Gross Anatomy of the Brain & Spinal Cord Flashcards
What are the major divisions of the brain?
3 Major divisions
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Brainstem
What are the main functional features of the cerebrum?
- Divided into left & right hemispheres by a longitudinal fissure
- Surfaces area is increased by Gyri (the ridges) which are separates by sulci (the grooves)
What are the main functional features of cerebellum?
- Also divided into different lobes
- Ridges are called folia
What is the main functional feature of the brainstem?
- Connects brain to spinal cord
- Contains Medulla oblongata, pons & midbrain
What are the lobes of the cerebrum?
- Frontal lobe
- Parietal lobe (central sulcus in between frontal lobe and parietal lobe)
- occipital lobe
- temporal lobe
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
- largest lobe of brain
- Prefrontal cortex (problem solving, decision making, personality)
- Motor cortex (control & execution of movement)
- Broca’s area (production of speech)
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
- Processing of SENSORY information
- Primary Somatosensory cortex (S1) (tactile sensation etc)
- Posterior parietal cortex (spatial awareness)
What are the functions of the occipital lobe?
- Visual processing centre of brain
- Primary visual cortex
what are the functions of the temporal lobe?
- Processes sensory information
- auditory cortex (hearing, pitch, tone..)
- Wernicke’s area (language comprehension)
- Long term memory
Where is the corpus callosum roughly located?
very close to the centre of the brain
Describe the anatomy/location & major functions of the hypothalamus?
- Located inferior and anterior to the thalamus
- Involved in maintaining homeostasis (monitors internal environment like blood glucose and body temp)
- Controls release of hormones from pituitary gland
Describe the anatomy/location & major functions of the pituitary gland?
- Connected to the hypothalamus via PITUITARY STALK
- Regulates hormone release through releasing or inhibiting hormones
- Hormones released include: Growth hormone, thyroid & follicle stimulating hormone
What is acromegaly, the causes and symptoms & also what happens if left untreated?
What is a dental sign for acromegaly?
Caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland (can be pituitary tumour)
Symptoms: Growth of hands & feet, larger lips, noise tongue
If untreated: High blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnoea
What is acromegaly, the causes and symptoms & also what happens if left untreated?
What is a dental sign for acromegaly?
Caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland (can be pituitary tumour)
Symptoms: Growth of hands & feet, larger lips, noise tongue
If untreated: High blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnoea
- Increase in jaw size = leading to gaps between teeth
What is the ventricular system in the brain, how many ventricles are there and what is the function of it?
Cavity within the brain that stores and produces CSF
4 total ventricles;
- 2 Lateral ventricles (1 in each cerebral hemisphere)
- 3rd ventricle in the diencephalon (central portion of brain)
- 4th ventricle in the hindbrain (lower part of the brainstem)
