Neuroanatomy Flashcards
_____ are cells of the central nervous system located within the gray matter that are responsible for all neurological functions of the brain.
Neurons
The _____ is the substance of the brain and spinal cord that contains the neuronal cell bodies of the central nervous system.
gray matter
Within the cerebrum, the two main locations of gray matter are on the surface of the gyri (the _____ gray matter) and the nuclei of the _____.
cortical; basal ganglia
The brainstem contains gray matter in the numerous _____.
nuclei
In the cerebellum, the gray matter is located on the _____ of the cerebellar cortex and the deep cerebellar _____.
folia; nuclei
In the spinal cord, the gray matter is located in the _____ of the cord surrounding the central canal.
center
The _____ is the substance of the brain and spinal cord that contains the fiber tracts of neuronal axons in the central nervous system.
white matter
A _____ is a collection of axons.
tract
_____ is the clear liquid that surrounds and bathes the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrospinal fluid
What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid?
- Protection of the brain and spinal cord against rapid acceleration and deceleration
- Providing buoyancy to the brain
- Maintenance of intracranial pressure
- Supplying nutrients
- Removing metabolites
_____ nerve fibers refer to axonal projections that arrive at a particular brain region.
Afferent
_____ nerve fibers refer to axonal projections that exit a particular region.
Efferent
What are four terms used to describe bundles of white matter?
tracts; fasciculi; peduncles; stria
_____ are a network of interconnected cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
Ventricles
Nutrients from the blood reach the nerve cells through the _____.
cerebrospinal fluid
The diencephalon is composed of the _____ and _____.
thalamus; hypothalamus
Cells in the dorsal section of the spinal cord _____.
receive sensory information
Cells in the ventral region of the spinal cord are responsible for _____ as well as _____.
- Conveying motor commands to the muscles
- Receiving input from the brain/other regions of the spinal cord
Toward the front is known as _____ or _____.
anterior; rostral
Toward the back is known as _____ or _____.
posterior; caudal
Near the top of the head is known as _____.
superior; dorsal
Toward the bottom is known as _____.
inferior; ventral
Near the middle or midline of the body is known as _____.
medial
Toward the side of the head is known as _____.
lateral
The medulla is important for _____ and _____.
- Controlling life-sustaining functions (e.g., heartbeat and breathing)
- Overall alertness and arousal
The cerebellum is important for _____ and _____.
- Skilled, coordinated motor movement
- Fluid cognition
The _____ is the brain region at which information from many of the cranial nerves enters the nervous system.
pons
The midbrain is home to two important structures involved in orienting toward sensory stimuli: the _____ and the _____.
inferior colliculus; superior colliculus
The inferior colliculus (in the midbrain) which processes _____ information.
auditory
The superior colliculus (in the midbrain) processes _____ information.
visual
The hypothalamus is important for _____, such as seeking food, seeking a sexual partner, and fleeing.
motivational behavior
The thalamus is a major relay center in the brain whereby which two things occur?
- Information from the sensory world is reorganized on its way to the cortex
- Information from the cortex is reorganized on its way to the periphery
What are the two major subcortical systems?
basal ganglia; limbic system
The basal ganglia is involved in _____.
the control of movement
The limbic system is traditionally thought to be important for _____ but now known to be involved in other functions as well, such as _____.
emotion; memory
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?
- Processing sensory input
- Controlling motor output
- Higher-order mental functions (e.g., object recognition, spatial processing, and memory)
Information is conveyed within a neuron via a(n) _____ signal.
electrical
An action potential consists of a change in the differential electrical charge across the cell membrane from _____ to _____ and back again.
–70 mV; +40 mV
An action potential causes _____ to be released.
neurotransmitter
As a result of an action potential, the neurotransmitter chemical diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds with specific receptors on the postsynaptic side of neighboring neurons. This chemical binding causes the production of _____, which summate in time and space and can cause an action potential.
postsynaptic potentials
The effect of postsynaptic potentials is temporally limited by what five factors?
- Reuptake of the neurotransmitter by the presynaptic neuron
- Enzymatic deactivation of the neurotransmitter
- Binding at autoreceptors
- Uptake of the neurotransmitter by nearby glial cells
- Diffusion away from the synaptic cleft
