Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Describe the function of the cerebrum
To perform higher functions: touch, vision and emotions
Describe the function of the cerebellum
Coordinate muscle movements, maintain posture and balance
Describe the function of the brainstem
Relay centre between cerebrum and cerebellum
Performs automatic functions
How is the cerebrum decided divided
4 lobes, right and left hemispheres
Joined by the corpus callosum
What does the left hemisphere control
Speech, comprehension, arithmetic and writing
What does the right hemisphere control
Creativity, spatial ability, artistic and musical skills
Describe the role of the frontal lobe
Personality and behaviour
Judgment and planning
Speech
Body movement
Intelligence and concentration
What area is responsible for speaking and writing
Broca’s area
What area is involved in body movement
Motor strip
Describe the function of the parietal lobe
Interest language
Sense of touch and pain
Interprets vision, hearing and memory
Spatial and visual perception
Describe the function of the occipital lobe
Interpret vision (colour, light and movement)
Describe the function of the temporal lobe
Understanding language
Memory
Hearing
Sequencing and organisation
What area is responsible for understanding language
Wernicke’s area
What happens if Broca’s area is damaged
Difficulty moving the tongue or facial muscles to produce speech and sounds
Difficulty forming letters and words when writing
Can still understand some language
What happens if Wernicke’s area
Individual may speak long sentences that have no meaning
Can make speech sounds but have difficulty understanding speech
Describe the cortex
Surface of cerebrum
Contains neurones arranged in layers
Describe grey matter
Contains synapses and neurones causing the colouration
The impulses are generated here
Describe white matter
Where the myelinated axon pathways run giving it a white colour
Transfer the impulse to other parts of the CNS or body
Describe a gyrus
The top of the fold in the brain
Describe suculus
The grooves between folds
Why are gyri and suculi important
Help define specific brain regions
Describe the pituitary gland
Controls other endocrine glands
Secretes hormones that control sexual development, promote bone and muscle growth
How is the pituitary gland connected to the hypothalamus
Via pituitary stalk
Describe the function of the pineal gland
Regulates the body’s internal clock and circadian rhythm
Secretes melatonin
Describe the function of the thalamus
Relay station for almost all information in the cortex
Role in pain sensation, alertness and memory
Describe the function of the basal ganglia
Work with the cerebellum to coordinate fine motions
What is the basal ganglia made up off
Caudate, putamen and globus pallidus
Describe the role of the limbic system
Centre of our emotions, learning and memory
What is included in the limbic system
Cingulate gyri, hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus
Describe the structure of pyramidal cells
Have 1 apical dendrite that courses towards the surface of the cortex
Have multiple basal dendrites
Have 1 long axon that leaves cortex and enters the white matter
What are the 6 cortical layers in the cerebral cortex
Molecular
External granular
External pyramidal
Internal granular
Internal pyramidal
Multi form
Describe the ventricles in the brain
Spaces in the brain that are full of cerebrospinal fluid
Protects the brain by keeping it buying and cushioned
Describe the cerebral ventricular system
4 ventricles
2 lateral ventricles
1 in the diencephalon
1 in the hindbrain
Names the 5 main parts in the brain
Myelencephalon (Medulla Oblongata)
Metencephalon (Pons and Cerebellum)
Mesencephalon (Midbrain)
Diencephalon (Hypo/thalamus)
Telencephalon (Cerebral Hemisphere)
Describe the Papez circuit
Functions primarily in the cortical control of emotion and memory storage
Describe the amygdala
Paired structure in the temporal lobe
Involved in emotion, memory and the flight and fight response
Describe the main function of the hypothalamus
To keep the body in homeostasis
Influences the autonomic nervous system and manages hormones
Name the 3 dopaminergic pathways
Mesocortical
Mesolimbic
Nigro-striatal
Describe the mesocortical pathway
ventral tegmental area -> cortec and limbic system
(Schizophrenia and drug addiciton)
Describe the mesolimbic pathway
Ventral tegmental area -> nucleus accumbens
(Schizophrenia and drug addiction)
Descrobe the Nigro-striatal pathway
substantia nigra -> caudate/putamen
(Parkinsons disease)
Describe the function of the substantia nigra
Modulates motor movement and reward functions
Part of basal ganglia circuitry
Describe the function of the brainstem
Responsible for vital life functions e.g breathing, conciousness and heart rate
Contains many critical collections of white and grey matter
Describe the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
Set of connected nuclei responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions
Describe the development of the adult brain from an embryo
Neural tube -> forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain -> telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencphalon, myelencephalon
