Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

1-2 | b&b > task 1 > Flashcards

task 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Neuroaxis

A

Directions in the nervous system are described according to the neuraxis. It is an imaginary line that is drawn through the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

anterior / posterior

A 
Anterior = with respect to the CNS located near or toward the head. 
Posterior = located near or toward the tail.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

rostral / caudal

A 
Rostral = “toward the beak”. In direction along the neuraxis toward the front of the face. 
Caudal = “toward the tail”. In a direction along the neuraxis away from the front of the face.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

dorsal / ventral

A 
Dorsal = “Toward the back”. In a direction perpendicular to the neuraxis, toward the top of the head or back. 
Ventral = “toward the belly”. In a direction perpendicular to the neuraxis, toward the bottom of the skull or the front surface of the body.

This is always considered in relation to the neuraxis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

lateral / medial

A 
Lateral = Toward the side, away from the middle. 
Medial = toward the middle. Away from the side.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

ipsilateral / contralateral

A 
Ipsilateral = refers to structures on the same side of the body. If we say the hemispheres send signals to the ipsilateral body parts, we mean the left hemisphere sends to the left and the right to the right.
Contralateral = the exact opposite.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

cross section

A

This only applies to the body not the brain.

With respect to the central nervous system, a slice taken at a right angle to the neuraxis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

frontal section

A

Only applied to the brain

A slice through the brain parallel to the forehead (and perpendicular to the neuraxis).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

horizontal section

A

A slice through the brain Parallel to the ground

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

sagittal section / midsagittal plane

A

Sagittal section = a slice through the brain parallel to the neuraxis and perpendicular to the ground.
Midsagittal plane = the plane that goes directly along the neuraxis. Perpendicular to the ground and divides the brain into two symmetrical halves.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

meninges

A

The protective sheaths around the brain and spinal cords (central nervous system). It consists of three layers and one space:
The meninges surrounding the peripheral nervous system only consists of two layers, the dura mater and the pia mater.

composes out of four layers:

  1. Dura mater,
  2. arachnoid membrane,
  3. subarachnoid space,
  4. Pia mater
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the 4 components (layers) of the meninges?

A

Dura mater = the outerlayer, that is think, tough, flexible, but unstrechable.
Arachnoid membrane = middle layers, soft and spongey, web-life appearance because of the arachnoid trabeculae that protrudes from the membrane.
Subarachnoid space = space in between arachnoid membrane and pia mater. It is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Pia mater = the smaller surface bloods vessels of the brain an spinal cord. Thin and delicate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Lateral ventricles (where is it located, and what is it connected to?)

A

Ventricles = a series of hollow, interconnected chambers within the brain, which are filled with CSF.
The largest ventricles.
Located in the centre of the telencephalon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

third ventricle & massa intermedia

A

Located at the midline of the brain (in the centre of the diencephalon). Its wall divides the surrounding part of the brain into symmetrical halves.
Massa intermedia = a bridge of neural tissue that crosses through the middle of the third ventricle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

cerebral aqueduct

A

A long tube, connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

fourth ventricle

A

It receives CSF from the third ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct, from it, the fluid drains into two places: the central spinal canal and the subarachnoid cisterns.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Choroid plexus (and how is CSF moved around the brain?)

A

Choroid plexus = A special tissue that produces CSF. CSF is produce continuously so there is a system for its removal so it doesn’t build up.
CSF is produced in the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles, from there is moves through all the ventricles to the 4th ventricle, from where it flows into the subarachnoid space, from there it is absorbed through arachnoid granulations from where it goes into the superior sagittal sinus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Forebrain (where is it located, which subdivisions does it include)

A

The most rostral of the three major divisions of the brain; includes the telencephalon and diencephalon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Telencephalon / subdivisions

A

> cerebral cortex:

  • neocortex
  • hippocampus

> major fissures:

  • longitudinal
  • lateral
  • central

> four lobes:

  • frontal lobe
  • temporal lobe
  • parietal lobe
  • occipital lobe

> major gyri:

  • precentral
  • postcentral
  • superior temporal
  • cingulate

> limbic system:

  • amygdala
  • hippocampus
  • fornix
  • cingulate cortex
  • septum
  • mamillary bodies

> basal ganglia:

  • amygdala
  • caudata / putamen -> stratium
  • globus pallidus

> corpus callosum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

corpus callosum

A

Both hemispheres are joined by the corpus callosum, which transmits messages from one side to the other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

right hemisphere / function

A

Creativity, spatial ability, artistic and musical skills.

