Module 13: Nervous System - BRAIN Flashcards
What is the Diencephalon? Where is it located?
A region deep inside the brain, set between the cerebrum and the midbrain.
consisting of several structures, with the chief ones being the thalamus and the hypothalamus
What is the limbic system?
Sometimes called the emotional brain, the limbic system is the seat of emotion and learning
*What is the role of the hippocampus?
Charged with converting short-term memory into long-term memory, making it crucial for memory and learning
*What is the role and location of the amygdala?
- To almond shaped masses of neurons on either side of the thalamus
- concerned with emotions such as anger, jealousy, and fear;
it also stores, and can recall, emotions from past events
Most of the tracts that pass from one hemisphere to the other travel through a large ‘bridge’ called ? And what does it allow?
Corpus callosum - Allows the brains two hemispheres to communicate with each other
The brainstem consists of
The midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
What is the function of the midbrain?
Contains tracks the relay sensory and motor impulses.
It also contains centres for auditory and visual reflexes as well as clusters of neurons integral to muscle control
What is the largest region of the brain?
Cerebrum
What regions of the brain contains more neurons then the rest of the brain combined?
Cerebellum
A deep groove that divides the cerebrum into right and left cerebral hemispheres is called
Longitudinal fissure
What is the role of the pons in the brainstem?
Contains tracks that convey signals to and from different parts of the brain.
What is the role of the medulla oblongata?
- Attaches the brain to the spinal cord.
- Relays sensory and motor signals between the brain and spinal cord.
- contains nuclei that perform functions vital to human life.
- Houses reflex centres for coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting
The medulla oblongata Contains nuclei that perform functions vital to human life. These include:
- Cardiac center ~ which regulates heart rate
- Vasomotor center ~ which controls blood vessel diameter, which in turn, affects blood pressure
- To respiratory centers ~ which regulate breathing
The thick ridges covering the surface of the brain are called
Gyri
The shallow grooves along the surface of the brain are called
Sulci
What forms the surface of the brain?
Gray matter (unlike spinal cord which covers the interior)
Gray matter (Consisting of cell bodies and interneurons) Covers the cerebrum and cerebellum in a layer called
Cortex
Some of the more obvious sulci (grooves) divide the cerebrum into five distinct Lopes. What are these lobes?
Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, insula
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
Governs voluntary movements, memory, emotion, social judgment, decision-making, reasoning, and aggression
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
Governs hearing, smell, learning, memory, emotional behavior, and visual recognition
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
- Concerned with receiving and interpreting bodily sensations
- Also governs proprioception
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Concerned with analyzing and interpreting visual information
What is the function of the insula?
Plays a role of many different functions, including perception, motor control, self-awareness, and cognitive functioning
What is the function of white matter in the cerebrum?
Tracts carry impulses from one part of the cerebrum to the other, or from the cerebrum to other parts of the brain or spinal cord
Masses of gray matter - called basal nuclei or sometimes basal ganglia - lie deep with in the cerebrum. These structures play a role in
The control of movement
Like the spinal cord, what covers the outside surface of the brain, offering protection?
Meninges
Inside the skull, three layers of meninges cover the brain. The layers are the same as in the spinal cord, what are the layers from outer to inner?
- Dura mater - consists of two layers:
periosteal layer (Outer layer attached to the inner surface of the skull) and
meningeal layer (Inner layer forms the outer covering of the brain and continues as the dura mater of the spinal cord) - Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
Each aspect of language – which includes ability to read, write, speak, and understand – is handled by different region of what part of the brain?
Cerebral cortex
1) Written words stimulate the
Primary visual cortex
2) What part of the cerebral cortex translates the written words into a form that can be spoken?
Angular gyrus
- 3)What formulates the words into phrases that comply with learned grammatical rules?
(Receptive language)
Wernicke’s area
*4) What is the function of broca’s area?
Plans the muscle movements required of the larynx, tongue, cheeks, and lips to form the words; It then send the appropriate impulses to the primary motor cortex
5) What is the function of the primary motor cortex?
Send impulses to the muscles necessary to pronounce the word
Short term memory and long-term memory is handled by which part of the brain?
Cerebral cortex
Which hemisphere of the brain is the more analytical side?
The left hemisphere
Which hemisphere of the brain is more concerned with creativity and spatial ability?
Right hemisphere
Logical thinking and science and math is associated with what hemisphere of the brain?
Left hemisphere
“Big picture”, Creativity, emotion, imagination, art and music are associated with what hemisphere of the brain?
Right hemisphere
