Structure and Function of the Brain Flashcards
What is the brain?
Part of the CNS within the skull cavity
What are the three main components of the brain?
- Forebrain (from prosencephalon)
- Midbrain (from mesencephalon)
- Hindbrain (from rhombencephalon)
What does the forebrain form?
- cerebral hemispheres and deep structures
What does the midbrain form?
Brainstem
What does the hindbrain form?
- brainstem, pons, medulla and cerebellum
Describe the inferior surface of the forebrain
ventral surface
Describe the anterior surface of the forebrain
dorsal surface
What is the ventral surface in the brainstem?
anterior surface
What is the dorsal surface in the brainstem?
posterior surface
Rostral =
- anything toward anterior pole of the forebrain
Caudal =
- anything toward the inferior pole of the spinal cord
Coronal section =
- cuts through the brain from superior to inferior
Horizontal/axial section =
- cuts through the brain parallel to the ground
Sagittal Section =
- cuts through the brain from anterior to posterior
Midsagittal section =
separates the two hemispheres
Gray matter =
- any collection of neuronal cell bodies
Describe the gray mater in the brain
Found in cortical layer (cortex) on the surface of the forebrain and cerebellum. Large surface area due to grooves (sulci) and ridges (gyri) developing overtime. Can also be found in deep structures of the forebrain, the basal ganglia, and structures of the limbic system
White matter =
consists of fibre tracts and is found deep to the cortical gray matter in the brain
Nucleus =
a collection of nerve cell bodies within the CNS
What is a collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system?
a ganglion
How are white and gray matter arranged in the spinal cord?
- gray matter is located centrally and surrounded by white matter
What is a tract/nerve?
a bundle of axons – mostly myelinated and appear white in colour
What comprises the forebrain?
- Telencephalon and diencephalon
Where is forebrain derived from?
- Derived from the most rostral parts of the developing neural tube
Telencephalon =
- massive cerebrum, which is divided into two cerebral hemispheres
What are the gray mater structures deep within the cerebrum?
- Basal ganglia
- Two major limbic system structures (hippocampus and amygdala)
- Underlying white matter
Diencephalon =
- thalamus, hypothalamus and subthalamus (all gray matter structures)
What are the four lobes of each cerebral hemisphere?
- frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes
Ridges =
gyri (gyrus)
Grooves or fissures =
sulci (sulcus)
Where is the longitudnal fissure located?
- located along the midsagittal plane separates the two hemispheres
What does the lateral/sylvian fissure separate?
- separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes
What does the parietooccipital sulcus separate?
- is visible on the medial surface of the brain and separates the occipital lobe from the parietal
What is the largest lobe of the brain?
frontal lobe
What are the boundaries of the frontal lobe?
- Separated from the parietal lobe by the central sulcus and from the temporal lobe by the lateral fissure