structures of the brain Flashcards
The brain is split into four subsections. What are they
- Cerebrum
- Diencephalon
- Brain stem
- Cerebellum
Cerebrum
contains the: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
Function of the frontal lobe?
everything that makes you human: emotions, consciousness, memory, voluntary movement
What does the motor cortex do? Where is it located?
- sends impulses to skeletal muscles, formation of voluntary mvmt
- located anterior to the central sulcus, frontal lobe
What does the frontal association do? Where is it located?
- perception, decision-making, intentional thoughts, personality
- frontal lobe
What does Broca’s area do? Where is it located?
- the ability to physically speak, put coherent sentences together
- frontal lobe
What does the Gustatory area do? Where is it located?
- taste
- borders the frontal and temporal lobe
Language comprehension
Understanding what is being said to you + what you read
- frontal lobe
Function of the parietal lobe?
- sensations, dealing with your environment
What does the sensory cortex do? Where is it located?
- receives and interprets info from sensory receptors
- posterior to the central sulcus, parietal lobe
Function of the temporal lobe?
- language, hearing, memory
What is the auditory area do? Where is it located?
- hearing
- temporal lobe
What does the olfactory bulb do? Where is it located?
- sense of smell
- base of the temporal lobe
What lobe is responsible for emotions and memories?
- temporal lobe
Function of the occipital lobe?
- vision
What lobe is responsible for vision?
- occipital lobe
- the ability to see and recognize what you look at
Gyri
elevated ridges of tissue (hills)
Sulci
shallow grooves (valleys)
Fissures
DEEP grooves that separate parts of the brain
Longitudinal fissure
divides the cerebral hemispheres sagitally
Corpus callosum
- white fiber tract
- highway for impulses, connects the left and right side of the brain
Precentral gyrus
before the central sulcus, in the frontal lobe
Postcentral gyrus
after the central sulcus, in the parietal lobe
Central sulcus
acts as the dividing line between the frontal and parietal lobe
Corticospinal tract
collection of axons that carry movement related info from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord
Basal nuclei
- islands of gray matter w/i the white matter
- regulates voluntary motor movement
White matter
deeper layer of the cerebrum, clusters of axons: tracts
Gray Matter
outermost surface of the cerebrum, clusters of cell bodies: nuclei
Diencephalon
- contains the: epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus
What structure is within the epithalamus? What does it do?
- Choroid plexus
- knots of capillaries, form cerebrospinal fluid
What does the thalamus do? Where is it located?
- relay station for sensory impulses going to the sensory cortex
- diencephalon
What does the hypothalamus do? Where is it located?
- 4F: fighting, fleeing, feeding, fornicating –> basic biological needs
- diencephalon
Limbic System
an emotional control center consisting of the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus
Brainstem
consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla
What does the cerebral aqueduct do? Where is it located?
- canal that connects the third and fourth ventricles
- midbrain
What do the cerebral peduncles do? Where are they found?
- convey ascending and descending impulses
- midbrain
What do the corpora quadrigemina do? Where are they found?
- reflex centers involved in vision and hearing
- midbrain
What does the pons do? Where is it located?
- breathing rhythm/control
- brain stem
What does the medulla oblongata do? Where is it found?
- regulates vital activities: heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, vomiting
- brainstem
Cerebellum
- controls balance
- maintains smooth, coordinate skeletal movements
