(Lesson 11) Central Nervous System Lab Flashcards
Central Nervous System
Composed of the brain and the spinal cord
Gray matter
surrounds the hollow central cavity of CNS. The site where neuron cell bodies are clustered (along with dendrites, short unmyelinated axons, and neuroglia)
H-Shaped region in the spinal cord. Dorsal half contains cell bodies of interneurons and ventral half contains cell bodies of motor neurons.
white matter
External to gray matter. Contains no cell bodies but composed of tracts of myelinated nerve fibers (millions of axons). White comes from myelin sheaths.
located beneath the cortex in brain and descend to spinal cord or vice versa to allow two CNS regions to communicate with each other.
Cerebrum
the large, main superior component of the brain in charge of memory and reason, is divided into hemispheres, and further into five lobes
cerebral gyrus
Twisted ridges and elevations of brain tissue on the cortical surface of the brain.
cerebral hemispheres
the right and left halves of the cerebrum
left hemisphere
memorizing, analytical and verbal skills
right hemisphere
pondering and solving
frontal lobe
comprises most of the anterior half of the cerebrum in charge of personality and contraction of skeletal muscle
parietal lobe
the top, posterior portion of the cerebrum, associated with speech, emotions, and visual interpretations
temporal lobe
the lateral portion of the cerebrum, associated with memory, hearing and visual activities
insula lobe
found deep beneath the lateral sulcus, function somewhat unknown
occipital lobe
most posterior portion of the cerebrum, associated with interpretation of usual images and eye movement
longitudinal fissure
deep groove that separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres, follows the sagittal sututre line
central sulcus
divides the brain in a coronal section, separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobes
corpus callosum
a commissure connecting the two cerebral hemispheres, unifying awareness between them.
genu (corpus callosum)
anterior portion if the corpus callosum
splenium (corpus callosum)
posterior portion of the corpus callosum
thalamus
paired organ lateral and superior to third ventricle of the diencephalon, receives and sends impulses to precise locations within the cerebral lobes for interpretation. Every part of the brain that communicates with the cerebral cortex must relay it’s signal through the nucleus of the Thalamus.
interthalamic adhesion (intermediate mass)
a small, midline commissure connecting the right and left thalamus
hypothalamus
“master gland” located within the floor of the diencephalon or third ventricle
epithalamus
forms posterior root of diencephalon and covers third ventricle
infundibulum
the stalk that connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus
pituitary gland
a small endocrine gland projecting inferiorly from the hypothalamus and situated in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone
mammillary body
two nodes located inferior to the third ventricle and superior and anterior to the pons, function a a relay center for olfactory sensations
pineal gland (body)
a small hormone secreting gland in the posterior portion of the epithalamus, third ventricle superior to the corpora quadrigemina of the mid brain. (pine cone shaped)
hippocampus
located in the medial temporal lobe underneath the cortical surface, has the shape of a curved tube, makes up part of the limbic system; plays a role in spatial navigation and long term memory
brain stem
consists of mid-brain, pons, and medulla oblongata
midbrain
consists of the cerebral peduncles anteriorly and the corpora quadrigemina posteriorly