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MCAT Prep > Structures and Functions of the Brain > Flashcards

Structures and Functions of the Brain Flashcards

1
Q

Three main division of the brain and what they each do

A

Forebrain - controls reasoning
Midbrain - controls “middle-level” functions
Hindbrain- controls basic functions

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2
Q

afferent neurons

A

sensory neurons

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3
Q

efferent neurons

A

motor neurons

motor neurons effect the body’s behavior

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4
Q

way to remember afferent versus efferent neurons

A

SAME

sensory - afferent
motor - efferent

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5
Q

cerebellum location and function

A

hindbrain little ball

coordinates movement

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6
Q

medulla oblongata location and function

A

lower part of brainstem

autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate, BP

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7
Q

substantia nigra location and function

A

lower part of midbrain, upper brainstem

helps coordinate voluntary movements

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8
Q

what brain structure does Parkinson’s affect?

A

substantia nigra

affects coordinated voluntary movements

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9
Q

thalamus

A

relays sensory and motor signals

regulates sleep and alertness

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10
Q

hypothalamus

A

connects the nervous system to the endocrine system

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11
Q

where are the thalamus, hypothalmus, and pituitary gland located?

A

located in the diencephalan of the forebrain

below the cerebrum

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12
Q

pituitary gland

A

releases important hormones

*more information in the endocrine flashcards

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13
Q

what is the cerebrum divided into?

A

cerebral cortex and subcortical structures

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14
Q

what are the subcortical structures?

A

olfactory bulbs
hippocampus
basal ganglia

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15
Q

olfactory bulbs

A

subcortical structure

detect odors / smell

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16
Q

hippocampus

A

subcortical structure

converts short term memory to long term memory

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17
Q

basal ganglia

A

eye movement, voluntary movement, procedural and habitual learning

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18
Q

generally what does basal ganglia control?

A

movement and learning

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19
Q

amygdala

A

episodic memory, attention and emotion

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20
Q

what structure controls emotion?

A

amygdala

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21
Q

what structure controls flight or fight response?

A

amygdala

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22
Q

which structures are involved in reward and addiction?

A

VTA and nucleus accumbens

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23
Q

nucleus accumbens

A

reward, motivation and learning

receives signals from the VTA

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24
Q

VTA

A

a cluster of dopaminergic neurons involved in reward

sends signals to VTA

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25
what is the cerebral cortex broken into?
4 lobes
26
frontal lobe
involved in decision making and "adulting" processes
27
parietal lobe
sensory processing except vision
28
occipital lobe
vision
29
temporal lobe
visual memories and language
30
Wernicke's area location and function
located in temporal lobe language comprehension / understanding
31
Broca's area location and function
located in frontal lobe language production, actually speaking
32
how does specialization of the brain areas arise?
specific, individualized receptors on neurons
33
what protects the brain and spinal cord?
CSF
34
EEG
uses electrical signals to measure neuron's activity
35
CT
images static structures of brain with radiation dose
36
MRI
images soft structures of the brain
37
PET scan
radiolabeled glucose shows where brain is functioning measures neuronal activity
38
when are PET scans commonly used?
to find brain tumors after strokes and functional changes
39
fMRI
allows visualization of blood flow measures both structure and function
40
cerebrum
the most anterior part of the brain made up of the cerebral cortex (4 lobes) and subcortical structures
41
limbic system
a grouping of various structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation
42
How can you generally describe the function of the temporal lobe?
involved in meaning making makes sense that Wernicke's area for language comprehension is there
43
lateralization
the tendency of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to specialize in different functions
44
mesolimbic pathway
the brain's reward system and relies on dopamine VTA and nucleus accumbens are part of this pathway
45
What brain structures help coordinate movement?
cerebellum, substantia nigra, and basal ganglia
46
pons
a relay station for other signals and controls some autonomic functions
47
superior colliculus
located in the midbrain visual reflexes
48
inferior colliculus
located in the midbrain auditory reflexes
49
synaptic ganglia
relay stations for the PNS junctions between the CNS and target organs
50
post central gyrus
located in parietal lobe and is primary sensory cortex
51
pre central gyrus
contains motor cortexes in the frontal lobe
52
glial cells
provide nutrients, structure, insulation and defense for neurons
53
astrocytes
glial cells that provide nutrients and create blood brain barrier provide constant glucose supply
54
Schwann cells
wrap the PNS neurons in myelin
55
myelination
prevents cross talk between neurons and speeds up signal transduction
56
saltatory conduction
action potential moving down the neuron
57
microglia
glial cells that function like macrophages
58
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid bathes and buffers CNS cells
59
ependymal cells
secrete CSF
60
soma
body of the neuron and contains a nucleus
61
synaptic cleft
found between two neurons
62
sodium potassium pump
3 Na+ and 2 K+ in
63
graded potentials
happen at the post synaptic cleft most are excitatory can add up to the threshold potential
64
What happens when threshold potential is activated?
Na+ channels open which makes cell more positive and triggers action potential
65
How does the cell repolarize?
opening up K+ channels and closing Na+ channels causes K+ to move out and no more Na+ to move in
66
absolute refractory period
new action potential will not initiate as Na+ channels cannot reopen immediately
67
relative refractory period
Na+ channels are able to open again, but membrane is still hyperpolarized so it's hard to accomplish
68
What causes neurotransmitters to leave the terminal end?
Ca2+ channels open and Ca2+ causes neurotransmitters to leave
69
acetylcholinesterase
breaks down ester linkages that hold acetylcholine together
70
What happens to neurotransmitters?
they must be either degraded or reuptaked
71
What does higher membrane capacitance mean?
more difficult to change membrane potential
72
What is the insulator in a neuron's capacitance?
the membrane itself
73
Difference between small and large neurons
Small neurons are able to change membrane potential easily but are slow Large neurons are not able to change membrane potential quickly but are fast
74
How does myelination speed up signals?
increases membrane resistance and decreases capaticance
75
membrane and cytoplasmic resistance in neurons
higher membrane resistance makes a more effective action potential higher cytoplasmic resistance makes worse conduction of signal
76
Nodes of Ranvier
intermittent unmylenated regions that can replenish a signal to full capacity along the axon

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