Structure and layout of brain areas

Question 1

What are the sulci and gyrus in the brain?

Answer 1

The sulci is a groove which separates lobes (furrows)
The gyrus is a ridge on the surface of the brain (hills)

Question 2

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 2

Controls motor control at the superior
Controls language and personality at the inferior

Question 3

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Answer 3

Controls somatosensory (information that flows into the CNS from outside of our bodies)

Question 4

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 4

Controls vision : colour, motion, light

Question 5

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Answer 5

Controls our memory and hearing

Question 6

What does the central sulcus seperate?

Answer 6

Frontal and parietal lobes

Question 7

What does the parieto-occipital sulcus seperate?

Answer 7

Parietal and occipital lobes

Question 8

What does the lateral sulcus seperate?

Answer 8

Temporal lobe from frontal and parietal lobe

Question 9

What does the transverse fissure do?

Answer 9

Separates cerebrum from cerebellum

Question 10

What are the three parts of the brain stem?

Answer 10

Mid brain (cerebral aqueduct)
Pons (4th ventricle)
Medulla oblongata (4th ventricle, connects to spinal cord)

Question 11

What is apart of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 11

Cerebrum
Grey matter

Question 12

What is apart of the corpus callosum?

Answer 12

White matter (primarily consists of myelinated axons)

Question 13

What is apart of the diencephalon?

Answer 13

Thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 14

Where is the motor cortex and somatosensory cortex?

Answer 14

Motor : pre-central gyrus
Somatosensory : post central gyrus

Question 15

What is the primary motor cortex organisation?

Answer 15

The pre central gyrus functions as the primary motor cortex, specific regions of the motor cortex controls specific regions of the body

Question 16

What occurs in the corticospinal pathway?

Answer 16

Signal originates in the cortex and travels into spine
Upper motor neuron axon extends from motor cortex to spinal cord on opposite side and makes synapse on lower motor neuron
Lower motor neuron axon extends out of spinal cord into body and makes synapse on the skeletal muscle

Question 17

What happens if there is damage to the primary motor cortex?

Answer 17

Muscle weakness and paralysis in region of body corresponding to the location of damage, opposite side

Question 18

What is the primary somatosensory cortex organisation?

Answer 18

The post central gyrus functions as the primary somatosensory cortex, specific regions of the somatosensory cortex receive sensory information from specific regions of the body

Question 19

What occurs in the dorsal column pathway?
(neuron 1)

Answer 19

Neuron 1: cell body in dorsal root ganglion, peripheral fibre from sensory receptor, central fibre goes to brain in dorsal columns and makes synapse on neuron 2 in medulla oblongata

Question 20

What occurs in the dorsal column pathway?
(neuron 2)

Answer 20

Neuron 2: Cell body in medulla oblongata, axon crosses to opposite side and ascends, makes synapse on neuron #3 in thalamus

Question 21

What occurs in the dorsal column pathway?
(neuron 3)

Answer 21

Neuron 3: cell body in thalamus, axon ascends to somatosensory cortex, makes a synapse on the cell body of a somatosensory cortex neuron

Question 22

What happens if there is damage to the dorsal column pathway?

Answer 22

Cell in somatosensory cortex that receives information from dorsal column pathway dies
- ascending information has no where to go, no perception of touch

Question 23

Commissural Tracts

Answer 23

Axons cross from side to side

Question 24

Projection tracts

Answer 24

Axons extend between cortex and other CNS areas outside cerebrum

Question 25

Association Tracts

Answer 25

Axons on same side within cerebral cortex
Communication between brain areas