Lecture 3 - The Brain Flashcards
Central Nervous System
The central part of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Gray Matter
Areas of the brain nearer the surface, dominated by soma and dendrites.
White Matter
Areas consisting largely of axons, localized underneath the cortex.
Cortex
A thin, heavily folded film of nervous tissue that is the outer region of the forebrain
Gyrus
Protruding ridges resulting from the folding of the cortex.
Sulcus
Furrows in the brain, localized in the cortex and cerebellum.
Fissure
Deep grooves across the brain.
Frontal Lobe
Most anterior division of the cortex associated with attention, planning, decision-making, emotional regulation, and language.
Temporal Lobe
Large regions of the lateral cortical area below the sylvian fissure associated with the auditory cortex, language, and memory.
Parietal Lobe
Section of the cortex stretching across the top of the brain located between the frontal and occipital lobes, and above the temporal lobe. Associated with visuomotor guidance, attention, spatial perception, and number processing.
Occipital Lobe
The most posterior division of the cortex, referred to as the visual cortex.
Corpus Callosum
Cortical tract that unites the two hemispheres of the brain allowing for holistic processing.
Dorsal/Ventral
Superior and inferior directional terms, referring to the upper and lower parts of a structure, respectively.
Rostral/Caudal
Anterior and posterior directional terms, referring to the front and back of a structure, respectively.
Cross-Sections
Includes cross-sections across the sagittal plane, coronal plane, and horizontal plane. Cross-sections across the sagittal plane bisect the body or an organ into right and left halves. Cross-sections across the coronal plane divide the body or an organ into its anterior and posterior parts. Cross-sections across the horizontal plane divide the body or an organ into its superior and inferior parts.
Meninges
Three layers of protective tissue enveloping the brain and spinal cord. Composed of a dense outer layer called the dura mater, a thin middle layer called the arachnoid mater, and a delicate inner layer that adheres to the surface of the brain called the pia mater.
Ventricles
Refers to one of the four chambers in the ventricular system filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF acts as a cushion in the event that the brain sustains trauma. It also serves as a medium between the blood vessels and brain tissue.
Forebrain
Also referred to as the cerebrum, it is the most recently evolved region of the mammalian brain. It is responsible for coordinating advanced cognitive functions and contains the subdivisions known as the telencephalon and diencephalon.
Midbrain
The central region of the brain containing the Substantia nigra, which deals with orienting movements, and the colliculi. The superior colliculus receives visual inputs and the inferior colliculus receives auditory inputs.
Hindbrain
Evolutionarily speaking, it is the oldest part of the brain. It consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum, accounting for the greater part of the brainstem. The main role of the hindbrain is in homeostatic functions, motor-learning, and the coordination of movement.
Telencephalon
The frontal subdivision of the forebrain, consisting of structures in the cortex (the lobes), basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and putamen), and the limbic system (cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and hippocampus).
Diencephalon
The posterior subdivision of the forebrain consisting of two principal structures: the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The thalamus essentially functions as a sensory switchboard. The hypothalamus, via its connections with the pituitary gland, plays a critical role in the regulation of hormone production; it also deals with sexual behavior, hunger, thirst, and temperature regulation.
Limbic System
Situated between the cortex and the brainstem are an array of disparate structures that make up the limbic system. The key structures in this system are the cingulate, amygdala, and hippocampus. These structures deal predominantly with the control of affective and motivated behaviors as well as memory.
Basal Ganglia
A group of subcortical forebrain nuclei containing three principal structures: the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and putamen. The basal ganglia work in connection with nearby structures to regulate voluntary movement, assist in skill learning, and coordinate habit formation.
Cerebellum
Located in the hindbrain, the cerebellum can be found directly underneath the occipital lobe, adjacent to the posterior of the brain stem. The cerebellum is most commonly associated with motor-learning and the coordination of voluntary movement.
