Module 8 Flashcards
Is there any correlation between brain size and intelligence?
No
What are the four regions of the brain?
The cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brain stem
The ______ consists of two large hemispheres whose surfaces are distinguished by thick folds.
Cerebrum
What are the thick folds in the cerebrum called? What are they separated by?
The thick folds are called gyri, and they are seperated by sulci.
Each cerebral hemisphere is composed of how many lobes?
5
What are the functions of the cerebrum?
conscious thought, memory storage, processing, and regulation of skeletal muscle contractions
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
Coordination and modulation of motor commands from the cerebral cortex.
What are the two parts of the diencephalon?
Thalamus and Hypothalamus
What is the function of the thalamus?
relay and processing centers for sensory information
What centers are contained in the hypothalamus?
emotions, autonomic function, and hormone production.
If the hypothalamus contains centers involved with autonomic function, that must mean…
the “fight or flight” processes are dealt with in the hypothalamus
What are the three parts of the brain stem?
midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
Describe the Midbrain
contains nuclei that coordinate visual and auditory reflexes. Also contains centers that help maintain consciousness
Describe Pons
Pons connect the cerebellum to the brainstem, and contains nuclei that function in somatic and visceral motor control
What does the Medulla Oblongata do?
Relays sensory information to other areas of brain stem and thalamus, also contains major centers that regulate autonomic function ex: heart rate, blood pressure.
What are fissures?
deep grooves that subdivide hemispheres
What are gyri?
folds in cerebral cortex that increase surface area
What are sulci?
shallow depressions in cerebral cortex that separate adjacent gyri
Name te 4 major regions of the brain and distinct structures of each.
cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon: thalamus, hypothalamus, brain stem: brain stem, pons, medulla oblongata
What are the three cranial meninges from superficial to deep?
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
All communication ( sensory and motor) between brain and spinal cord passes through
medulla oblongata
What is the significance of pons?
Pons link cerebellum with midbrain, diencephalon, cerebrum, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord
What is the most complex and integrative portion of brain stem?
Midbrain
What does RAS stand for?
Reticular activation system
Stimulation of RAS does what?
makes you more alert/attentive
What is a red nucleus?
a component of midbrain that receives information from cerebrum and cerebellum that issues commands that affect upper limb position and background muscle tone.
What are the two primary functions of the cerebellum?
- Adjusting postural muscles to maintain balance and equilibrium
- Programming and fine-tuning movements controlled at conscious and subconscious levels
What are the three components of the diencephalon?
epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus
Where is the final point for ascending sensory information to be relayed or projected to cerebral cortex?
Thalamus, it acts as a filter, only passing a small portion of sensory information
What does the Hypothalamus contain?
important control and integrative centers such as hormonal centers and nuclei of autonomic centers that control cardiovascular and vasomotor centers of medulla oblongata
What are the cerebral superficial landmarks?
central sulcus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus
Describe the central sulcus
deep groove dividing anterior frontal lobe from more posterior parietal love
Describe the precentral gyrus
antrerior to central suclus, contains primary motor cortex of frontal lobe
Describe the postcentral gyrus
posterior to central sulcus, contains primary sensory cortex of parietal lobe
Each hemisphere receives sensory information from and sends motor information to….
the OPPOSITE side of the body
TRUE or FALSE: Hemispheres may look identical but may have different functions
TRUE
What are general senses?
Our sensitivity to temperature, pain, touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception.
The size of the area each receptor monitors is known as…
receptive field
Does receptive field vary?
Yes. Size of receptive field is inversely related to ability to accurately describe location of stimulus. They can be as large as 7 cm or as small as 1 mm.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is information carried by the sensory pathway, perception is conscious awareness of sensation; what we believe to be true.
Describe tonic receptors
Tonic receptors are always active, and the frequency of action potentials generated reflects the background stimulation level.
Describe phasic receptors
Phasic receptors are normally inactive, and they become active transiently in response to changing conditions
What are mechanoreceptors?
receptors that are sensitive to stimuli that distort the plasma membranes
What are proprioceptors?
receptors that monitor the positions of joints and muscles in space
What are baroreceptors?
Receptors that deter pressure changes.
What is adaptation?
Adaptation is the reduction in sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus.
What is the difference between fast and slow pain?
Fast pain is sharp, well localized, pricking, cutting pain. Slow pain is dull burning, aching, diffuse pain. Fast pain occurs alone large diamete, myelinated axons. Slow pain occurs along smaller diameter, poorly myelinated axons.
