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MCAT Prep > Structures and Functions of the Brain > Flashcards

Structures and Functions of the Brain Flashcards

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MCAT 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
Q

what is the cerebral cortex broken into?

A

4 lobes

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26
Q

frontal lobe

A

involved in decision making and “adulting” processes

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27
Q

parietal lobe

A

sensory processing except vision

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28
Q

occipital lobe

A

vision

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29
Q

temporal lobe

A

visual memories and language

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30
Q

Wernicke’s area location and function

A

located in temporal lobe

language comprehension / understanding

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31
Q

Broca’s area location and function

A

located in frontal lobe

language production, actually speaking

32
Q

how does specialization of the brain areas arise?

A

specific, individualized receptors on neurons

33
Q

what protects the brain and spinal cord?

A

CSF

34
Q

EEG

A

uses electrical signals to measure neuron’s activity

35
Q

CT

A

images static structures of brain with radiation dose

36
Q

MRI

A

images soft structures of the brain

37
Q

PET scan

A

radiolabeled glucose shows where brain is functioning

measures neuronal activity

38
Q

when are PET scans commonly used?

A

to find brain tumors

after strokes and functional changes

39
Q

fMRI

A

allows visualization of blood flow

measures both structure and function

40
Q

cerebrum

A

the most anterior part of the brain

made up of the cerebral cortex (4 lobes) and subcortical structures

41
Q

limbic system

A

a grouping of various structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation

42
Q

How can you generally describe the function of the temporal lobe?

A

involved in meaning making

makes sense that Wernicke’s area for language comprehension is there

43
Q

lateralization

A

the tendency of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to specialize in different functions

44
Q

mesolimbic pathway

A

the brain’s reward system and relies on dopamine

VTA and nucleus accumbens are part of this pathway

45
Q

What brain structures help coordinate movement?

A

cerebellum, substantia nigra, and basal ganglia

46
Q

pons

A

a relay station for other signals and controls some autonomic functions

47
Q

superior colliculus

A

located in the midbrain

visual reflexes

48
Q

inferior colliculus

A

located in the midbrain

auditory reflexes

49
Q

synaptic ganglia

A

relay stations for the PNS

junctions between the CNS and target organs

50
Q

post central gyrus

A

located in parietal lobe and is primary sensory cortex

51
Q

pre central gyrus

A

contains motor cortexes in the frontal lobe

52
Q

glial cells

A

provide nutrients, structure, insulation and defense for neurons

53
Q

astrocytes

A

glial cells that provide nutrients and create blood brain barrier

provide constant glucose supply

54
Q

Schwann cells

A

wrap the PNS neurons in myelin

55
Q

myelination

A

prevents cross talk between neurons and speeds up signal transduction

56
Q

saltatory conduction

A

action potential moving down the neuron

57
Q

microglia

A

glial cells that function like macrophages

58
Q

CSF

A

cerebrospinal fluid bathes and buffers CNS cells

59
Q

ependymal cells

A

secrete CSF

60
Q

soma

A

body of the neuron and contains a nucleus

61
Q

synaptic cleft

A

found between two neurons

62
Q

sodium potassium pump

A

3 Na+ and 2 K+ in

63
Q

graded potentials

A

happen at the post synaptic cleft

most are excitatory

can add up to the threshold potential

64
Q

What happens when threshold potential is activated?

A

Na+ channels open

which makes cell more positive and triggers action potential

65
Q

How does the cell repolarize?

A

opening up K+ channels and closing Na+ channels

causes K+ to move out and no more Na+ to move in

66
Q

absolute refractory period

A

new action potential will not initiate as Na+ channels cannot reopen immediately

67
Q

relative refractory period

A

Na+ channels are able to open again, but membrane is still hyperpolarized so it’s hard to accomplish

68
Q

What causes neurotransmitters to leave the terminal end?

A

Ca2+ channels open and Ca2+ causes neurotransmitters to leave

69
Q

acetylcholinesterase

A

breaks down ester linkages that hold acetylcholine together

70
Q

What happens to neurotransmitters?

A

they must be either degraded or reuptaked

71
Q

What does higher membrane capacitance mean?

A

more difficult to change membrane potential

72
Q

What is the insulator in a neuron’s capacitance?

A

the membrane itself

73
Q

Difference between small and large neurons

A

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
Q

How does myelination speed up signals?

A

increases membrane resistance and decreases capaticance

75
Q

membrane and cytoplasmic resistance in neurons

A

higher membrane resistance makes a more effective action potential

higher cytoplasmic resistance makes worse conduction of signal

76
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

intermittent unmylenated regions that can replenish a signal to full capacity along the axon

MCAT Prep (22 decks)

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