Divisions of Brain Flashcards
brainstem
- connects spinal cord to cerebrum
- contains medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, and reticular formation
- location of cranial nerve nuclei
medulla oblongata
- most inferior part of brain stem
- regulating heart rate, blood vessel diameter, respiration, swallowing, vomiting, hiccupping, coughing, and sneezing
pons
- superior to medulla oblongata
- relay information between cerebrum and cerebellum
- site of reflex centers
midbrain (mesencephalon)
- superior to pons
- visual reflex center
- auditory pathway
reticular formation
- scattered throughout brain stem
- controls motor control, pain perception, rhythmic contractions and sleep wake cycle
cerebellum
- attached to brainstem- posterior to pons
- controls muscle movement and tone
- intentional movement and learning motor skills
diencephalon
connects brainstem to cerebrum
- relay and homeostatic functions
- contains thalamus, subthalamus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus
thalamus
- largest part of diencephalon
- major sensory relay center
- influences mood and movement
subthalamus
- inferior to thalamus
- involved in controlling motor functions
epithalamus
- superior and posterior to thalamus
- contains habenula- sense of smell (emotional and viscereal response)
- pineal gland- sleep wake cycle
hypothalamus
- most inferior portion
- maintaining homeostasis and regulates endocrine function
- pituitary gland- secretion of hormones
cerebrum
controls conscious perception, thought, and conscious motor activity
-contains basal nuclei and limbic system
basal nuclei
- located in inferior cerebrum, diencephalon, and midbrain
- controls muscle activity
limbic system
- parts of cerebrum and diencephalon
- survival functions- memory, reproduction, and nutrition
longitudinal fissure
divides left and right hemispheres
central sulcus
between frontal and parietal lobes- across lateral surface
frontal lobe
voluntary motor function, motivation, aggression, sense of smell, and mood
parietal lobe
evaluates sensory information (except smell, hearing, taste, and vision)
occipital lobe
visual input
temporal lobe
smell, hearing, memory
lateral fissure
separates temporal lobe from rest of cerebrum
corpus callosum
commissural fibers connecting two cerebral hemispheres
