Module 2: Nervous System Part 2 - The Brain Flashcards
List the four parts of the human brain.
the cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum.
Describe the number, location and function of the brain ventricles.
There are 4 ventricles in the brain; 2 lateral ventricles, one 3rd ventricle, and the 4th (which drains into the spinal cord). These chambers produce and are filled with CSF.
What is consciousness?
the state of being awake and aware of a person’s surroundings.
Describe the brain meninges and the layers.
3 layers of connective tissue membranes that cover/protect CNS organs and enclose the CSF. dura mater - Outer meninx double-layered, leathery. the subdural space separates it from the arachnoid meninx - loose middle layer, beneath it is the subarachnoid space which contains blood vessels and is filled with CSF. The inner pia mater meninx is a thin connective tissue tightly attached to the brain.
What is the function of the choroid plexus?
The choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid.
What is the blood-brain barrier and how is it maintained?
The blood-brain barrier is a diffusion barrier which prevents most particles from entering the central nervous system tissue, keeping the brain and spinal cord separate from general blood circulation. The blood-brain barrier is formed by the relatively impermeable brain capillaries, due to the glial cells astrocytes. Maintenance of the blood-brain-barrier is important to provide a stable chemical environment for the nervous system.
Describe the cerebrum. What does it control?
The cerebrum, the foremost part of the brain, is the largest part of the brain in humans comprising about 83% of total brain mass. Controls consciousness, intelligence, reasoning, and higher-level thinking.
What is the median longitudinal fissure?
It separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres from one another.
Raised ridges on the cerebrum are called____.
Gyri
The _______ separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum.
the transverse fissure
The outer portion of the cerebral hemispheres is called the ______ and is highly convoluted and gray in color.
cerebral cortex
Describe the functions of the lobes of the cerebrum.
frontal lobe controls higher level executive functions (e.i. reasoning and decision making), motor functions and permits control over voluntary muscle actions. The parietal lobe receives sensory information from receptors located in the mouth for taste and in the skin for touch, pressure, and pain. The occipital lobe interprets visual input. The temporal lobe has sensory areas for hearing and smelling.
What is the difference between a primary area and an association area in the brain?
Primary areas in each lobe receive information for one type of sensory information. Association areas act mainly to integrate more than one type of sensory information for purposeful action.
What is the corpus callosum?
a bridge of white nerve fibers connecting the 2 cerebral hemispheres.
List the three major parts of the brain stem.
the mid-brain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
How is the medulla oblongata involved with the heart and lungs?
regulates heartbeat, breathing.
How is the pons involved with the eyes and ears?
it has reflex centers that regulate head movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli.
The superior and inferior colliculi are located on the posterior portion of the _____.
Midbrain
How is the hypothalamus involved with the entire internal environment of the body and the endocrine system in particular?
it maintains homeostasis and controls the pituitary gland which serves as a link between the nervous and endocrine systems.
All except what sensory impulses are channeled through the thalamus?
all sensory impulses (except those associated with the sense of smell) are channeled through the thalamus.
What is the function of the pineal body?
secretes melatonin to control the wake-sleep cycle.
Describe the location and structure of the cerebellum.
inferior/posterior of the brain, it is divided into 2 hemispheres with deep fissures subdividing it into 3 lobes. Has an outer gray cortex and an inner white cortex.
What are the major functions of the cerebellum and how does it work?
planning movements, maintaining balance, controlling certain eye movements, maintaining normal muscle tone and maintaining posture.
It acts to coordinate body movements by relaying info to the cerebral motor cortex
What portion of the cerebellum coordinates limb movements?
vermis (intermediate lobe).
What areas of the brain does the limbic system connect?
the frontal lobes, the temporal lobes, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.
What is the amygdala?
it is a small portion of the limbic system that is involved in emotions such as rage and anger.
Why is the limbic system called our ‘feeling brain’?
stimulation of different areas of the limbic system causes rage, pain, pleasure, or sorrow.
Explain why emotional memories tend to be vivid.
involvement of the limbic system, because it communicates with all the sensory areas, so sensory stimulus awaken complex memories.
True or False: Memories are stored in one specific location in the brain.
False.
The putamen, the caudate nucleus, the Globus pallidus (medial and lateral) are all parts of the ______.
The basal ganglia aka basal nuclei.
What is the basal nuclei?
aka the basal ganglia. masses of gray matter deep in cerebrum.
How does the basal nuclei work?
work with cerebellum to control motor planning and motor learning. Works to slow and control precise movements. Has inhibitory effect on cerebral cortex.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
disorder of the basal ganglia. Causing apraxia which is rigid movements from difficulty executing a motor plan.
Where is the thalamus located?
the roof of the 3rd ventricle.
The hypothalamus has centers to control what bodily functions? Where is it located?
hunger, sleep, thirst, body temperature, water balance, and blood pressure. The floor of the 3rd ventricle.
What is the location and function of primary motor cortex? What are its other names?
It is located in the frontal lobe and controls voluntary muscle movement for the entire body. Other names are precentral gyrus and somatomotor cortex.
What is the location and function of primary sensory cortex? What are its other names?
it is located in the parietal lobe and receives information from activated area of body. Its other names are the postcentral gyrus and the somatosensory cortex.
What is the location and primary function Broca’s Area?
located in the frontal lobe and responsible for speech production.
What is the location and primary function of Wernicke’s Area?
located in the temporal lobe and responsible for speech comprehension.
How does the medulla oblongata control blood pressure?
vasoconstriction.
What reflexes does the medulla oblongata control?
vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping, and swallowing.
How does the pons connect the body? How does it work with another part of the spinal cord?
contains bundles of axons between the cerebellum and the rest of the CNS. It functions with the medulla to regulate the breathing rate.
The diencephalon consists of what 3 parts?
epithalamus, thalamus, and hypothalamus.
Where is the epithalamus and what does it contain?
the roof of the 3rd ventricle. The pineal gland.
From where do the anterior and posterior lobes of the cerebellum receive info and what do they influence?
Info received from body’s trunk. Influence motor activities of the trunk, shoulder, and pectoral girdle muscles.
What specific structure connects the cerebellum to the other parts of the brain?
cerebellar peduncles.
What is the cingulate gyrus and its function?
aka the limbic lobe, it connects the lobes of the cerebrum.
What is the hippocampus?
part of limbic system involved in storage and retrieval of memories.
What is the fornix?
bundle of nerve fibers that connects hippocampus into limbic system.
What are the mamillary bodies?
fibers that connect into the thalamus and assist with the memory of smell.
