Parts of the Brain and functions

Question 1

Hindbrain

Answer 1

a part of the brain including the cerebellum, medulla oblongata and pons

Question 2

Cerebellum

Answer 2

• receives information from proprioceptors (specialized cells) that are located within skeletal muscles and joints.
• involved in unconscious coordination of posture, reflexes and body movements and voluntary motor skills

Question 3

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 3

• sits at the base of the brainstem where it connects the brain with the spinal cord.
• contains centres that control automatic, involuntary responses:
• heart rate
• constriction or dilation of blood vessels
• control blood pressure,
• rate and depth of breathing
• swallowing
• coughing.

Question 4

Pons

Answer 4

• found above and in front of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem.
• relay centre between the neurons of the right and left halves of the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the rest of the brain

Question 5

Midbrain

Answer 5

• found above the pons in the brainstem.
• relays visual and auditory information between the areas of the hindbrain and the forebrain
• important for eye movement and control of skeletal muscles.

Question 6

Forebrain

Answer 6

part of the brain that includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebrum.

Question 7

Thalamus

Answer 7

• sits at the base of the forebrain
• consists of neurons that connect various parts of the brain, mainly the forebrain, hindbrain, and areas of sensory system (except sense of smell), and the cerebellum

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Answer 8

• found just below the thalamus
• contains neurons that control:
• blood pressure
• heart rate
• body temperature
• basic drives (thirst and hunger)
• emotions (fear, rage, and pleasure)
• help regulate the body’s internal environment, and aspects of behaviour
• major link between the nervous and endocrine system as it coordinates the actions of the pituitary gland, by producing and regulating the release of certain hormones.

Question 9

Cerebrum

Answer 9

• the largest part of the brain,
• divided into two cerebral hemispheres
• contains centres of intellect, memory, consciousness, and languages.
• interprets and controls the response to sensory information.
• Consists of the cerebral cortex.

Question 10

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 10

• the outer layer of the cerebrum and consists of grey matter.
• responsible for language, memory, personality, vision, conscious thought, and other activities apart from thinking and feeling.
• Includes 4 lobes; frontal , parietal, occipital and temporal.

Question 11

Corpus Callosum

Answer 11

• links the two hemispheres of the cerebrum using a bundle of white matter.
• sends messages from one cerebral hemisphere to another
• Every cognitive function uses both hemispheres but some functions have a dominant one.

Question 12

Right cerebral hemisphere

Answer 12

• associated with holistic and intuitive thinking, visual-spatial (ability to mentally manipulate 2 and 3 dimensional shapes), and artistic abilities

Question 13

Left cerebral hemisphere

Answer 13

linked to segmental, sequential and logical ways of thinking, language, and mathematical skills.

Question 14

Frontal lobe

Answer 14

• integrate information for other parts of the brain and controls reasoning, critical thinking, memory and personality.
• a part of controlling voluntary motor movements.

Question 15

Parietal lobe

Answer 15

• receives and processes sensory information from the skin.

- help process information about the body’s position and orientation.

Question 16

Occipital lobe

Answer 16

• receives and analyzes visual information.

- If damaged, the individual will be able to see objects but not recognize them.

Question 17

Temporal lobe

Answer 17

• a part of processing visual information
• main function is reception of auditory information. This means understanding speech and retrieving visual and verbal memories.

Question 18

Broca’s area

Answer 18

• a part of the cerebral cortex -coordinates muscles for speaking and translates thought into speech.
• Damaging this area would result in inability to speak but not in understanding language.

Question 19

Wernicke’s area

Answer 19

• a part of the cerebral cortex - stores information involving language comprehension.
• Damaging this area would not change the individual’s ability to speak, but the words would make little sense.