human brain

Question 1

what in the brain provides protection?

Answer 1

meninges and skull provide protection

Question 2

what does the brain do?

Answer 2

processes info from receptors to provide a coordinated response

Question 3

does the brain process reflexes?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

what is the cerebrum in control of?

Answer 4

• voluntary actions (conscious)
• learning, personality, memory, reasoning and decision making in frontal lobes

Question 5

describe the cerebrum

Answer 5

• received sensory info and interprets it using info stored from previous experiences
• it is highly convoluted = high SA = increases capacity for complex activity
• impulses from each side of body cross (each hemisphere controls one half of the body)
• right hemisphere recieves impulses from left hand side of body vice versa

Question 6

what is the cerebellum in control of?

Answer 6

• non voluntary actions
• subconscious control
• posture, movement, balance
• body position
• coordinates movement
• receives info and relays it to cerebral cortex

Question 7

what is the hypothalamus in control of?

Answer 7

• regulatory centre for temp and water potential
• main controlling centre for ANS
• it has 2 centres : parasympathetic and sympathetic
• controls complex patterns of behaviour like sleeping
• monitors blood plasma composition
• produces hormones

Question 8

function of pituitary gland

Answer 8

stores and releases hormones
- anterior pituitary (front) produces hormones involved in reproduction and growth
- posterior pituitary (back) stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus
-

Question 9

what is the medulla oblongata in control of?

Answer 9

• contains regulatory centres of ANS
• control reflexes, eg. BR and HR
• swallowing and coughing

Question 10

what 3 areas is the cerebral cortex subdivided into?

Answer 10

1. sensory areas
2. association areas
3. motor areas

Question 11

describe sensory areas

Answer 11

• receive A.P from sensory receptors, via sensory neurons
• size of sensory area is proportional to number of receptors that send N.I to an area

Question 12

describe association areas

Answer 12

compares sensory input with previous experience and interprets what the input means to give an appropriate response

Question 13

describe motor areas

Answer 13

• send A.P to effectors (muscles and glands)
• more complex movement needed = larger motor area allocated
• motors in LHS of brain control effectors in RHS effectors
  vice versa

Question 14

describe the corpus callosum

Answer 14

• major group of neurons that connects 2 cerebral hemispheres
• controls higher brain functioning

Question 15

advantage of having the brain as one big control centre for the body?

Answer 15

• allows for the fastest possible communication between neurones in body
• a lot faster than if there were multiple different control centres around the body.

Question 16

what is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres known as?

Answer 16

cerebral cortex