Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Is the brain working during sleep?
Yes
How much bodily energy does the human brain use?
20%
Is brain damage always permanent?
No
What is neuroplasticity?
The brains ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life
What is neurogenesis?
Brain cell growth
What regions of the brain does neurogenesis take place in?
The subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the subventricular zones
What part of a neuron does severe alcohol use damage?
Dendrite
What is neuroanatomy?
The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system
What is the central nervous system?
The brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Cranial nerves and the spinal nerves
What happens in the nervous system?
Sensory info is sent to the brain to produce a reaction
What two divisions is the PNS divided into?
The somatic division and the autonomic division
What is the somatic division?
Nerves that carry our sensory info into the CNS and the nerves that carry info from the CNS to produce a response
What is afferent?
Sensory info entering the CNS
What is efferent?
Sensory info leaving the CNS
What is the autonomic division?
Sensory and motor connections to internal organs
What does the autonomic division do?
Regulates heart rate, digestion, lung movement, sexual arousal
What 2 types of nerves are in the autonomic division?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What do our sympathetic nerves do?
They send arousing signals from our CNS to our organs. They prepare us for vigorous activity
What do parasympathetic nerves do?
Send calming signals from our CNS to our organs
What is vasculature?
The blood vessels of the brain
What does our vasulature consist of?
20% of oxygen from our lungs and 20% of blood from the heart
What is brain-body orientation?
The brain structure in relation to the face
What is the front of the brain called?
Anterior
What is the back of the brain called?
Posterior
What is the top of the brain called?
Dorsal
What is the bottom of the brain called?
Ventral
What is towards the brains mid-line called?
Medial
What are the sides of the brain called?
Lateral
What is anatomical orientation?
Describing structures in the brain in relation to each other
What anatomical orientation is cutting from the ventral or dorsal part of the brain?
Coronal section
What anatomical orientation is cutting from the anterior to the postural region?
Sagittal section
What anatomical orientation is cutting along the horizon of the brain?
Dorsal view
What are the meninges and what are they called?
3 layers of protective tissue between the skull and brain. Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater
What is dura mater?
“Hard mother”; tough outer double layer of fiborous tissue that encloses the brain in a loose sack
What is arachnoid mater?
“Like a spider’s web”; thin sheet of delicate connective tissue that follows the brains contours
What is pia mater?
“Soft mother”; moderately tough inner layer that clings to the brain’s surface
What is cerebrospinal fluid?
A clear solution of sodium chloride and other salts that circulates around the brain and spinal cord
What does cerebrospinal fluid do?
Provides cushioning and helps clear waste
What is the blood brain barrier?
Blood vessels that vascularize unique properties
What does the blood brain barrier do?
Protects our brain from toxins
What is the cerebrum?
The largest portion of the brain that is divided into 2 hemispheres
What is cerebral lateralization?
The process whereby functions become localized primarily an one side of the brain
Which side of the brain is more associated with language?
The left
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outer layer of the cerebrum
What are the 2 sections of subcortical structures in the cerebrum?
The basal ganglia and the limbic system
What is the basal ganglia?
A group of structures that coordinate voluntary movement of the limbs and body
What does the basal ganglia contain?
The globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, putamen, and the substantia nigra
What is the limbic system?
A group of structures involved in processing and regulating emotions, and memory
What does the limbic system contain?
The cingulate gyrus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the amygdala
What does the cingulate gyrus do?
Processes emotional distress and pain. It drives the bodies response to unpleasant experiences
What does the hypothalamus do?
Controls hormone release from various glands in the body.
What does the hippocampus do?
It stores early memories and then transfers them to long term memory. It also turns off the stress response.
What does the amygdala do?
Aids in empathy and fear.
What structures are in the brainstem?
The diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain
What is in the diencephalon?
The thalamus and the hypothalamus
What does the thalamus do?
Passes on sensory info en route to the cortex, except for smell.
What does the hypothalamus do?
Controls homeostasis, regulates hormone secretion.
What is in the midbrain?
The ventral tegmental area (reward processing) and the substantia nigra.
What is in the hindbrain?
The pans and the medulla
What does the pons do?
Connects the cerebellum to the brainstem.
What does the medulla do?
Controls breathing and heart rate
What does the brain stem do?
Maintains homeostasis; controls autonomic functions. Also involved in balance and fine movements of the limbs and face
What is the cerebellum?
Monitors and regulates motor behavlours; particularly automatic movements
What cells are in the brain?
The neuron, microglia, astrocute, oligodendrocytes
What does the neuron do?
Transmits info; basic functional cell of the NS
What is the microglia?
Brain immune cell that eats damaged neurons and foreign invaders.
What does an astrocyte do?
Provides support to neurons
What does an oligodendrocyte do?
Surrounds the axon of a neuron with myelin to speed up signal transmission
What’s a soma?
The cell body (contains the nucleus)
What are dendrites?
Branches coming off the cell body
What is the axon hillock?
Attaches the soma to the axon
What is white matter?
Oligodendrocytes
What is gray matter?
Cell bodies not surrounded by myelin sheath
What is a nucleus?
A cluster of neuron cell bodies
What is the node of ranvier?
The gaps between the myelin sheath.
What are a bundle of axons called in the CNS?
A tract
What are a bundle of axons called in the PNS?
A nerve
What are axon terminals?
Branches that release info for dendrites to pickup.
