Introduction to the Human Brain Flashcards
What are the parts of the CNS?
Cerebrum
Consists of two parts:
Outer brain (telencephalon)/Cerebral hemisphere
Inner brain (diencephalon)
Brainstem (Midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata)
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
What is the most visible external feature of the human brain?
the cerebrum
What separates the cerebral hemispheres ?
Separated by longitudinal fissure
What features are present on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres ?
Surface is marked by elevated ridges (gyri) and grooves (sulci
What is the role of the sulci and gyri? What type of matter do they contain?
Surface of cerebral hemispheres (i.e cerebral cortex) are heavily folded to increase surface area
Grey matter (cerebral cortex)
Nerve cell bodies
* Note also find collections of grey matter deep within cerebrum
White matter
- Nerve axons
What sulci divide the cerebral hemispheres into lobes ?
Specific sulci are used to divide the cerebral hemispheres into lobes (central sulcus; lateral sulcus, parieto-occipital sulcus)
What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?
Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal
What is the role of the precentral gyrus?
motor cortex
What is the role of the postcentral gyrus?
somatosensory cortex
What is the role of the thalamus?
important relay station between brainstem, spinal cord, and the cerebral cortex
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
controls the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
What makes up the diencephalon?
thalamus and hypothalamus
What is the Prosencephalon?
Forebrain
Ai, Telencephalon = Cerebral Hemispheres
Aii, Diencephalon= Diencephalon (ie, Thalamus & Hypothalamus)
What is the Mesencephalon?
Midbrain
Mesencephalon= Midbrain
What is the Rhombencephalon?
Hindbrain
Ci, Metencephalon= Pons & Cerebellum
Cii, Myelencephalon=Medulla oblongata
What happens to the central canal in development?
Ventricles – expanded cavities within the brain
Connecting channels – link ventricles
Vestigial – central canal of spinal cord