Introduction Flashcards
d: mental representation
the sense in which properties of the outside world (e.g. colours, objects) are copied/simulated by cognition
d: neural representation
the way in which properties of the outside world manifest themselves in the neural signal (e.g. different spiking rates for different stimuli)
d: anterior/rostral
front
d: posterior/caudal
back
d: dorsal
top
d: ventral
bottom
d: lateral
towards the side
d: medial
towards the middle
d: ipsilateral
same side
d: contralateral
opposite side
d: transverse section of the brain
right angle to the neuraxis (if you sliced from the top to the bottom, across the 2 hemispheres)
d: sagittal section of the brain
parallel to neuraxis and perpendicular to the ground (like the image for this topic)
d: horizontal section of the brain
slice taken parallel to the ground
What % of body weight does the brain take up?
2%
What is Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and what is its function?
Fluid surrounding the brain, it relieves some of the weight on the spinal cord.
What % of the blood supply does the brain use?
20%
What % of the blood oxygen does the brain use?
15-20%
What is the scienecy name for the layers of the skull?
meninges
What is the name of the outer most layer of the skull?
dura mater
What are the properties of the dura mater?
Tough, flexible, outermost meninx
What is the name for the middle layer of the skull?
Arachnoid
What are the properties of the arachnoid?
The Arachnoid is like a sheet of cling film that is draped over the brain. It does not dip into the valleys of the brain contour.
What is the name for the inner-most layer of the skull?
pia mater
What are the properties of the pia mater?
Last layer of the meninges, which adheres to the surface of the brain
Where is the gap for CSF to flow around the brain and what is it called?
Between the arachnoid meninx and the pia mater - this is called the subarachnoid space
What is the name for the gap in the skull where the CSF flows?
subarachnoid space
d: ventricles
a set of hollow chambers within the brain filled with CSF.
where is CSF made?
the ventricles, by the choroid plexus
Where is the forebrain?
The whole top of the brain, from the front down to before that weird bit at the bottom at the back
Where is the midbrain?
Directly continues from where the spinal cord meets the brain, on top of the hindbrain
Where is the hindbrain?
The weird bit at the back at the bottom of the brain & the brain stem
Which ventricles are in the forebrain?
lateral & third
Which ventricle is in the midbrain?
cerebral aqueduct
Which ventricle is in the hindbrain?
Fourth
Which is the largest section of the brain?
The forebrain
What is the cerebral cortex?
Thin, wrinkled layer of tissue covering the brain consisting of two hemispheres
d: gyrus
bumps in the cerebral cortex
d: sulcus
dips in the cerebral cortex
d: fissure
especially deep sulcus (dips) in the cerebral cortex
what is the corpus callosum?
the section that joins the two hemispheres and aids communication between them
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
The frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe
Where is the parietal lobe?
mid-back at the top of the brain
Where is the temporal lobe?
across the bottom of the brain (not including the hindbrain or the very back of the brain)
Where is the occipital lobe?
A small section at the back of the brain
What is the cerebrum?
The forebrain excluding the thalamus and hypothalamus
Is grey matter on this inside or outside of the brain?
Outside (predominantly)
What is grey matter made up of?
Cell bodies & neurons
What is white matter made up of?
axons & dendrites
Is white matter predominantly on the inside or outside of the brain?
Inside
What is the function of the white matter?
It serves to transmit signals to other regions of the brain, spinal cord, and body.
What is the function of the grey matter?
It largely functions to receive information and regulate outgoing information
What does the somatosensory cortex do?
Receives info from the body senses, different regions receive info from different parts of the body.
What are the subdivisions of the forebrain?
telencephalon (cerebrum) & diencephalon
What are the principle sturctures of the telencephalon?
cerebral cortex, basal ganglia & limbic system
What are the principle structures of the diencephalon?
thalamus, hypothalamus & mamillary bodies
What is the subdivision of the midbrain?
mesencephalon
What are the primary structure of the mesencephalon?
tectum & tegmentum
What are the subdivisions of the hindbrain?
metencephalon & myelencephalon
What are the primary structures of the metencephalon?
Cerebellum & pons
What is the primary structure of the myelencephalon
medulla oblongata
What is the limbic system involved in?
Memory, learning & emotions
What are the key areas on the limbic system?
limbic cortex, hippocampus. amygdala, fornix, mammillary bodies (part of the hypothalamus)
What is the basal ganglia involved in?
Movement
What are the major structures in the basal ganglia?
*Caudate Nucleus
*Putamen
*Globus Pallidus
What is the thalamus involved in?
Sensory relay for all senses apart from smell, it holds things like the LGN (think sensation & perception)
What is the hypothalamus involved in?
Regulating the autonomic nervous system, controlling the pituitary gland, producing hormones for the endocrine system
It is primarily concerned with body and its regulation: fighting, feeding, fleeing, mating
What are the primary structures in the tectum & their function?
superior colliculi – subcortical sensory pathway involved in fast eye movements (vision)
inferior colliculi - part of auditory pathway
What are the primary structures in the tegmentum & their function?
- reticular formation -sleep and wake cycle
- red nucleus -movement
- substantia nigra -movement (this is where parkison’s happens)
What are the pons involved in?
- part of the reticular formation (coordinates survival)
- involved in sleep and arousal
- link between cerebellum and cerebrum
What is the cerebellum involved in?
- involved in motor coordination and smooth execution of movement
What is the medulla involved in?
It is involved in basic life functions, such as breathing, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing heart rate and wake-sleep cycles.
Is white matter predominantly on the inside or outside of the spinal cord?
Outside
Is grey matter predominantly on the inside or outside of the spinal cord?
inside
Where does the spinal cord meet the brain?
the medulla
What are the 2 primary components of the spinal cord?
dorsal & ventral roots
What is the function of the dorsal roots?
carry sensory information to the CNS - afferent
What is the function of the ventral roots?
carry motor information to the muscles and glands away from the CNS - efferent
What does afferent mean in the context of the spinal cord
carry sensory information to the CNS (dorsal roots)
What does efferent mean in the context of the spinal cord?
carry motor information to the muscles and glands away from the CNS - the ventral roots
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The nervous system located outside of the skull & spine - cranial nerves & spinal nerves
What are the 2 systems within the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic & autonomic nervous systems
What is the somatic nervous system?
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the movement of skeletal muscles or transmits somatosensory information to the central nervous system.
What are spinal nerves?
peripheral nerves attached to the spinal cord
What is the autonomic nervous system?
The portion of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s vegetative functions, like regulation of smooth muscles, cardiac muscle and glands
Composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
What is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
fight or flight response
What is the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
rest & restore
What is meant by somatotopic organization?
The parts of the somatosensory cortex are divided so each part controls the function of 1 independent area.
where is an axial section of the brain?
from front o back like you’re looking at it from the top
where is an coronal section of the brain?
across the 2 hemispheres
