Nervous system - additional notes Flashcards
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?
The cerebral cortex is responsible for speech, memory, logical & emotional responses, consciousness, the interpretation of sensation, and voluntary movement.
Where is the primary somatic sensory area located?
The primary somatic sensory area is located in the parietal lobe posterior to the central sulcus.
What takes place in the primary somatic sensory area?
Impulses travelling from the body’s sensory receptors(except for the special senses) are localized and interpreted in this area of the brain
Where are impulses from the special sense organs interpreted?
In other cortical areas.
Where is the visual area located?
The visual area is located in the posterior part of the occipital lobe
Where is the auditory area located?
The auditory area is in the temporal lobe bordering the lateral sulcus
Where is the olfactory area found?
The olfactory area is found deep inside the temporal lobe
Where is the primary motor area located?
The primary motor area is anterior to the central sulcus in the frontal lobe
What is the function of the primary motor area?
The primary motor area allows us to consciously move our skeletal muscles
Describe the Broca’s area or motor speech area
The Broca’s area or motor speech area is a specialised cortical area that is very involved in our ability to speak
Where is the Broca’s area(motor speech area) found?
The Broca’s area is found at the base of the precentral gyrus
What does damage to Broca’s area cause?
It causes the inability to say words properly. A person knows what he/she wants to say but can’t vocalise the words
Where is the anterior association area located?
The anterior association area is believed to be in the anterior part of the frontal lobes
What is the function of the anterior association area?
The anterior association area is involved in higher intellectual reasoning and socially acceptable behaviour
What does the posterior association area encompass?
The posterior association area encompasses part of the posterior cortex
What does the posterior association area play a role in?
The posterior association area plays a role in recognizing patterns and faces , and blending several different inputs into an understanding of the whole situation
Within the posterior association area is the speech area. Where is the speech area located within the posterior association area?
At the junction of the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes.
What is the function of this speech area?
The speech area allows you to sound out words.
Describe the brain stem
The structures of the are brain stem are :
Midbrain,pons and medulla oblongata
Where does the brain stem lie?
At the base of the cerebrum
What does the brain stem do?
The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord
Where is the midbrain located?
The midbrain is located between the diencephalon and pons
What does the midbrain contain?
The midbrain contains bundles of myelinated nerve fibres & masses of gray matter
What do these myelinated nerve fibres and gray matter do?
These myelinated fibres convey impulses to and from higher parts of the brain and the masses of gray matter serve as reflex centres
Name the 2 centres that the midbrain contains.
The centres for auditory and visual reflexes
Where does the pons lie?
The pons lies between the midbrain and medulla oblongata
What are the functions of the pons?
The pons transmits impulses between the brain and spinal cord
The pons contains centres that regulate the rate and depth of breathing
What does medulla oblongata transmit?
The medulla oblongata transmits all ascending and descending impulses between the brain and spinal cord
What does the medulla oblongata also house ?
The medulla oblongata also houses nuclei that control visceral functions , including the cardiac centre that controls the heart rate , the vasomotor centre for blood pressure control , and the respiratory centre that works along with the pons to control the rate and depth of breathing
What are the other nuclei in the medulla oblongata associated with?
The other nuclei in the medulla oblongata are associated with coughing , sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting
What is the brain stem heavily involved in?
The brain stem is heavily involved in the innervating the face and head(10 of the 12 cranial nerves are attached to the brain stem)
What is the brain stem the passageway for?
The brain stem is a passageway for fibre tracts running between the cerebrum and spinal cord
What do the nuclei in the brain stem produce?
The nuclei in the brain stem produce the rigidly programmed autonomic behaviours necessary for survival
Where does the spinal cord end att fetal 3rd month?
Fetal 3rd month: ends at coccyx