Gross Anatomy of the Human Brain

Question 1

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 1

Two large neura; structures that sit atop the vertebrate brain stem, one on the left and one on the right; they mediate complex psychological processes.

Question 2

Brain stem

Answer 2

Central neural stem on which the two cerebral hemispheres sit; many brain stem structures play key roles in the regulation of the body’s inner environment.

Question 3

Telencephalon (TEL-en-SEF-a-lon)

Answer 3

Cerebral hemispheres; one of the two divisions of the forebrain (the other is the diencephalon).

Question 4

Diencephalon (DYE-en-SEF-a-lon)

Answer 4

Region of the brain between the telencephalon and the mesencephalon; one of the two divisions of the forebrain (the other is telencephalon); the most anterior (front) region of the brainstem.

Question 5

Mesencephalon (MEEZ-en-SEF-a-lon)

Answer 5

Midbrain; the region of the brain stem between the diencephalon and the metencephalon.

Question 6

Metencephalon (MET-en-SEF-a-lon)

Answer 6

Region of the brain stem between the mesencephalon and the myelencephalon; one of the two divisions of the hindbrain ( the other is the myelencephalon.

Question 7

Myelencephalon (MY-el-en-SEF-a-lon)

Answer 7

Most posterior region of the brain; the area between the metencephalon and the spinal cord; one of the two divisions of the hindbrain (the other is the metencephalon)

Question 8

Dura mater

Answer 8

outermost and toughest of the three meninges.

Question 9

Arachnoid membrane

Answer 9

Middle meninx; it has the texture of a gauze-like spider web.

Question 10

Pia mater (PEE-a)

Answer 10

Innermost and most delicate of the three menges; it adheres to the surface of the CNS.

Question 11

Subarachnoid space

Answer 11

Space between the main part of the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater; it contains cerebrospinal fluid, the web-like processes of the arachnoid layer, and many blood vessels.

Question 12

Cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 12

Fluid that fills both the subarachnoid space and the hollow core of the brain and spinal cord; it supports, nourishes,and cushions the CNS.

Question 13

Central canal

Answer 13

Cerebrospinal-fluid-filled internal space that runs the length of the spinal cord.

Question 14

Lateral ventricles

Answer 14

Ventricles of the left and right cerebral hemispheres; they are the largest of the four cerebral ventricles.

Question 15

Third ventricle

Answer 15

Cerebral ventricle of the diencephalon; it is a vertical sheet-shaped chamber that lies along the midline.

Question 16

Fourth ventricle

Answer 16

Cerebral ventricle of the metencephalon; it connects the cerebral aqueduct and the central canal.

Question 17

Cerebral aqueduct

Answer 17

Narrow channel that connects the third and fourth ventricles; most of it is located in the mesencephalon.

Question 18

Nuclei

Answer 18

Structures of the CNS that are composed largely of neural cell bodies; their function is the local analysis of neural signals.
(singular: nucleus)

Question 19

Tracts

Answer 19

Structures of the CNS that are composed largely of axons; their function is to conduct action potentials from one part of the CNS to another.

Question 20

Ganglia

Answer 20

Structures of the PNS that are composed largely of neural cell bodies; their function is the local analysis of neural signals.
(singular: ganglion)

Question 21

Nerves

Answer 21

Structures of the PNS that are composed largely of axons; their function is to conduct action potentials from one part of the PNS to another.

Question 22

Longitudinal fissure

Answer 22

Deep midline chasm between the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 23

Corpus callosum

Answer 23

By far the largest cerebral commissure; it is composed of about 200 million axons.

Question 24

Anterior commissure

Answer 24

Commissure that is located just inferior to anterior tip of the corpus callosum; a major route of communication between the left and right temporal lobes.

Question 25

Massa intermedia

Answer 25

Commissure that is located in the middle of the third ventricle; it is a route of communication between the left and right diencephalon, which is largely separated by the third ventricle.

Question 26

Olfactory nerves (1)

Answer 26

The first pair of cranial nerves; they carry sensory signals from the olfactory bulbs (nose) to the brain.

Question 27

Optic nerves (2)

Answer 27

The second pair of cranial nerves; they carry sensory signals from the visual receptors of the eyes to the brain.

Question 28

Vestibulocochlear nerves (8)

Answer 28

The eighth pair of cranial nerves, which carry sensory signals from the inner ear to brain; one branch carries sensory signals from the organs of balance (vestibular organs), and the other branch carries sensory signals from the organ of hearing (cochlea)

Question 29

Trigeminal nerves (5)

Answer 29

The fifth pair of cranial nerves, each of which has three major branches; they conduct motor signals from the brain to the muscles involved in chewing, and sensory signals from the same muscles and from other parts of the face to the brain.

Question 30

Vagus nerves (10)

Answer 30

The tenth and longest pair of cranial nerves; they conduct signals to and from the organs of the gut (to and from the heart, liver, and stomach).