Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Interacts with the external environment. Composed of afferent nerves and efferent nerves - part of pns
Automatic nervous system (ANS)
Regulates the body’s internal environment. Composed of afferent and efferent nerves - part of pns
Centtal nervous system (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord, consists of 5 divisions, Telencephalon, Diencephalon, Mesencephalon, Metencephalon, Myecenphalon
Forebrain : Telencephalon
Largest division of the human brain, initiates voluntary movement, interprets sensory input, mediates cognitive processes such as learning, speaking and problem solving
Within cerebral hemispheres : Basal ganglia
includes the caudate nucleus, the putamen, and the globus pallidus. The basal ganglia is very important in motor control, memory, reward system and emotions.
Within cerebral hemispheres : Limbic system
A network of structures alongside the basal ganglia. This includes the amygdala (almond), which has several subdivisions with diverse functions such as emotional regulation and odor perception. The hippocampus (sea horse) and the fornix, both of which who contribute to learning and memory. The cingulate gyrus, and the olfactory bulb, sense of smell. The limbic system help to govern highly motivated behaviors such as sex, aggression, and regulate the hormonal system of the body
the nervous system
Central nervous system (brain, spinal cord)
Peripheral nervous system
(->somatic nervous system (afferent nerves + efferent nerves)
(->autonomic nervous system (afferent nerves + efferent nerves(sympathic nervous system + parasympathetic nervous system)
Cerebral cortex
Layer of tissue on the cerebral hemispheres. Referred to as the grey matter. Has a lot of convolutions, which increases the amount of cerebral cortex without increasing the overall volume of the brain (Lissencephalic = smooth brain)
Fissures
large lines in a convulted cortex. Divides the different lobes
• Longitudinal fissure: Largest fissure, divides the two hemispheres
• Lateral fissure
• Central fissure
Sulci (singular sulcus)
small lines
Gyri (singular Gyrus)
+Types of gyri
Ridges between fissures and sulci
• Precentral gyri : Crucial for motor control, fine movements ( moving one finger at the time).
• postcentral gyri: Receive somatosensory information from the entire body.
• superior temporal gyri: largest gyri. Important for processing sound.
• Cingulate gyrus: Above the corpus callosum.
Cerebral commisures
connecting tracts between both hemispheres
• Corpus callosum: Largest cerebral commissure
4 lobes (divided by central and lateral fissures
Frontal lobe
Occipital lobe
parietal lobe
temporal lobe
Frontal lobe
controlling mental functions. Controls complex cognitions, planning, impulsivity
Occipital lobe
Main target for visual information. Seeing shapes, perceiving colors and detecting emotions
Parietal lobe
Integrating sensory information, manipulation of objects and visual spatial processing. Linking sensory information to action
Temporal lobe
target for auditory information, spoken language and recognizing faces, also plays a role in emotional and motivational behavior
Neocortex: New Cortex
Part of the cortex, the largest part of the cerebral cortex, has 6 layers. 90% of the cortex is the neocortex
Diencephalon
Composed of two structures: upper part= thalamus, lower part= hypothalamus
Thalamus
large, two-lobed structure that constitutes the top of the brain stem, relay station (central station), signals pass trough and get coordinated to the other parts of the brain.
Massa intermedia: joins the two lobes.
Sensory relay nuclei: receive signals from sensory receptors, process them and transmit them to the appropriate areas of sensory cortex.
Hypothalamus
located just below the anterior thalamus, plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors (hunger, thirst, reproductive behavior).
Pituitary gland: regulated by the hypothalamus, releases hormones.
Optic chiasm: point where the optic nerves from each eye come together.
Mamillary body: Pair of nuclei at the base of the brain.
Midbrain
• Mesencephalon: Two divisions:
o Tectum: (roof of the mesencephalon) dorsal surface of the midbrain. Motor system
Inferior colliculli: Receive auditory information and process sound.
Superior colliculi: Process visual information.
o Tegmentum: ventral surface. Sensory system.
Pariaquedictal gray: grey matter around the cerebral aqueduct, it has a role in mediating the pain reducing drugs.
Substantia nigra: (black substance) sensorimotor system.
Red nucleus: Communicated with motor neurons in the spinal cord.
Hindbrain
• Metencephalon: Basic bodily functions.
o Pons: Sleep, respiration, swallowing. Basic bodily functions.
o Cerebellum: large, convoluted structure on the brain stem’s dorsal surface. It is involved with central regulation of movements.
• Myelencephalon: Medulla, is composed largely of
tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and the body.
o Reticular (reticulum=net) formation: complex network of about 100 tiny nuclei that occupies central core of the brain stem. The various nuclei are involved in many functions (sleep, attention, movement, maintenance of muscles, various cardiac and respiratory reflexes.
