Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Primary Motor Cortex (M1)
located in precentral gyrus. initiation of voluntary motor movements
Premotor cortex
begins programming a movement by combining information from the prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex
supplementary motor area (SMA)
important for initiation of movement sequences, especially preplanned levels
posterior parietal lobe
proprioceptive cues about body position (provides feedback “on the fly” for refining movement.
prefrontal cortex
decision making (“should i do this movement or not?”)
basal ganglia
group of interconnected forebrain nuclei that modulate movement. includes the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidum
where does the basal ganglia receive information from
primary and secondary motor areas. somatosensory cortex
functions of basal ganglia
smooth movements through the thalamus. learning movement sequences are performed as a unit. Once motor tasks are learned, the BG takes over (Automation of learned sequences)
motor homunculus
a map of brain areas dedicated to motor processing for different anatomical divisions of the body
striatum
includes the caudate nucleus and putamen together. located in basal ganglia
adrenal cortex
the outer rind of the adrenal gland. secrets steroid hormones (including cortisol)
adrenal gland
an endocrine gland atop the kidney
adrenal medulla
the inner core of the adrenal gland, which secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
angular gyrus
a brain region in which strokes can lead to word blindness
anterior pituitary
the front division of the pituitary gland. secretes tropic hormones
brainstem
consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla
broca’s area
a region of the frontal lobe of the brain that’s involved in the production of speech
carotid arteries
the major arteries that ascend the left and right sides of the neck to the brain. supplying blood to the anterior and middle cerebral arteries
caudate nucleus
one of the basal ganglia
central nervous system (CNS)
the portion of the nervous system that includes the brain and the spinal cord
central sulcus
a fissure that divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
cerebellum
a structure located at the back of the brain., dorsal to the pons, that is involved in the central regulation of movement
cerebral cortex
the outer covering of the cerebral hemispheres that consists largely of neuronal cell bodies and their branches
cerebral hemispheres
the right and left halves of the forebrain
circle of willis
a vascular structure at the base of the brain that is formed by communicating arteries that interconnect the major cerebral arteries
circumvallate papillae
one of three types of small structures on the tongue that contain taste receptors, located in the back
cochlea
a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the primary receptor cells for hearing
cochlear nuclei
brainstem nuclei that receive input from auditory hair cells and send output to the superior olivary complex
cornea
the transparent outer layer of the eye, whose curvature is fixed. it bends light rays and is primarily responsible for forming the image on the retina
corpus callosum
the main band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
cranial nerve
a nerve that is connected directly to the brain
diencephalon
the posterior part of the forebrain, including the thalamus and hypothalamus
dorsal column system
a somatosensory system that delivers most touch stimuli via the dorsal columns of spinal white matter to the brain
dorsal root
the branch of a spinal nerve, entering the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, that carries sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the spinal cord
dura mater
the outermost of the three meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord
ear canal
a tube leading from the pinna to the middle ear
enteric nervous system
an extensive mesh-like system of neurons that governs the functioning of the gut
exocrine gland
a gland whose secretions exit the body via ducts
forebrain
the anterior division of the brain, containing the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus and the hypothalamus
forebrain
the anterior division of the brain, containing the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus and the hypothalamus
fovea
the central portion of the retina, packed with the most photoreceptors and therefore the center of our gaze
fusiform gyrus
a region on the inferior surface of the cortex, at the junction of temporal and occipital lobes, that has been associated with recognition of faces
glial cells
(aka glia or neuroglia). non-neuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain
globus pallidus
one of the basal ganglia
glomerulus
a complex arbor of dendrites from a group of olfactory cells
gray matter
areas of the brain that are dominated by cell bodies and are devoid of myelin
gyrus
a ridged or raised portion of a convoluted brain surface
hindbrain
the rear division of the brain, which in the mature vertebrate, contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla
hippocampus
a medial temporal lobe structure for learning, memory, and spatial navigation
incus
a middle ear bone situated between the malleus and the stapes
inferior colliculi
paired gray matter structures of the dorsal midbrain that receive auditory information
inner ear
the cochlea and vestibular apparatus
inner hair cell (IHC)
on of the 2 types of cochlear receptor cells for hearing
iris
the circular structure of the eye that provides an opening to form the pupil
lateral hypothalamus (LH)
a hypothalamic region involved in the control of appetite and other functions
limbic system
widespread group of brain nuclei that innervate each other to form a network. these nuclei are implicated in emotions
malleus
a middle-ear bone that is connected to the tympanic membrane
medial amygdala
a region of the amygdala involved in processing olfactory and pheromonal stimuli
meissner’s corpuscle
a skin receptor cell type that detects light touch
meninges
the 3 protective sheets of tissue - dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
merkel’s disc
a skin receptor cell type that detects fine touch
metencephalon
a subdivision of the hindbrain that includes the cerebellum and the pons
microglial cells
(aka microglia). extremely small glial cells that remove cellular debris from injured or dead cells
middle ear
the cavity between the tympanic membrane and the cochlea
motor neuron
also called motorneuron. a nerve cell in the brain or spinal cord that transmits motor messages, stimulating a muscle or gland
motor plan
(aka motor program) a plan for action in the nervous system
myosin
a protein that, along with actin, mediates the contraction of muscle fibers
neuropeptide
aka peptide neurotransmitter. a peptide that is used by neurons for signaling
