Gross Brain, Brainstem, and Spinal Cord Flashcards
What is the CNS vs PNS?
CNS: brain and spinal cord
PNS: spinal and cranial nerves with branches from CNS
What is the forebrain composed of?
Cerebral hemispheres and diencephalon
Where is the brainstem located?
Between the forebrain and spinal cord
What is gray matter?
Areas containing neuronal/glial cell bodies and dendrites
What are nuceli?
Collection of cell bodies w/ common function
What is the cortex?
Layers of gray matter over other parts of the CNS (cerebral and cerebellar cortices)
What is white matter?
Areas where there is a collection of axons; many covered with myelin
Other terms for white matter include fasciculus, funiculus, lemniscus, peduncle, and tract
Most tract have 2 part names. What is the 1st part? What is the 2nd part?
1st Part: location of neuronal cell bodies from which axons originate
2nd Part: site the axons terminate
What is a gyrus?
Ridge of cortical tissue
What is a sulcus?
Groove located between gyri
What is a fissure?
Particularly deep sulci
What is the purpose of gyri and sulci?
Increases the total cortical area and total number of cortical neurons
What are the 4 prominent sulci?
Central sulcus, lateral sulcus, parietooccipital sulcus, and cingulate sulcus
What is the corpus callosum?
Huge fiber bundle that joins the 2 hemispheres
What makes up the lateral surface of the frontal lobe?
Precentral gyrus and superior/middle/inferior frontal gyri
Where is the primary motor cortex found?
Precentral gyrus
Where are the premotor and supplementary motor areas located?
Remainder of precentral gyrus and portions of frontal gyri
What is Broca’s area?
Important in motor aspects of written and spoken language; usually found on the left
What is the prefrontal cortex?
Occupies rest of frontal lobe; involved with executive functions, personality, decision making, insight, and foresight
What makes up the parietal lobe?
Postcentral gyrus and superior/inferior parietal lobules
What are the functions of the parietal lobe (3)?
1) Postcentral gyrus corresponds to primary somatosensory cortex; processes tactile and proprioceptive information and sensory localization
2) Inferior parietal lobule is involved in language comprehension
3) Remainder of parietal cortex has aspects in spatial orientation and directing attention
What makes up the temporal lobe?
Superior/middle/inferior temporal gyri; inferior surface is made up of the occipitotemporal (fusiform) gyrus; also the supramarginal and angular gyri
What are the functions of the temporal lobe (4)?
1) Superior surface, continuing as a small area of the superior temporal gyrus, is the primary auditory cortex
2) Wernicke’s area, usually on the left, is important in language comprehension
3) Inferior surface is involved in higher-order processing of visual information
4) Most medial part is involved in learning and memory
What makes up the limbic structures?
Cingulate and parahippocampal gyri
What is the uncus?
Anterior end of the parahippocampal gyrus that hooks backwards on itself
Where is Wernicke’s area found?
Posterior portion of superior temoral gyrus, typically on the left
Where is the amygdala found? What is its function?
Beneath the uncus of the temporal lobe; functions in fear
What is the insula? Where is it found?
Additional area of cerebral cortex not included in the 5 lobes; lies buried in lateral sulcus
What is the circular sulcus?
Outlines the insula and marks its borders with the opercular areas of the cortex
What are the 5 lobes of the brain?
Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and limbic lobes