Module 2 Flashcards
What are the 4 divisions of the brain?
Cerebrum
Brainstem
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Ventricles
Cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluids
Contains: 2 lateral ventricles, third ventricle, and fourth ventricle
4th ventricle drains into central canal and contains CSF
Meninges
3 layers of connective tissue that cover and protect CNS organs and enclose CSF
Dura Mater
The leathery, double-layered outer menix
Subdural Space
Below the dura mater, separates dura from arachnoid
Arachnoid Menix
The middle, loose layer of meninx separated from the dura by the subdural space
Subarachnoid Space
Beneath arachnoid meninx, contains blood vessels and is filled with CSF
Pia Mater
The inner meninx, a thin connective tissue tightly attached to brain
Cerebrospinal Fluid
-A special fluid formed in the walls of the ventricles from blood plasma to cushion brain & spinal cord, provide buoyancy, and allows brain to float
-Permeates through choroid plexus
Choroid Plexus
- Formed from a network of blood vessels within the ventricles
- Produces CSF
Blood-Brain Barrier
A diffusion barrier tht prevents most particles from entering the CNS tissue, keeping the brain and spinal cord separate from general blood circulation. It is formed by the relatively impermeable brain capillaries, due to astrocytes. A stable internal environment is important to protect neurons from chemical variations which could cause uncontrollable firing of neurons.
Cerebrum
The foremost part of the brain, 83% total brain mass, 2 large masses; left & right cerebral hemisphere
Responsible for consciousness and controls actions of the cerebellum by acting on sensory input via the thalamus
Median Longitudinal Fissure
Separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres
Left Cerebral Hemisphere
Controls the right side of the body
Right Cerebral Hemisphere
Controls the left side of the body
Gyri
Raised ridges of tissue on the surface of the brain
Sulci
Shallow grooves that separate gyri
Fissures
Deeper grooves that separate large regions of the brain
Transverse Fissure
Separates cerebrum from cerebellum
Corpus Callosum
A bridge of white nerve fibers that connect the cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral Cortex
The outer portion of cerebral hemispheres, highly convoluted and gray in color
Lobes of the Brain
Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal Lobe
Controls the higher level executive functions: reasoning & decision making, also controls motor functions and permits control over voluntary muscle actions
Parietal Lobe
Receives sensory info from receptors in the mouth for taste and located in the skin for touch, pressure, and pain
Occipital Lobe
Interprets visual input
Temporal Lobe
Has sensory areas for hearing and smelling
2 lobes on each side of brain
Primary Areas
In each lobe that receive or send info for one type of sensory or motor info for direct processing
Association Areas
Act mainly to integrate more than one type of sensory info for purposeful action
Primary Motor Cortex
a.k.a Precentral Gyrus or Somamotor Cortex
A portion of the frontal lobe, controls voluntary motor movements for all parts of the body
Primary Sensory Cortex
a.k.a Postcentral Gyrus or Somatosensory Cortex
The parietal lobe receives sensory info from the parts of the body
Association Area
Contained in each lobe, receives info from other lobes and integrates it into higher, more complex levels of consciousness
Broca’s Area
Located in frontal lobe, responsible for speech production
Wernicke’s Area
Located in temporal lobe, responsible for speech comprehension
Consciousness
Cerebrum is responsible for the state of being awake and aware of a person’s surroundings
What is Included in the Brainstem?
Medulla Oblongata
Pons
Midbrain
Medulla Oblongata
-Contains vital life sustaining centers:
>REGULATION OF HEARTBEAT
>BREATHING
>Vasoconstriction
>Vomiting
>Coughing
>Swallowing
>Hiccuping
Vasoconstriction
Constriction of blood vessels
Pons
-Functions w/ medulla for regulation of heartbeat and has reflex centers for head movements in response to visual & auditory stimuli
-Contains bundles of axons traveling btwn cerebrum and rest of CNS
Midbrain
- Relay station for tracts passing btwn cerebrum & spinal cord or cerebellum
- Also has reflex centers for visual, auditory, & tactile response
Superior & Inferior Colliculi
- Control the head & neck in response to a sudden visual or auditory stimuli
- Located on posterior portion of midbrain
What is the Diencephalon Composed of?
