L3: The brain

Question 1

What is the CNS?

Answer 1

The central nervous system, contains brain and the spinal cord.

Question 2

What is white matter?

Answer 2

Axons (nerve cell tails).

Question 3

What is gray matter?

Answer 3

Dendrites (nerve cell bodies).

Question 4

What is the cortex and what is it made up of?

Answer 4

Outer layer of the brain, contains Gyri, Sulci & Fissures.

Question 5

What are Gyri, Sulci and Fissures?

Answer 5

Gyri/Gyrus: Folds in the brain
Sulci/Sulcus: Grooves in the brain
Fissures: Deep Grooves

Question 6

What are the main functions of the Frontal lobe?

Answer 6

Attention, planning, decision making, emotion regulation and Language.

Question 7

What are the main functions of the Parietal lobe?

Answer 7

Attention, spatial perception and number processing.

Question 8

What are the main functions of the Temporal lobe?

Answer 8

Audition, Language and memory.

Question 9

What are the main functions of the Occipital lobe?

Answer 9

Visual cortex (vision).

Question 10

What is the Corpus Callosum?

Answer 10

A cortical tract that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Question 11

What is the top area of the brain referred to as?

Answer 11

Dorsal/Superior.

Question 12

What is the bottom area of the brain referred to as?

Answer 12

Ventral/Inferior.

Question 13

What is the front area of the brain referred to as?

Answer 13

Rostral/Anterior.

Question 14

What is the back area of the brain referred to as?

Answer 14

Caudal/Posterior.

Question 15

What are the three cross-sections that can be taken of the brain?

Answer 15

Coronal, Sagittal and Horizontal (axial).

Question 16

What is a Coronal Cross-section?

Answer 16

Vertical slice (dorsal through ventral) down the middle of the brain width ways.

Question 17

What is a Sagittal cross-section?

Answer 17

Vertical slice (dorsal through ventral) down the middle of the brain lengthways.

Question 18

What is a Horizontal (axial) cross-section?

Answer 18

A horizontal slice through the middle of the brain.

Question 19

What are the Meninges?

Answer 19

The three layers of membrane that protects the brain and the spinal cord.

Question 20

What are the 3 Meninges from outer to inner?

Answer 20

1) Dura Matter (outer)
2) Arachnoid membrane (middle)
3) Pia matter (inner)

Question 21

What are the main functions of the Midbrain?

Answer 21

Helps to regulate movement and process auditory and visual information.

Question 22

What is Colliculi?

Answer 22

Small swellings on the roof of the midbrain, superior colliculi (vision) and inferior colliculi (auditory).

Question 23

What are the main functions of the Hindbrain?

Answer 23

Containing the Cerebellum, Pons and Medulla oblongata, it regulates autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate. Also helps with motor control.

Question 24

What are Ventricles?

Answer 24

Chambers in the brain filled with CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) that work as shock absorbers and provide nutrition.

Question 25

What key parts of the brain are contained within the Forebrain?

Answer 25

The Telencephalon and the Diencephalon.

Question 26

What is the main function of the Telencephalon and what does it contain?

Answer 26

Controls almost all voluntary movement, contains Basal ganglia, Limbic system and the Cortex.

Question 27

What is the main function of the Diencephalon and what does it contain?

Answer 27

It's the primary relay and processing center for sensory information and autonomic control. It contains the Thalamus and Hypothalamus.

Question 28

What does the Basal ganglia do?

Answer 28

Responsible for voluntary motor control, learning and memory. Contains head and tail of the caudate nucleus and the Putamen.

Question 29

What disorders are associated with the Basal ganglia?

Answer 29

Parkinson's disease and Tourette's syndrome.

Question 30

What does the Limbic system contain and what are its main functions?

Answer 30

Responsible for emotional responses, memory and learning. Contains Hippocampus, Cingulate Cortex and the Amygdala.

Question 31

What are the main functions of the Cerebellum?

Answer 31

Located in the hindbrain, it's responsible for central regulation of movement, posture, balance and motor-learning. Also known as the "little brain".

Question 32

What is a group of cell bodies called in the PNS and the CNS?

Answer 32

PNS: ganglion CNS: Nucleus

Question 33

What is a bundle of axons called in PNS and the CNS?

Answer 33

PNS: nerves CNS: tract