The Brain Flashcards
Regions of the brain
forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain
Parts of forebrain
cerebrum, diencephalon
Parts of hindbrain
pons, medulla, cerebellum
Cerebrum
- Cerebral cortex: motor and sensory integration, reasoning, planning, emotion, memory, self-awareness
- Basal nuceli: voluntary motor movements
- Limbic system: homeostasis, memory, emotion
- Olfactory bulb
Cerebral Cortex-right and left hemisphere
- Connected by commissural fibers
- white matter (axons)
- corpus callosum
- anterior and posterior commissures
Cerebral cortex-gyrus
ridge of grey matter
Cerebral cortex-suclus
grooves between gyri
Cerebral cortex-fissure
major grooves that separate lobes
Cerebral cortex-lobes
major regions of the cortex, loosely grouped by function
Cerebral lobes-frontal lobe
- reasoning, planning, motor initiation, production of speech, emotions, problem solving, self-awareness
- pre-central gyrus- primary motor region
Cerebral lobes-parietal lobe
- sensory perception and integration, orientation, recognition
- post-central gyrus-primary sensory region
Cerebral lobes-temporal lobe
perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, speech
Cerebral lobes-occipital lobe
visual processing
Cerebral lobes-insular lobe
homeostasis, emotion, perception, self-awareness
Forebrain-Diencephalon
- thalamus: relay area for sensory neurons
- hypothalamus: controls autonomic nervous system
- mammilary bodies: episodic memory
- pituitary gland: endocrine gland that regulates growth, reproduction, and homeostasis
- pineal gland: produces melatonin (circadian rhythm)
Brainstem
- Cranial nerve nuclei III-XII
- Reticular formation-coordinates CN, cerebrum, and spinal cord
- Autonomic centers for cardiovascular and respiratory function
- Long tracts connect brain with spinal cord
Midbrain
- Tegmentum
- controls arousal and self-consciousness
- Tectum or corpora quadrigemina
- superior colliculi: optic tectum, coordinates eye reflexes and movements
- inferior colliculi: auditory tectum, coordinates auditory reflexes
Hindbrain
- Pons
- CN V-VIII
- Medulla oblongata
- turns into spinal cord at foramen magnum
- CN IX-XII
- Pyramids: contain motor fibers that decussate (cross) to the opposite side
- left side of cortex controls right side of body
- Cerebellum
- modulates voluntary movement
- facilitates rapid repetetive movements
- coordinates posture, balance, and hearing
- motor learning and speech
Anatomy of cerebellum
2 hemispheres connected by a midline vermis
Cranial nerves in cerebrum and diencephalon
CN I-II
Cranial nerves in midbrain
CN III-IV
Cranial nerves in pons
CN V, VI, VII, VIII
Cranial nerves in medulla
CN IX, X, XIC, XII
Cranial nerves in spinal cord
CN XIS
What are ventricles?
spaces within the brain where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced
Choroid plexus
modified capillary beds that form CSF (plasma ultra-filtrate from blood)
CSF
- acts as a cushion for the CSF, regulates blood flow to brain
- CSF is returned to venous system (dural sinuses) by the arachnoid granulations
Ventricles
- Cerebrum: lateral ventricles (1 and 2)
- Diencephalon: 3rd ventricle
- Midbrain: cerebral aqueduct
- Pons/medulla: 4th ventricle
Ventricle flow chart
Intracranial arterial circulation supplied by
internal carotid aa., vertebral aa.
Cerebral arterial circle
- AKA “circle of Willis”
- arterial anastomosis
- surrounds optic chiasm, infundibulum (pituitary stalk)
Arteries that make up intracranial arterial circulation
- opthalmic artery
- anterior cerebral arteries
- medial frontal and parietal lobes
- middle cerebral arteries
- anterior temporal lobe, insular lobes
- most common site of ischemic stroke
- posterior cerebral arteries
- posterior temporal and occipital lobes
- superior cerebellar artery
- pontine arteries
- anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)
- basillar artery
- formed by merging of two vertebral arteries
- vertebral arteries
- posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)
- anterior spinal artery
Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) are most common in which:
Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
MCA