Hypothalamus
Thalamus
Epithalamus
Hypothalamus
- Maintains homeostasis and contains centers for regulating body functions:
>Hunger
>Sleep
>Thirst
>Body Temp
>Water Balance
>Blood Pressure - Controls the pituitary gland and serves as a link btwn the nervous syst and endocrine syst
Pituitary Gland
Regulates body hormones of endocrine system
Endocrine System
Controls the body’s hormonal production
Thalamus
Central relay station for sensory impulses traveling into the brain, receives all sensory impulses except smell
Roof of the third ventricle, last portion of brain for sensory input before cerebrum
Epithalamus
Mostly composed of the pineal gland
Forms roof of the third ventricle
Pineal Body
Secretes melatonin, regulates wake-sleep cycle
Cerebellum
-“mini-brain”
-Coordinates body movements, relays info to cerebral motor cortex:
>Maintains Balance
>Eye Movements
>Maintains Muscle Tone
-2 hemispheres w/ deep fissures subdividing into 3 lobes
-Contains outer gray matter & internal white matter
Maintaining Muscle Tone
The degree at which muscles remain partially contracted while at rest to keep bones and joints in place
Anterior & Posterior Lobes
- Receives info from body trunk
- Influences motor actions of trunk, shoulder, & pectoral girdle muscles
Vermis
Intermediate portion of cerebellum, coordinates limb movements
Cerebellar Peduncles
Connects the cerebellum to the other parts of the brain, located on anterior portion
Ataxia
Lack of voluntary muscle motor coordination
Cingulate Gyrus
(limbic lobe)
-Connects different lobes of cerebrum
-Deep to cerebrum
Hippocampus
Storage and retrieval of memories
Amygdala
A small portion of the limbic system that is involved in emotions such as rage and anger
Fornix
Bundle of nerve fibers: connection to hippocampus
Mammillary Bodies
Fibers project into thalamus that assist w/ memory of smell
“Feeling Brain”
Since stimulation of different areas of the limbic system causes rage, pain, pleasure, or sorrow.
Short Term Memory
Lasts only a few seconds
Ex: recalling a 7-digit phone #
Long Term Memory
Lasts hours to years
Ex: recalling events of the day
Basal Ganglia
- Basal Nuclei
- Responsible for coordination w/ cerebellum to regulate motor planning movements & motor learning
- Inhibitory effect on cerebral cortex
Inhibitory Effect on Cerebral Cortex (3)
- Slows & controls precise movements
- Portion in charge of motor planning
- Relays modified plan back to cerebrum
Parts of the Basal Ganglia
Caudate Nucleus
Putamen
Globus Pallidus (medial & lateral portion)
Parkinson’s Disease
A disorder of the basal ganglia
Apraxia
Difficulty w/ motor planning, results in rigid movements and executing a motor plan
Spinal Cord
Abt 17 inches long, extends from brainstem to first lumbar vertebra; terminates at the conus medullaris
Conus Medullaris
-Terminal end of spinal cord
Cauda Equina
-Extension of cord beyond L1, is a collection of nerve roots, ends at coccyx
-Spinal cord + Cauda Equina is how all electrical impulses travel btwn brain & rest of body
The Spinal Cord is Protected by…
Vertebral Column
Meninges
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Meninges
3 layers of tissue that cover and protect brain and spinal cord
Spinal Dura Mater
A single layer sheath underneath adipose tissue
(Spinal) Epidural Space
Area btwn spinal dura mater and vertebral wall contains fat and small blood vessels
(Spinal) Arachnoid Mater
-2nd innermost layer that covers the spinal cord
-CSF is btwn arachnoid and pia mater
(Spinal) Pia Mater
Innermost membrane tightly adhered to brain and spinal cord
Filum Terminate
Extension of pia mater, runs from conus medullaris to coccyx where it provides the inferior anchor for spinal cord
Spinal Cord has 2 Grooves
Anterior Median Fissure
Posterior Median Sulcus
Central Canal
An opening that runs length of spinal cord & filled w/ CSF
White Matter
Outer layer of spinal cord w/ 2 regions
Columns
Nerve fibers of white matter
Tracts
Bundles of nerve axons of white matter
Ascending Tracts
Fibers that proceed up to brain carrying sensory inputs