Neuroanatomy Flashcards
The nervous system is divided into the ____ and then ____.
CNS (central nervous system)
PNS (peripheral nervous system)
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the ____ and the _____ ___, lying within the protection of the ____ and ______ ______, respectively. This is the most complex part of the nervous system. It contains the majority of nerve cell bodies and synaptic connections.
brain
spinal cord
cranium
vertebral column
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is a
link between the CNS and the peripheral limbs (e.g. hand, legs) and organs. It relays information back and forth between the CNS and extremities.
What are the four lobes of the brain which are present on each cerebral hemisphere?
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
Temporal lobe
Function of anterior cingulate and example?
Motivation e.g. tells you to get up in the morning
Function of frontal lobe and example?
Planning e.g. what to do for the day
Function of dorsolateral prefrontal and example?
Logical and executive e.g making decisions
Function of olfactory bulb and example?
Involved in smell e.g. when something is burning
Function of lateral orbitofrontal and example?
Appropriate social/ emotional response e.g. regulates behaviour by inhibiting the influence of a broad scope of sensations, feelings, thoughts, and actions. It is argued that the region facilitates successful goal-oriented behaviour by inhibiting the influence of emotional feelings or perceptions.
Function of hypothalamus and example?
Hormone regulation e.g. Hormones produced by this area of the brain govern body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, moods, sex drive, and the release of other hormones in the body
Function of amygdala and example?
Basic emotions that are activated during fear or very emotional events e.g. in a very stressful (death) or very happy (achievement) situation.
Function of entorhinal cortex and example?
Memory e.g. names of people
Function of hippocampus and example?
Memory e.g. who you are, where you live
Function of brain stem and example?
Body basics/ what keeps you alive - unconscious control of body e.g. breathing, heart rate
Function of cerebellum and example?
Coordinate movement/ hand-eye coordination e.g. riding a bike/ running
Function of temporal lobe and example?
Communication e.g. understanding/ speaking a language
Function of occipital lobe and example?
Vision/ processing visual information e.g. watching TV
Function of parietal lobe and example?
Movement e.g. picking objects up
Condition name where you cannot process sensory information?
Agnosia/ spatial disorientation
Condition name where you cannot remember information?
Amnesia
Condition name where you cannot perform executive functions?
Frontal lobe syndrome
Condition name where you cannot form purposeful movement/ pick stuff up?
Apraxia
Condition name where you cannot do simple mathematical tasks?
Acalculia
Condition name where you cannot speak a language?
Aphasia
Condition name where you cannot understand written words/ inability to read properly?
Alexia/ Dyslexia
Condition name where you cannot communicate through writing?
Agraphia
Does damage to one structure affect all cognitive tasks equally?
NO!
What is a ‘phantom limb’?
A phantom limb is the sensation that an amputated or missing limb (even an organ, like the appendix) is still attached to the body and is moving appropriately with other body parts.
What is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system?
Neurone/ nerve cell
Estimated amount of nerve cells in human body?
10^ 10
Weight of brain?
1.5kg
Approximately how many neurones in brain?
86 billion neurones
Function of neurone?
Receive incoming information from sensory receptors or other neurones and transmit the information to other neurones or effector organs.
Information is passed between neurones at specialised regions called?
Synapses
Which part of a neurone actually sends information to and receives information from the synapse?
Dendrites
What part of a neurone carries information away from the cell body?
Axon
What is grey matter comprised mainly of?
Cell bodies
What is white matter comprised mainly of?
Axons coated with myelin sheath. This allows the AP to jump between the intervals.
Grey matter (cerebral cortex) is on the ____ of the brain, whereas white matter is on the ____ of the brain.
outside
inside
Read this information about white and grey matter.
White matter is composed of bundles of myelinated nerve cell processes (or axons), which connect various grey matter areas (the locations of nerve cell bodies) of the brain to each other, and carry nerve impulses between neurones. Myelin acts as an insulator, increasing the speed of transmission of all nerve signals.
What structure of the brain is located between both the left and the right hemisphere and what is its function?
Corpus callosum.
The function is to link the two cerebral hemispheres and allow the two sides of the brain to intercommunicate.
If the Corpus callosum is damaged, what will happen?
There will be a split brain as the left and right hemisphere cannot communicate.
The brain stem consists of: _____ _________, ___ and ______.
midbrain
pons
medulla oblobgata
The cerebrum is everything but the ____, ____ ____ and the _______/______.
cerebellum
brain stem
hypothalamus/ thalamus
What does the mesencephalon go on to develop into?
midbrain
What does the myelencephalon go on to develop into?
medulla oblongata
What does the metencephalon go on to develop into?
pons
cerebellum
The cerebrum is formed by what embryonic structure?
telencephalon
The hypothalamus and thalamus are formed by what embryonic structure?
diencephalon
Where is the pineal gland located in the brain? Give some information about it i.e. what hormone does it produce, from what amino acid and when it is inhibited/made.
Midbrain (mesencephalon). Produces the hormone melatonin. Melatonin regulates sleep and circadian rhythm. Melatonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin synthesis by pineal gland is inhibited by light (i.e it is stimulated during darkness)
The predominant function of the thalamus is to:
It also regulates ________, ______ and ____.
relay sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.
wakefulness, alertness and sleep
The hypothalamus connects which two systems via which gland?
nervous system and endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis)
The hypothalamus is located between?
Just below the thalamus and above the brain stem
What processes does the hypothalamus regulate in the autonomic nervous system?
Metabolic processes
The hypothalamus synthesises and secretes certain n_____h______ which can either s______ or i______ secretion of p______ hormones
neurohormones
stimulate
inhibit
pituitary
What does the hypothalamus control?
It is the unconscious control of the brain centre. It controls body temperature, heart rate, circadian rhythm, sleep & fatigue, hunger & thirst and emotional behaviours
What is the cingulum?
an assembly of white matter fibres (myelinated axons) which project to the entorhinal cortex from the cingulate gyrus. It facilitates communication between various structures of the limbic system
The limbic system is…
a collection of brain structures located in both the left and right hemispheres beneath the cerebral cortices.
