lobe
the region of the brain found below the lateral fissure
thalamus
a diencephalic structure comprised of individual nuclei that relay information to the cerebral cortex
tract
a myelinated pathway in the brain
vagus nerve
a cranial nerve that controls parasympathetic activation of the vital organs
ventral root
exit pathway for spinal motor neurons
ventral tegmental area (VTA)
a major midbrain component in the brain’s pleasure system
ventricles
cavities in the brain where the CSF in produced
vertebrae
the bones that comprise the spine and provide protection for the spinal cord