It plays a large part in interpreting visual information and spatial processing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

left hemisphere / function

A

Responsible for language and speech, comprehension, arithmetic and writing. Dominant in hand use and language.
In general, the left hemisphere participates in the analysis of information (the extraction of the elements that make up the whole of an experience). This makes the left hemisphere particularly good at recognizing serial events – events who elements occur one after the other. Serial functions that are performed by the left hemisphere include verbal activities, such as talking, understanding the speech of other people, reading and writing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

cerebral cortex (grey matter) / location / components

A

Surrounds the cerebral hemispheres like the bark of a tree. It consists of sulci (small grooves), fissures (large grooves), and gyri (bulges between adjacent sulci or fissures).
It consists mostly of glia and the cell bodies, dendrites and interconnecting axons of (unmyelinated) neurones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

white matter / location / components

A

Made up of millions of axons that connect the neurons of the cerebral cortex with those located elsewhere in the brain.
It is beneath the cerebral cortex.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

primary visual cortex / function / location

A

Receives visual information.
Is located at the back of the brain on the inner surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres, primarily on the upper and lower banks of the calcarine fissure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

primary auditory cortex / function / location

A

Receives auditory information.

Is located on the lower surface of the lateral fissure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

primary somatosensory cortex & insular cortex / function / location

A

It receives information from the body senses.
It is located just caudal to the central sulcus.
A base of the somatosensory cortex and a portion of the insular cortex, which receives information concerning taste.

28
Q

primary motor cortex / function / location

A

It is the region of the cerebral cortex that is most directly involved in the control of movement.
Is located in front of the primary somatosensory cortex (aka in rostral to the central sulcus).

29
Q

Association areas: Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital lobe

A

The regions of primary sensory and motor cortex occupy only a small part of the cerebral cortex. The rest of the cerebral cortex accomplishes what is done between sensation and action: perceiving, learning, remembering, planning. These processes take place in the: association areas.
Includes everything in front of the central sulcus. Contains the prefrontal cortex and the premotor cortex (body movement).
Contains broca’s area which is responsible for speaking and writing.
Intelligence, concentration, self-awareness, personality, behaviour, emotions, judgment, planning problem solving.

30
Q

parietal lobe

A

Is located on the side of the cerebral hemisphere, just behind the central sulcus, caudal to the frontal lobe. Contains the somatosensory association cortex.
Interprets language and words.

31
Q

occipital lobe

A

Lies at the very back of the brain, caudal to the parietal and temporal lobes. It contains the visual association cortex.
Interprets visual perception (colour, light, movement).
Mainly visual input to guide our behaviour.

32
Q

temporal lobe

A

Juts forward from the base of the brain, ventral to the frontal and parietal lobes. It contains the auditory association cortex, visual association cortex.
Three general functional areas:
Superior temporal gyrus – involved in hearing and language (Wernicke’s area)
Inferior temporal cortex – involved in identifying complex visual patterns.
Medial temporal cortex – important for certain kinds of memory.

33
Q

sensory association cortex

A

Circuits of neurons in the sensory association cortex analyse the information received from the primary sensory cortex; perception takes place there, and memories are stored there.

34
Q

Broca’s area / function / what if damaged

A

If damaged, we have difficulty moving the tongue and facial muscles to produce the sounds of speech.
Difficulty in speaking and writing (Broca’s aphasia).
Function – speaking and writing.

35
Q

Wernicke’s area / function / what if damaged

A

If damaged we may speak in long sentences that have no meaning, add unnecessary words and even create new ones.
We are able to make speech sounds, but not understand it.
Function – hearing and language.

