General Introduction Flashcards
Describe the meaning of the ‘outer world’ and the ‘inner world.’
The outer world is our external reality experienced by our sense organs.
The inner world is the activity of our brain.
What are the names and functions of the four lobes that the cerebral hemispheres are subdivided into?
The frontal lobe is involved in planning.
The temporal lobe controls our hearing.
The occipital lobes are responsible for our visual capacities.
The parietal lobe is involved in the logics of mathematics.
What are the three main grooves that separate the hemispheres into lobes?
The longitudinal fissure is a deep groove that separates the cerebral hemispheres.
The central sulcus runs from the top downward and forward until midway between the front and the rear poles of the hemisphere.
The lateral fissure runs backward and slightly upward between the temporal and parietal lobes.
Describe specifically where the speech area and the motor area are.
The speech area is the lower portion of the frontal lobes primarily on the left side.
The motor area is a thin strip of the frontal lobe in front of the central sulcus.
Where is the primary sensory area located and what is its function?
It’s located behind the central sulcus in the parietal lobe.
Nerve impulses related to pain, temperature and touch enter this area.
What are the three main parts of the hindbrain and their function?
The medulla oblongata controls respiration and heart rate.
The pons is a relay between cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum.
The cerebellum deals with muscle coordination and balance.
What is the inside lobe of the hemispheres called and it’s function?
The limbic lobe overlaps with the surface lobes and is involved in sexual and emotional aspects of behaviour and in processing memories.
What is the basal ganglia and its function?
They are large groups of cells forming discrete bodies at the base of each hemisphere.
Involved in programming and execution of movement.
What are the three main parts of the upper brain stem and their function?
Thalamus is a sensory gateway, with all senses except smell stopping hear before proceeding to the hemispheres.
The hypothalamus controls the visceral nervous system, stimulates contraction of muscle fibres, glandular excretion and regulates appetite, thirst and hormone excretion.
Pineal gland resembles biological clock, regulating body rhythms and sexual activity.
What is the middle portion of the brain stem called and its function?
The midbrain control automatic/reflex patterns associated with visual and auditory systems, and movement patterns.
What are the three types of nervous systems and their functions?
The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord activities.
The peripheral nervous system consists of cranial and spinal nerves, concerning both sensory and motor impulses.
The visceral nervous system/ autonomic nervous system is concerned with the nerve supply of cardiac muscles and glands.
What are the four main terms of direction in relation to the brain and spinal cord and where they describe?
Cranial/superior/dorsal is the top of the brain. Posterior is the back. Inferior/ventral is the bottom. Rostral/anterior is the front.
Referring to the spinal cord caudal/ inferior is down. Cranial/ superior/rostral is up. Dorsal/ posterior is backwards. Central/ anterior is forwards.
What are the four main planes of the brain?
The median/midline separate the two hemispheres.
Sagittal runs along the longitudinal axis.
Coronal/transverse is perpendicular to the long axis.
Horizontal parallel to earth’s horizon.
