Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Role of precentral gyrus
primary motor cortex
Role of insula
Deep within the lateral sulcus associated with hearing and equilibrium
Fornix
Bridge of white matter inferior to the corpus callosum
links regions of the limbic system together
Anterior commisure
Bridge of white fibres near the tip of the corpus callosum connects the hemispheres of the cerebrum
What are the three parts of the striatum?
Putamen, caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens
What is the function of the striatum?
Part of the basal ganglia, Controls and regulates motor and precortical areas so voluntary movements are smooth, also involed in eye movements, reward seeking, pleasurable effects of many drugs and learning
What is the function of the hippocampus?
Part of the limbic system, has a major role in memory, early memory storage, long term memory formation and spatial navigation
What is the function of the amygdala?
Almond sized collection of nuclei, plays a key role in processing emotion, determines the emotional relevance of a stimulus i.e fear/threat and aids consolidation of emotional memories
Role of frontal lobe
complex learning
Parietal lobe
Involved in laguage aquisition
Occipital lobe
Processes visual information and help processes the written word
Temporal lobe
Processes auditory information and maintain equilibrium
Role of the pineal gland
Is the only unpaired structure in the brain, main function is the release of melatonin which aids maintainence or circadian rhythms.
Role of thalamus
Comprises 80% of the diencephalon. Major relay point for all sensory impulses except for olfaction. Has multiple nuclei and is involved with movement, memory emotion as well as sensory info.
Role of hypothalamus and pituitary
Comprised of several nuclei with several functions. Main function is homeostasis either through the release of hormones or via the modulation of the autonomic nervous system. Hormone relase is primarily from the pituitary under control of the thalamus.
Mamillary body
Involved in a lot of processes regarding memory, damage typically causes diencephalic amnesia which causes anterograde amnesia. The mamilary bodies are often damaged in korsakoff’s syndrome and contain cells that note the direction of the head and act as a compass.
Vermis
part of the the cerebellum, associated with posture and locomotion
Folia
Fine transverse oriented pleat like gyri on the surface of the cerebellum increasing the surface area
Arbour Vitae
Also know as the tree of life, the cerebellar white matter named for it’s branched tree like appearance.
Cerebellar peduncles
Exist in superior middle and inferior pairs, the cerebellum communicates with the rest of the nervous system via these
Angular gyrus
Part of the parietal lobe involved in language, mathematics and cognition
Cingulate gyrus
Adjacent to the corpus callosum involved in emotion learning and memory
Fusiform gyrus
located on the temporal lobe, processes visual information allowing for face and bodily recognition as well as number and word recognition.
Precentral gyrus
Located on the frontal lobe and involved in voluntary movements.