Parts & Functions of the Brain Flashcards
Cerebral Hemisphere
Main Parts
- <!--StartFragment-->Grey matter (=cerebral cortex)
- White matter
- Basal Ganglia
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Cerebral Hemisphere
Location
Forebrain: Telencephalon
Cerebral Hemisphere
Inputs from
Thalamus
Cerebral Hemisphere
Outputs to
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Basal Ganglia
- Brainstem
- Spinal cord
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Cerebral Hemisphere
Main Functions
- <!--StartFragment-->Perception
- Conscious Awareness
- Cognition
- Voluntary Action
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Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
Main Parts
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Caudate Nucleus
- Putamen (together with Caudate Nucleus: Corpus Striatum)
- Globus Pallidus
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Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
Location
Forebrain: Telencephalon
Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
Inputs from
- Cortex
- Substantia Nigra
Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
Outputs to
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Cerebral Cortex (via Thalamus)
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Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
Main Functions
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- Integration of Movement and Posture
- Initiation of Movement
- Cognitive Processes (Loop involving Frontal Cortex)
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Thalamus
Main Parts
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Several Nucleii<!--EndFragment-->
Thalamus
Location
Forebrain: Diencephalon
Thalamus
Inputs from
- <!--StartFragment-->Sensory Pathways (vision, audition, somatic sensation)
- Motor Pathways
- Reticular Activation System
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Thalamus
Outputs to
Cerebral cortex
Thalamus
Main Functions
Major “Relay”/Gateway to Cerebral Cortex
Limbic System
Main Parts
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Olfactory pathways
- Amygdala
- Hippocampus
- Hypothalamus
- Anterior Nucleus of Thalamus
- Septum
- Fornix
- Prefrontal & Cingulate cortex
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Limbic System
Location
Forebrain: <!--StartFragment-->Telencephalon & Diencephalon
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Limbic System
Inputs from
Thalamus
Limbic System
Outputs to
- <!--StartFragment-->Hypothalamus to Pituitary Gland
- Cortex
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Limbic System
Main Functions
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Motivation, Emotion, Memory
Hypothalamus: Homeostasis (visceral/autonomic NS: e.g., temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, sugar level) & Basic drives (feeding, fighting, fleeing, mating, maternal).
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Midbrain
Main Parts
- <!--StartFragment-->Tectum (Superior & Inferior Colliculi)
- Tegmentum (Substantia Nigra, Red Nucleus, Reticular Formation)
* Tectum & Tegmentum separted by cerebral aqueduct.
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Midbrain
System Location
Midbrain
Midbrain
Inputs from
Forebrain, spinal cord
Midbrain
Outputs to
Forebrain, spinal cord
Midbrain
Main Functions
- <!--StartFragment-->Visual Reflex (Superior Colliculi)
- Auditori Reflex (Inferior Colliculi)
- Voluntary Movements (Substantia Nigra, Red Nucleus)
- Maintaining Consciousness and Controlling Arousal (Reticular Formation)
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Pons
Main Parts
Several nuclei
Pons
System Location
Hindbrain: Metencephalon
Pons
Inputs from
Tracts “bridge” to cerebellum and other CNS parts.
Pons
Outputs to
Tracts “bridge” to cerebellum and other CNS parts.
Pons
Main Functions
Important area of Synaptic Integration
Medulla Oblongata
System Location
Hindbrain: Myencephalon
Medulla Oblongata
Inputs from
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Bridges between Forebrain and Spinal Cord.
Note: Contains Ascending (sensory) tracts in dorsal portion and descending (motor) tracts in ventral portion. Cortico-spinal tract crosses from one side to the other).
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Medulla Oblongata
Outputs to
Bridges between Forebrain and Spinal Cord.
Note: Contains Ascending (sensory) tracts in dorsal portion and descending (motor) tracts in ventral portion. Cortico-spinal tract crosses from one side to the other).
Medulla Oblongata
Main Functions
- <!--StartFragment-->Controls Functions essential to Life (Respiration, Heart Rate)
- Reflexive Responses
- Contains some Cranial Nerve Nuclei
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Cerebellum
Main Parts
- <!--StartFragment-->Right Cerebellar Hemisphere
- Left Cerebellar Hemisphere
- Vermis
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Cerebellum
System Location
Hindbrain: Metencephalon
Cerebellum
Inputs from
- <!--StartFragment-->Fiber Types: 1) Climbing Fibres 2) Mossy Fibres
- Inputs: Auditory, Visual, Vestibular, Somatosensory (e.g., spinocerebellar tracts)
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Cerebellum
Outputs to
- <!--StartFragment-->Fiber Types: 1) Purkinje Cells 2) Basket Cells
- Outputs: Cerebral Cortex, Brain Stem Nucleii (but no direct descending tracts to spinal cord)
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Cerebellum
Main Functions
- <!--StartFragment-->Sensorimotor Functions
- Movement and Posture
- Some Types of Learning
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