Structures Of The Brain

Question 1

What are the 4 lobes in the brain called?

Answer 1

1. Frontal
2. Temporal
3. Parietal
4. Occipital

Question 2

What is the brain stem made up of?

Answer 2

The pons and medulla

Question 3

Where is the primary sensory cortex located?

Answer 3

Post central gyrus

Question 4

Where is the primary motor cortex located?

Answer 4

Pre central gyrus

Question 5

Where is the visual cortex located?

Answer 5

Occipital lobe

Question 6

Where is the auditory cortex located?

Answer 6

Temporal lobe

Question 7

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 7

This is mass of white matter ( nerve fibres) that connects the two hemispheres together.

Question 8

What is the mid brains, pons and medulla oblongata?

Answer 8

Mid brain : consist of nuclei and nerve fibres, connects the cerebrum with lower parts of the brain and the spinal cord. The nuclei acts a relay station for the nerve fibres which help with auditory response and visual reflexes.

Pons : consist of mainly nerve fibres and they process information from several of the cranial nerves, including the 5th and 8th cranial nerve. It also contains pneumotaxic area that operates in conjunction with the respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata : it contains vital centres associated with autonomic reflex activity. It has:
- cardiovascular centre = controls BP, rate and force of cardiac contraction.
- respiratory centre = controls rate and depth of respiration.
- reflex centre = irritants in the stomach or respiratory tract stimulates the medulla oblongata, activating the reflex centres e.g vomiting, coughing and sneezing.

Question 9

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 9

Releases hormones on command of the hypothalamus

Question 10

What is the thalamus?

Answer 10

Consists of two masses of grey and white matter and they provide important relay functions transmitting sensory info to the appropriate part of the sensory cortex.

Question 11

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 11

Part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Question 12

What is the amygdala?

Answer 12

Group of neurons on each side of the limbic cortex responsible for feelings of fear and preparing for emergency events.

Question 13

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 13

Group of cell bodies that lie deep within the brain and form part of the extrapyramidal tracts. They act as relay stations with connections to many parts of the brain, including motor areas of the cerebral cortex and thalamus.
Function includes invitation and fine control of complex movement and learned coordinated activities.

Question 14

What are the 4 ventricles in the brain?

Answer 14

1. Right lateral ventricle
2. Left lateral ventricle
   The lateral ventricles communicate with the third ventricle.
3. Third ventricle
   The third ventricle communicated with the fourth ventricle.
4. Fourth ventricle

Cerebral spinal fluid circulates constantly from the ventricles through the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord.

Question 15

What does the limbo system do?

Answer 15

Responsible for the instinctive feelings and motivation e.g thirst
Controlled by the cerebrum which is involved in executive functions e.g memory and learning
Regulates the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system via hypothalamus.

Question 16

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 16

Function is to coordinate smooth movement of skeletal muscles, which include:
- maintaining muscle tone that enables an upright posture and ability to stand and walk.
- smoothness and accuracy of action e,g walking
and the ability to learn patterns of coordinated movement e.g learning to walk.

Question 17

What is the internal capsule?

Answer 17

Nerve impulses pass to and from the cerebral cortex carried by the fibres that form the internal capsule. Motor fibres within the internal capsule form pyramidal tracts that cross over at the medulla and are main pathway to skeletal muscles

Question 18

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 18

• Supports and protects the brain and spinal cord by maintaining a uniform pressure around the vital structures and acts a cushion between the brain and the skull.

-It keeps the brain and spinal cord moist and there may be exchange of nutrients and waste products between CSF and the interstitial fluid of the brain.

• It’s involved in regulation of breathing as it bathes the surface of the medulla where the respiratory chemoreceptors are located.

Question 19

Where is the central sulcus located?

Answer 19

Between the frontal and parietal lobe

Question 20

Where is the parieto-occipital sulcus located?

Answer 20

Between the parietal and occipital lobe

Question 21

Where is the lateral sulcus located?

Answer 21

Between the temporal and frontal lobe

Question 22

Describe the reticular activating system

Answer 22

Brings increased stimulation of the cerebral cortex, accompanied by arousal and increased alertness.
Mediates selective awareness, meaning that it’s selectively blocks or permits transmission of sensory info to the cerebral cortex.
Example, slightest noise by a sick child moving in bed may arouse a sleeping mother but the noise of regularly passing trains doesn’t disturb her.