Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Yr 2 - Control > Intro to Human Brain > Flashcards

Intro to Human Brain Flashcards

1
Q

What is a neuron?

A
  • Most basic functional unit of nervous system
  • Convey information via electrical signals
  • Receive, Integrate, Transmit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are afferent neurons?

A
  • Typically sensory neurons
  • Carry info from receptors to the CNS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are efferent neurons?

A
  • Typically motor neurons
  • Carry info from CNS to peripheral effectors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are interneurons?

A

Link afferent directly to efferent neurons within the CNS (e.g. important in reflex response)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a dendrite? What is their function?

A
  • Branch-like structures extending away from the cell body
  • Receive messages from other neurons and allow those messages to travel to the cell body where info is processed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the cell body of a neuron contain?

A

a nucleus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other cellular components.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an axon? What is its function?

A

A tube-like structure that carries an electrical impulse from the cell body (or from another cell’s dendrites) to the structures at opposite end of the neuron—axon terminals, which can then pass the impulse to another neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an axon hillock?

A

Connection between cell body and axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is connection between presynaptic and postsynaptic cell called?

A

A synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a synapse? What happens here?

A
  • The chemical junction between the axon terminals of presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of the postsynaptic
  • It is a gap where neurotransmitters are released from presynaptic to postsynaptic –> causes a response in the next neuron
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the myelin sheath? Is it found on every neuron? What is its function?

A
  • Fatty sheath around some neurons
  • Acts as insulation to minimise dissipation of the electrical signal as it travels down the axon
    • Greatly increases the speed of conduction of the electrical signal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Conduction velocity in myelinated axons is proportional to what?

A

Axon diameter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How can vertebrates can get away with small axons?

A

by wrapping them in an insulator substance (myelin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are periodic gaps in the myelin sheath called? What happens here?

A

Nodes of Ranvier - the signal is “recharged” as it travels along the axon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is myelin produced by?

A

Glial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are glial cells? What is their function?

A

Non-neuronal cells that provide support for the nervous system:

  • Hold neurons in place
  • Supply them with nutrients
  • Provide insulation (myelin)
  • Remove pathogens and dead neurons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In the CNS, what are the glial cells that form the myelin sheath called?

A

oligodendrocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In the PNS, what are the glial cells that form the myelin sheath called?

A

Schwann cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the 4 different shapes of neurons?

A
  1. Unipolar
  2. Bipolar
  3. Multipolar
  4. Pseudounipolar
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe a bipolar neuron

A

Neuron has 2 projections arising from cell body:

  1. One is a dendrite (which can then branch)
  2. Other one is an axon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where are bipolar neurons typically found?

A

They are sensory neurons found in olfactory epithelium, the retina of the eye, and ganglia of the vestibulocochlear nerve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe a multipolar neuron

A

Multiple projections arising from cell body (1 of them is the axon –> can only have one axon)

i.e. single axon and multiple dendrites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where are multipolar neurons typically found?

A

They are the most common type - typically motor neurons have this structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the structure of motor neurones?