36
Q

what if damaged:
somatosensory association cortex,
primary visual cortex, association cortex,
auditory association cortex,
association at junction of 3 posterior lobes where the somatosensory,
visual and auditory functions overlap

A

Somatosensory association cortex = have difficulty understanding and functioning with their environment.
Primary visual cortex = blindness.
Visual association cortex = they may be unable to recognize objects by sight.
Auditory association cortex = may have difficulty perceiving speech or even producing meaningful speech of their own.
Association cortex at the junction of the three posterior lobes, where the somatosensory, visual and auditory functions overlap = may have difficulty reading or writing .

37
Q

autotopagnosia

A

Follows damage to the left parietal lobe, causes people to not be able to identify or connect the names of things and there meaning. For example, he could hear and understand the word elbow, but could not identify where on his body it was or recall any useful information about an elbow.

38
Q

CSF / function

A

Functions:
Protection – acts as a cushion in the brain, which limits neural damage.
Buoyancy – brain’s weight is reduced, which prevents excessive pressure.
Chemical stability – it creates an environment that allows the proper functioning of the brain.

39
Q

limbic system / function / subdivisions

A

It is a circuit of structures that circle the thalamus. It is part of the telencephalon (cerebrum, diencephalon (cerebellum), and mesencephalon (brainstem).
Function = mainly motivation and emotion and memory.
Consists of:
Thalamic nuclei, limbic cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, fornix, mammillary bodies.

40
Q

hippocampus / function / location

A

Located in the temporal lobe.
Involved in memory and learning and spatial awareness.
Located at the medial edge of the cerebral cortex, folding back on itself in the medial temporal lobe – the shape resembles a sea horse.
First region to suffer damage during alzheimers.

41
Q

amygdala

A

Located in anterior temporal lobe of the brain, it is also considered part of basal ganglia.
Primary role in is the processing of memory, decision-making and emotional responses.
Responsible for the emotional reactions of PTSD patients.

42
Q

mammillary bodies / location

A

Located on the undersurface of the brain – as part of the diencephalon – at the ends of the anterior arches of the fornix.
Another way to describe the location is: a protrusion of the bottom of the brain at the posterior end of the hypothalamus.

43
Q

fornix / function / location / what if damaged

A

Connects the hippocampus with the mammillary bodies.

Damage to fornix can cause memory problems.

44
Q

cingulate cortex / function / location

A

Location is: large strip of cortex in the cingulate gyrus on the medial surface of the cerebral hemispheres, just superior to the corpus callosum.

45
Q

septum / location / what if damaged

A

Located in the midline of the brain, between the two cerebral hemispheres – attached to the corpus callosum.
Connected with mammillary bodies to the amygdala and hippocampus – completing the limbic ring.
Damage to it can lead to development disorders, as well as vision difficulty, low muscle tone, hormonal problems, seizures, intellectual problems.

46
Q

basal ganglia / location / function / subdivisions / what if damaged

A

A collection of nuclei (groups of neurons of similar shape) in the forebrain, which lies beneath the anterior portion of the lateral ventricles.
It is made up of the caudate nucleus, the putamen (caudate and putamen form the striatum) and the globus pallidus.
These work together with the cerebellum to perform fine motions (such as fingertip movements).
Lesions of basal ganglia leads to movement impairments: Parkinson’s and huntington’s disease.

47
Q

diencephalon / location / function / subdivisions

A 
subdivisions:
> thalamus 
- massa intermedia 
- lateral / medial geniculate nuclei 
- ventral posterior nuclei

> hypothalamus
- mammillary bodies

> optic chiasm & pituitary gland

Function: coordinate muscle movements, maintain posture and balance.

