Lec 7- Brain structures/function Flashcards
Blood brain barrier (BBB)
Regulates exchanges between the blood and the brain, thus limiting access of blood-borne materials into the vulnerable brain tissue.
Cranial Meninges
the dura mater, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater
Spinal Meninges
The spinal meninges are three membranes that surround the spinal cord – the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. They contain cerebrospinal fluid, acting to support and protect the spinal cord. … It acts as an anchor for the spinal cord and meninges.
Pia mater
the delicate innermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.
Arachnoid mater
Connected to the dura mater on the side closest to the CNS, this middle layer includes a network of fibers and collagen that are part of the suspension system that helps protect the brain and spinal cord from sudden impact
Dura mater
Dura mater is a thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost of the three layers of membrane called the meninges that protect the central nervous system.
Telencephalon
Becomes the cerebral hemisphere, has the most amount of growth.
Diencephalon
Becomes the thalamus and hypothalamus
Cerebrum
Responsible for higher mental functions
Cerebral cortex
- Sensory perception
- Voluntary control of movement
- Language
- Personality traits
- Sophisticated mental events
Corpus callosum
Thick band that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres.
Precentral gyrus - motor
in frontal lobe, is involved with motor control
Postcentral gyrus - sensory
in parietal lobe, receives sensory info from areas controlled by precentral gyrus
Frontal lobe
- voluntary motor activity
- speaking ability
- elaboration of thought
Parietal lobe
Receiving and processing sensory input
Temporal lobe
Receives auditory sensation
Occipital lobe
Carry out initial processing of visual input
Insular lobe
memory encoding.
Integrates sensory info with visceral responses.
Coordinates cv response to stress.
Broca’s area
Speech formation. Governs speaking ability.
Wernicke’s area
Language comprehension
Basal nuclei/basal ganglia
consist of several masses of gray natter located deep within the cerebral white matter
Hypothalamus
controls homeostatic functions
Pituitary gland
Plays a major role in regulating vital body functions and general wellbeing. It is referred to as the body’s ‘master gland’ because it controls the activity of most other hormone-secreting glands.
Hippocampus
critical for acquiring new memories.
Contains neural stem cells that continually produce new neurons (neurogenesis)
Limbic system
ring of fore-brain structures that surround the brain stem and are interconnected by intricate neuron pathways.
Amygdala
Important for fear
Substantia nigra
Dopamine producing neurons
Pons
the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus.
Medulla oblongata
Responsible for autonomic functions.
Cerebellum
- Maintenance of balance
- Enhancement of muscle tone
- Coordination and planning of skilled voluntary muscle activity.
Proprioceptors
Joint, tendon, and muscle receptors.
Awareness of body position.
Reticular activating system
Sets level of arousal of cerebral cortex to incoming sensory information.
Stops sending action potentials to drift to sleep.
Thalamus
Performs some primitive sensory processing
Cerebrovascular accident - stroke
Blockage cause lack of blood/oxygen to reach brain. causes area of deprived tissue to die
Thrombotic/embolic stroke
A thrombotic stroke is a type of ischemic stroke. This means a part of the brain gets injured because the artery that normally supplies blood to it gets blocked, so blood flow is reduced or stops completely.
An embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body breaks loose and travels to the brain via the bloodstream. When the clot lodges in an artery and blocks the flow of blood, this causes a stroke. This is a type of ischemic stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke is either a brain aneurysm burst or a weakened blood vessel leak. Blood spills into or around the brain and creates swelling and pressure, damaging cells and tissue in the brain.
