The brain :2 Flashcards
What is the Hindbrain?
It includes the cerebellum & 2 structures in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla & the pons.
What’s the Cerebellum
The cerebellum (literally “little brain”) is a large & deeply folded structure located adjacent to the back surface of the brainstem. It’s critical to movement coordination & sense of physical balance. The cerebellum is one of the structures first depressed by alcohol.
what’s the cerebral cortex??
The cerebral cortex is the convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum that is folded & bent.
What is the cerebellum divided into
The cerebrum is divided into two halves called hemispheres; right & left halves of the cerebrum.
What are the hemispheres separated into?
The hemispheres are separated in the centre of the brain by a fissure. This fissure descends to a thick band of fibres called the corpus callosum, which connects the two cerebral hemispheres. Each hemisphere is divided into 4 lobes:
hemisphere lobes:
Parietal Lobe: Includes the area that registers the sense of touch, called the primary somatosensory cortex.
hemisphere lobes:
Temporal Lobe: Includes an area devoted to auditory processing, called the primary auditory cortex.
hemisphere lobes:
Frontal Lobe: Largest lobe & contains areas that control muscle movement, called the primary motor cortex
hemisphere lobes:
Occipital Lobe: At the back of the head, includes the cortical area, where most visual signals are sent & visual processing is begun. This area is called the primary visual cortex.
prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the cerebral cortex covering the front part of the frontal lobe.
This brain region is responsible for planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour.
What is the Thalamus?
The thalamus is the egg-shaped structure above the brainstem that processes and transmits movement and sensory information. It is essentially a sensory relay for the brain. All of our senses, with the exception of smell, are routed through the thalamus before being directed to other areas of the brain for processing.
What is the Hypothalamus?
A structure found near the base of the forebrain that help regulates of basic biological needs. Hypo means under, making it lie under the thalamus. It contains various clusters of cells that have many key functions such as controlling the autonomic nervous system, serving a vital link between the brain & the endocrine system.
It plays a major role in the regulation of basic biological drives related to survival, including the so-called “four Fs”: fighting, fleeing, feeding & mating.
What is the Limbic System?
The limbic system is involved in processing both emotion and memory. Interestingly, the sense of smell projects directly to the limbic system; therefore, not surprisingly, smell can evoke emotional responses in ways that other sensory modalities cannot.
The limbic system is made up of a number of different structures, but three of the most important are the hippocampus the amygdala and the phyothalmaus.
What is the hippocampus
The hippocampus is a small, curved formation in the brain that is involved in the formation of new memories and is also associated with learning and emotions.
What is the amygdala?
The amygdala consists of two “almond-shaped” clusters and is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of, and reactions to, aggression and fear.
What is the hypothalamus i
The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain that performs a variety of functions, including the important role of linking the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus helps regulate hunger, thirst, emotions, body temperature, blood pressure, and circadian rhythms.
hindbrain: parts
The medulla, attaches to the spinal cord, is in charge of vital unconscious functions, like breathing, circulating blood, maintaining muscle tone & reflexes (such as sneezing, coughing, salivating).
Hindbrain:Parts
The pons (literally “bridge”) includes a bridge of fibres that connects the brainstem with the cerebellum. The pons also contains several clusters of cell bodies involved with sleep & arousal.
What is Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive test that records electrical activity in the brain. It works by picking up abnormal brain waves via electrodes that are attached to the scalp.
EEGs are usually done to detect seizures and to diagnose epilepsy, but they can be used to evaluate or diagnose other conditions, such as sleep disorders or brain injuries. EEGs are also often used to monitor brain activity in someone who is in an induced coma or undergoing certain types of surgery.
What is a computerized tomography (CT)?
A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the brain.
What is a Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of the brain. A special type of MRI is the functional MRI of the brain (fMRI). It produces images of blood flow to certain areas of the brain. It can be used to examine the brain’s anatomy and determine which parts of the brain are handling critical functions.
The Endocrine System
Endocrine System - Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning
Pituitary Gland -
Releases a variety of hormones that stimulates activity in other endocrine gland
Oxytocin -
Released by pituitary gland which regulates reproductive behaviours
Peripheral Nervous System
Made up of all the nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrum
- Seat of complex thoughts
Cerebral Cortex
Wrinkled surface of the cerebrum, outer layer
Thalamus
In the forebrain, through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex; Made with clusters of cell bodies (somas)
Cerebrum
Responsible for sensing, thinking, learning, emotion, consciousness, and voluntary movements
Thalamus
Handles incoming and outgoing signals
Amydgala
Part of limbic system involved in emotion and aggression
Cerebellum
Coordinates tone, muscle movement, and balance
Hypothalamus
Regulates basic biologic needs
Hunger, thirst, temperature control
Hippocampus
Part of limbic system involved in learning and memory
Pituitary gland
Regulated other endocrine glands
Pons
Involved in sleep and arousal
Medulla
Regulates largely unconscious functions
Breathing, circulation
