Nervous system Flashcards
What is the cerebral cortex?
A region of grey matter that forms the outer layer of the cerebrum (brain)
How thick is the cerebral cortex?
2-4mm thick
What cells dominate the cerebral cortex?
Neurons. (billions in layers)
What happens when brain size increases rapidly? (grey and white matter)
Grey matter enlargers fast compared to white matter (underneath)
What are cerbral cortex folds called? (the peaks)
Gyrus (gyri)
What are the cerebal cortex small valleys called?
Sulcus (sulci)
The deepest grooves/valleys between folds are called?
Fissures
What does the longitudinal fissure (falx cerebri) do?
Separates the cerebral cortex into 2 hemispheres (LHS and RHS)
What are the four cerbral cortex lobes?
frontal, occipital, temporal and porietal
The frontal lobe controls:
Cognitive function, intelligence, mood, behaviour, personality
The temporal lobe controls:
Memory, intelligence, aggression, mood
The occipital lobe controls:
primary visual cortex
Parietal lobe controls:
Spatial skills and 3D recognition
The temporal and frontal lobe both play a role in controlling what?
Intelligence and mood
The frontal lobe and parietal lobe are primarily separated by what fissure?
Lateral fissure
The temporal lobe and parietal lobe are partially separated by what fissure?
Lateral fissure
What is the corpus callosum?
Broad band of white matter containing axons between hemispheres which connects the 2 cerebral hemispheres
What is the cerebrum described as?
A sea of intelligence (provides us with the ability to read, write, and speak; to make calculations and compose music; to remember the past and plan for the future; and to create.)
The precentral (major) gyrus is before or after the central sulcus?
Before
The postcentral (major) gyrus is located before or after the central sulcus?
After
What does the precentral gyrus contain?
Primary motor area
What does the postcentral gyrus contain?
Primary somatosensory area
What is insula?
The fifth part of the cerebrum. It cannot be seen at the surface of the brain.
Cerebral white matter contains what?
Myelinated axons
How many types of tracts does cerebral white matter have and what are they?
3 - association, commissural and projection tracts
Association tracts contain what?
Axons that conduct nerve impulses between gyri in the same hemisphere.
Commissural tracts contain what?
Axons that conduct nerve impulses from gyri in one cerebral hemisphere to corresponding gyri in the other cerebral hemisphere. Three important groups of commissural tracts are the corpus callosum (the largest fibre bundle in the brain, containing about 300 million fibres), anterior commissure, and posterior commissure.
Projection tracts contain what?
Axons that conduct nerve impulses from gyri in one cerebral hemisphere to corresponding gyri in the other cerebral hemisphere. Three important groups of commissural tracts are the corpus callosum (the largest fibre bundle in the brain, containing about 300 million fibres), anterior commissure, and posterior commissure.
What are the basal nuclei?
Three nuclei deep within each hemisphere (grey matter masses)
What is the role of basal nuclei?
Basal nuclei help initiate and terminate movements, suppress unwanted movements, and regulate muscle tone