A

Multipolar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Describe a unipolar neuron
Only **one projection** coming from cell body
26
Difference between unipolar and pseudounipolar neuron?
* Both have only one projection coming from cell body * Pseudounipolar have **an axon that branches into two extensions**: * one connected to dendrites that receive sensory information * one that transmits this information to the spinal cord.
27
What type of neuron aree all pseudounipolar neurons?
Sensory
28
Subdivisions of the nervous system
29
Anatomically, what 4 parts can the CNS be divided into?
1. Cerebrum (forebrain) 2. Brainstem 3. Cerebellum 4. Spinal cord
30
What is the cerebrum?
the uppermost part of the brain, containing the major lobes of the brain
31
What 2 parts does the cerebrum consist of?
1. Outer brain 2. Inner brain
32
What is the outer brain also referred to as?
Telencephalon / cerebral hemisphere
33
What is the inner brain also referred to as?
Diencephalon
34
What 3 distinct regions is the brainstem divided into?
1. Midbrain 2. Pons 3. Medulla oblongata
35
Where is the cerebellum?
Posterior to the brainstem
36
What part of the brain stem is the spinal cord connected to?
Medulla oblongata
37
What can the cerebral hemisphere be divided into?
Left and right hemisphere
38
Medial surface of cerebral hemispheres (sagittal section)
39
Describe location of parts of brainstem
* Midbrain - most superior, directly connected to diencephalon * Pons - ball shaped structure just inferior * Medulla oblongata - most inferior
40
Which part of the brainstem is directly connected to diencephalon?
Midbrain
41
What is the corpus callosum?
a large, C-shaped nerve fibre bundle that stretches across the midline of the brain, connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres.
42
Which structure connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres?
Corpus callosum
43
What is the most visible external feature of the human brain?
Cerebral hemispheres
44
What are the 2 cerebral hemispheres separated by?
Longitudinal fissure / superior sagittal fissure
45
What is the surface of the cerebral hemispheres marked by?
oby elevated ridges (gyri) and grooves (sulci)
46
Is the corpus callosum grey or white matter?
It makes up the largest collection of white matter tissue found in the brain.
47
what does white matter contain?
Is a collection of **axons**, most of which are surrounded by myelin which gives white matter its colour
48
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outermost layer of the brain - i.e. surface of cerebral hemispheres
49
Why is the cerebral cortex heavily folded?
To increase surface area
50
Is the cerebral cortex composed of grey or white matter?
Grey matter
51
What does grey matter contain?
Composed mainly of **neuronal cell bodies** and **unmyelinated axons**
52
What is a gyrus (pl. gyri)?
A fold
53
What is a sulcus (pl. sulci)?
Groove
54
White and grey matter diagram
55
What are the basal ganglia?
a group of grey matter nuclei in the deep aspects of the brain
56
What is lissencephaly?
**Smooth brain** - a set of rare brain disorders where the whole or parts of the surface of the brain appear smooth.
57
Do all of our brains start out as smooth?
yes - then develop characteristic shape
58
What is lissencephaly caused by?
Caused by defective neuronal migration during the 12th to 24th weeks of gestation resulting in a lack of development of brain folds (gyri) and grooves (sulci).
59
Specific sucli are used to divide the cerebral hemispheres into lobes. What does the **central sulcus** divide?
This separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe behind
60
What does the lateral sulcus divide?
This separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe.
61
What is the parieto-occipital sulcus?
Separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe
62
What 4 lobes is each cerebral hemisphere divided into?
1. Frontal 2. Parietal 3. Occipital 4. Temporal (diagram is lateral view)
63
Medial view of lobes
64
Sulci allow specific gyri to be identified. What is found anterior to the central sulcus? Posterior?
Anterior to central sulcus: precentral gyrus Posterior to central sulcus: postcentral gyrus
65
What does the precentral gyrus function as?
The motor cortex: responsible for initiating motor control
66
What does the postcentral gyrus function as?
Primary sensory cortex: receiving sensory information
67
Organisation of cerebral cortex
68
Deep grey matter forms part of the hemispheres. What makes up this grey matter?
* Basal ganglia * Limbic structures
69
What is the diencephalon?
Inner brain
70
What does the diencephalon include?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
71
What does the hypothalamus control?
The autonomic nervous system
72
Function of thalamus?
important relay station between brainstem, spinal cord, and the cerebral cortex i. e. receive info from CNS and pass it onto cerebrum i. e. recieve info from cerebrum and pass it onto CNS
73
Inferior / ventral surface diagram
74
The inferior/ventral view reveals a series of nerves. What are these nerves called?
Cranial nerves - these generally supply structures within the head and neck
75
How many are the subdivisions of the CNS?
6: Cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, midbrain, medulla, pons and cerebellum, spinal cord OR (depends on textbook - pons and cerebellum come from **same embryonic origin**) 7: Cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, midbrain, medulla, pons, cerebellum and spinal cord
76
Which gyrus functions as the motor cortex?
Precentral gyrus
77
Which gyrus functions as the sensory cortex?
postcentral gyrus
78
What separates the pre and postcentral gyri?
Central sulcus

Yr 2 - Control (71 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions