The Brain Flashcards
Cerebrum (5)
- divided into left and right hemispheres
- encompasses about 85% of brain mass
- most highly developed part of the brain
- responsible for thinking, perceiving, and producing/understanding language
- divided into four lobes
Name the four lobes of the cerebrum
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
Frontal lobe
Having to do with motor movements, personality, decision making, problem solving and planning
Temporal lobe
Having to do with hearing and smell
Parietal lobe
Concerned with the reception and processing of sensory info from the body
Occipital lobe
Concerned with vision
Longitudinal fissure
Separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres
Transverse cerebral fissure
Separates cerebral hemispheres from the cerebellum
Central sulcus
Separates the parietal and frontal lobes
Parieto-occipital sulcus
Separates the parietal and occipital lobes
Lateral sulcus
Outlines the temporal lobe, separates it from the parietal and frontal lobes
Lateralization
Each hemisphere has abilities not shared with its partner
Corpus collosum (3)
- internal connection of cerebral hemispheres consisting of nerve fibers
- allows communication by hemispheres
- largest white matter structure of the brain
Brainstem (2)
- controls basic functions such as heart rate, breathing, eating and sleeping
- visual and auditory reflex
Cerebellum (4)
- Latin for “little brain”
- roughly 10% of brain mass
- coordination of skeletal muscle contractions
- maintenance of muscle tone, posture and balance
Diencephalon (4)
-“Gateway to cerebral cortex”
THALAMUS
-relay stations for all sensory impulses,except smell, to the cerebral cortex
HYPOTHALAMUS
-controls and integrates the Autonomic nervous system
-control body temp, thirst, appetite, emotions, rage, aggression
Lambic system (6)
•found in the cerebral hemispheres and diencephalon
-functions in the emotional aspects of behavior and short term memory
-functions in association with pleasure and pain
–>consists of a group of brain structures which are involved in emotional expression, memory and motivation
AMYGDALA is important in emotional expressions and learned emotional responses, especially fear
HIPPOCAMPUS plays a key role in the formation of memories
Pituitary gland (6)
-secretes hormones that help control •growth •blood pressure •sleep patterns •metabolism •pain relief
Concussion (3)
- Short loss of normal brain function as a result of head injury
- Ranges from mild to severe
- Symptoms may appear right away or days or weeks later
Where do concussions usually appear?
Opposite the side the point of impact
Physical side effects of concussion
- Headache
- nausea/vomiting
- dizziness
Cognitive side effects of concussion
- feeling mentally foggy
- repeating questions
- difficulty remembering
Emotional side effects of concussion
- irritability
- sadness
- nervousness
Sleep-related side effects of concussion
- drowsiness
- sleeping less than usual
- trouble falling asleep
CTE (4)
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- a result of “repeated hits to the head”
- diagnosed FOR SURE after death (brain autopsy)
- anyone exposed to constant head trauma can be exposed to a CTE
Result of CTE (3)
- can result in aggression and lack of impulse control (frontal and temporal lobes)
- brings on early dementia
- head trauma cases a build up of an abnormal protein called tau in the brain (what coroners look for in autopsies)
Folds in the brain
HILLS: gyrus (pl. gyri)
VALLEYS: sulcus (pl. sulci)
Which neurotransmitter is affected by caffeine?
Adenosine
-Caffeine passes through the blood brain barrier and blocks the uptake of adenosine
Name 3 small molecule transmitter substances
- Dopamine
- Histamine
- Serotonin
- Acetylcholine
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
What is a neuron?
a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; also called a nerve cell
Five main parts of neurons and their functions
- dendrites: receive messages and relay to the cell body
- cell body: directs all the nerve’s activity
- axon: send messages to dendrites
- myelin sheath: increases transmission rate from 2 m/s to 120 m/s
- pre-synaptic terminal: releases neurotransmitters into the synapse
How does the neuron work?
Neurons send messages electrochemically, by ions. (chemicals that are electrically charged + or -)
Explain when certain ions are allowed to pass through the various channels
through a semipermeable membrane
“All or none” principle
Either the neuron creates action potential and sends a signal or the neuron does not reach the threshold.
-All action potentials are the same size
How are sodium ions getting in and out of the neuron
Through sodium leak channels that stay open or sodium gated channels which open and close
How are potassium ions getting in and out of the neuron?
Potassium gated channels and potassium leak channels
When a neuron is stimulated, what happens to the sodium ions and the potassium ions?
sodium ions: rush in
potassium ions: rush out
Purpose of a synapse
to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron
Difference between an electrical and chemical synapse
An electrical synapse is when an ionic current spreads from one cell to another (influx or efflux of ions through an ion channel).
Chemical synapses send signals from one neuron to another through neurotransmitters.
The nervous system is made up of what two systems?
central and peripheral
What are the two parts of the central nervous system?
brain and spinal cord
What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?
somatic and autonomic
What is the somatic nervous system
peripheral nerve fibers and motor nerve fibers
What is the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic (ie lungs, stomach, fight or flight)
Action potential
An action potential occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body. The action potential is an explosion of electrical activity that is created by a depolarizing current.
Is caffeine addictive?
Caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system, and regular use of caffeine does cause mild physical dependence. But caffeine doesn’t threaten your physical, social, or economic health the way addictive drugs do.
Cancer
The uncontrollable growth of cells
Tumor
A cluster of cells resulting from an uncontrollable growth of cells
Benign tumor
Tumor localized in one place in the body
Malignant tumor
Tumor that can spread throughout the body
Rapidly dividing cells
- white and red blood cells
- skin cells
- cells of intestinal lining
IKA DO WE NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CANCER FOR THE TEST
EMAIL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK!
Side-effects of radiation
- Anemia (due to too few red blood cells)
- Susceptibility to infection (too few white blood cells)
- Hair loss (damaged skin cells)
- Nausea (damaged intestinal cells)
