Introduction to the Brain Flashcards
What are the different parts of the brain?
- frontal
- temporal
- parietal
- occipital
- cerebellum
- brain stem
What is the difference between white and grey matter?
grey matter > contains the cell bodies, dendrites and the axon terminals where all synapses are
white matter > made up of axons which connect different parts of grey matter to each other
What are the meninges?
3 layers of membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord
1. dura mater
2. arachnoid
3. pia mater
What is the tentorium?
tent shaped duplicated fold of meningeal dura that attaches to the;
sphenoid bone > anteriorly
petrous temporal bone > laterally
squamous part of the occipital bone > posteriorly
Describe the directional terms unique to the CNS?
Rostral – toward the nose (anterior)
Caudal – toward the tail (posterior)
Dorsal – superior
Ventral - inferior
What are the 3 functional principles of the cerebrum?
- Each cerebral hemisphere receives sensory information from, and sends motor commands to, the opposite side of body
- The 2 hemispheres have different functions although their structures are alike
- Correspondence between a specific function and a specific region of cerebral cortex is not precise
What are sulci of the cerebral hemispheres?
grooves on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres
What are gyri of the cerebral hemispheres?
twisted ridges between sulci
What is the function of the gyri of the neural cortex?
increase surface area (number of cortical neurons)
What is the insula (island) of cortex?
lies medial to the lateral sulcus
What is the longitudinal fissure of the cerebral cortex?
separates cerebral hemispheres
What are lobes of the cerebral cortex?
divisions of hemispheres
Name the cerebral sulci and what they divide?
- Central sulcus
> divides anterior frontal lobe from posterior parietal lobe - Lateral sulcus
> divides frontal lobe from temporal lobe - Parieto-occipital sulcus
> divides parietal lobe from occipital lobe
What is the neuron?
The anatomic unit of the nervous system is the nerve cell or neuron
Describe the structure of the neuron?
> Each has a region known as the cell body
in addition there are several processes extending away from the cell body = the axon and the rest the dendrites