48
Q

thalamus / location / function

A

Makes up the dorsal part of the diencephalon. Is situated near the middle of the cerebral hemispheres, immediately medial and caudal to the basal ganglia. The thalamus has two lobes, connected by a bridge (massa intermedia).
Function: Serves as a communication centre, as it receives information from the different lobes and then gives it on to other brain areas.
It is made up of various sensory relay nuclei, which receive signals from sensory receptors and transmit them to the appropriate areas of the sensory cortex.
Lateral geniculate nuclei – receives information from the eye and sends signals to the primary visual cortex.
Medial geniculate nuclei – receives information from the inner ear and sends signals to the primary auditory cortex.
Ventral posterior nuclei – Functions in touch, pain, temperature, itchs.
Ventrolateral nucleus – receives inputs from cerebellum and sends axons to primary motor cortex.

49
Q

hypothalamus / location / function

A

Lies at the base of the brain, under the thalamus.
It controls the automatic nervous system and organizes behaviours related to survival of the species – the 4 f’s fighting, feeding, fleeing and fucking.
It applies these effects by release of hormones from the pituitary gland (hormones produced in hypothalamus and the transported to the pituitary gland where it is released).

50
Q

optic chiasm / location / function

A

Point at which optic nerves from each eye come together.

Located just below the hypothalamus at the bottom of the brain.

51
Q

mesencephalon (midbrain) / subdivisions

A

tectum and tegmentum

52
Q

tectum / location / subdivision

A

Located in the dorsal portion of the mesencephalon.
Composed of superior colliculi, inferior colliculi, which appear as four bumps on the dorsal surface of the brain stem.
Superior colliculi = anterior pair. Part of the visual system.
Inferior colliculi = Posterior pair. Part of the auditory system.

53
Q

tegmentum / location / subdivision

A

Is below the tectum.
Includes the rostral end of the reticular formation, several nuclei controlling eye movements, periaqueductal gray matter, the red nucleus, the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area.

54
Q

reticular formation / location / function

A

Large structure consisting of many nuclei. It occupies the core of the brain stem, from the lower border of the medulla to the upper border of the midbrain.
It plays a role in sleep and arousal, attention, muscle tonus, movement, and various vital reflexes.

55
Q

periaqueductal grey matter / location / function

A

Surrounds the cerebral aqueduct.

Controls sequences of movements that constitute behaviours such as fighting and mating.

56
Q

substantia nigra / location / function / what if damaged

A

Projects to the caudate nucleus and putamen.
Important role in reward and movement.
Damage to the neurons of the red nucleus and the substantia nigra cause Parkinson’s disease.

57
Q

red nucleus / location / function

A

Brings motor information from the cerebral cortex and cerebellum to the spinal cord (involved in motor coordination).

58
Q

metencephalon / subdivisions

A

> reticular formation

> pons

> cerebellum

59
Q

cerebellum / location / function / subdivisions / what if damaged

A

It receives visual, auditory, vestibular, somatosensory information, aswell as information about individual muscle movements being directed by the brain. Coordination of voluntary movements such as posture, balance, speech.
Damage to the cerebellum impairs standing, walking or performance of coordinated movements.
Cerebellar peduncle = one of three bundles of axons that attach each cerebellar hemisphere to the dorsal pons.

60
Q

pons / location / function

A

A large bulge in the brain stem. Lies between the mesencephalon and medulla oblongata, immediately ventral to the cerebellum.
Function: involved in the control of breathing, communication between different parts of the brain and sensations such as hearing, taste and balance.
It also relays information from the cerebral cortex to the cerebellum.

61
Q

myelencephalon / function / subdivisions

A

> Contains one major structure, the medulla oblongata (or just medulla).

> Contains part of the reticular formation, including nuclei that control:
- vital functions such as regulation of the cardiovascular system, respiration, and skeletal muscle tonus.

62
Q

precentral gyri (= motor strip)

A

Largest gyri in the frontal lobe, situated in front of the postcentral gyrus.

63
Q

postcentral gyri

A

Prominent gyrus in the parietal lobe. This is where the primary somatosensory cortex is.

64
Q

superior temporal gyri

A

In the temporal lobe. Involved in the perception of emotions in facial stimuli; auditory processing.

65
Q

cingulate gyrus

A

Curved fold covering the corpus callosum. It is a component of the limbic system. Involved in processing emotions and behaviour regulations. Damage to it results in cognitive emotional and behavioural disorders.

1-2 | b&b (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions