Pre- Exam Revision

Question 1

What are the 3 layers of the meninges? What are their purposes? Which one has two layers?

Answer 1

Dura mater - tough outer layer
Arachnoid - produces sub-arachnoid space, which contains blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid
Pia mater - highly vascular and clings to brain + spinal cord

Question 2

Where is the cerebellum?

Answer 2

Inferior posterior aspect of the brain.

Question 3

What is the cerebrum? What does it do?

Answer 3

Large structure which wraps around the whole brain
Has multiple lobes - frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

Processes sensory information, voluntary motor movement, emotion/mood, executive order functions, decision-making.

Question 4

Where is the hypothalamus? What does it do?

Answer 4

Inferior, embedded within the brain.

Monitors/maintains water balance, body temperature (thermoregulation), thirst and hunger, sleep, emotions

Question 5

What is the brainstem? What is it composed of?

Answer 5

Region connecting the spinal cord to the brain.

Contains medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain.

Question 6

Where is the medulla oblongata? What does it do?

Answer 6

In the brainstem.

Helps control autonomic functions - lungs, heart rate, blood pressure