The Brain Flashcards
Three sections of the brain
Cerebrum, Diencephalon, Brain Stem
Where is gray matter located?
outer layer of the cerebrum
What is gray matter mostly composed of?
neuron cell bodies
What is fiber tracts inside the gray matter?
white matter
What are examples of white matter?
corpus callosum connects hemispheres
What are internal islands of gray matter?
basal nuclei
Where is basal nuclei located?
deep inside the brain
What does basal nuclei do?
sends impulses for motion
What disease damages basal nuclei? Why is it damaged?
Parkinson disease, not sending out enough dopamine
What is gyri?
What the ridges are called on the cerebral hemisphere surface
What is sulci?
What the grooves are called on the cerebral hemisphere surface
What are the parts of the brain stem?
midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
What are pons?
the bulging center part of the brain stem
What are pons mostly composed of?
fiber tracts
Pons use ____ to help the control of _____.
nuclei; breathing
Where is the Medulla Oblongata located?
lowest part of the brain stem
What nerve is related to the Medulla Oblongata?
Vagus nerve
What does the Medulla Oblongata merge into?
spinal cord
What does the Medulla Oblongata contain that are important?
control centers
What important control centers does the Medulla Oblongata contain?
Heart rate control, Blood pressure regulation, Breathing, Swallowing, Vomiting
What is midbrain mostly composed of?
tracts of nerve fibers
What are the two bulging fiber tracts in the midbrain called?
cerebral peduncles
What are the four rounded protrusions in the midbrain called?
corpora quadrigemina
What do the corpora quadrigemina do?
Reflex centers for vision and hearing
Where is Substantia Nigra found?
Midbrain
What does Reticular Formation do?
Diffuse mass of gray matter along the brain stem
What does Reticular Formation control?
Involved in motor control of visceral organs
What is pia mater?
Internal layer of meninges, Clings to the surface of the brain
What is dura mater?
Double-layered external covering of the meninges
What are the 2 layers of dura mater?
Periosteum and Meningeal
What is the Arachnoid mater?
Middle layer of the meninges, Web-like
What are the four parts of the meninges?
dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater and blood brain barrier
Where is the Broca’s area located?
cerebrum
What is the Broca’s area involved with?
our ability to speak, sends movements to mouth, tongue and throat so that we can move it
What are the left and right hemispheres?
Cerebral Hemispheres, Include more than half of the brain mass
Where is the frontal eye field located?
limbic system/ Substantia Nigra
Where is the primary motor area located?
specialized areas of the cerebrum
what does the primary motor area do?
sends impulses to skeletal muscles, frontal lobe, conscious thoughts
What does the olfactory do in the cerebral area?
it allows the sense of smell and is located in the temporal lobe
What does the auditory do in the cerebral area?
it allows hearing and is located in the temporal lobe
what does the somatic sensory area do?
receives impulses from the body’s touch sensory receptors- tactile
What does the visual do in the cerebral area?
it allows the sense of sight
What is the Interpretation areas of the cerebrum involved in?
Speech/language, Language comprehension, and General interpretation regions
Where is the Interpretation areas of the cerebrum located?
frontal lobe
What does the the Interpretation areas of the cerebrum do?
takes incoming information and puts it into context/ puts it together
Where is the gustatory located and what does it do?
Located in the lower part of the parietal, it allows taste
What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
what does the cerebellum consist of?
Two hemispheres with convoluted surfaces
What does the cerebellum do?
coordinated muscular activities and allows you to sense where your body is
What is the lateral sulcus?
a deep fissure in each hemisphere that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe.
Where is the lateral sulcus located?
lateral surface of the brain
Where is the central sulcus located?
the middle of the lateral surface of the brain
What is the central sulcus?
boundary between the frontal and parietal lobes
What is the Longitudinal fissure
it is the deep grooves that separate the cerebral hemispheres
What is the functions of the Frontal association area?
responsible for functions such as perception, decision-making as well as controlling thoughts.
What does the Premotor area do?
it plans and organizes movements
What does the Wernicke’s area do?
it is involved in comprehension and speech.
What is the function of the Diencephalon?
it is a relay and processing center for automatic control and sensory information.
What are the three parts of the Diencephalon?
thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus
What does the thalamus do?
Transfers impulses to the correct part of the cortex for localization and interpretation, nerves loops through this first before the cerebrum
What does the hypothalamus do?
Important autonomic nervous system center (controls pituitary gland), Helps regulate body temperature, Controls water balance, Regulates metabolism, thirst and hunger (basic survival needs)
What does the epithalamus do?
Houses the pineal body (an endocrine gland)
Includes the choroid plexus – forms cerebro-spinal fluid
secretes melatonin
Where is the pituitary gland attached to?
the hypothalamus
Where is the pineal body housed?
epithalamus
What is the mammillary gland function?
It is involved with memory
What does the Optic chiasm do?
allows both eyes to see the same things at the same time
What does the brain stem attach to?
spinal cord
what are the three parts of the brain stem?
Midbrain, Pons, Medulla oblongata
What does the Reticular formation do?
it is involved with sleep/ consciousness/ alertness
What is the function of Choroid plexuses?
to produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What is the primary function of the four ventricles?
They are filled with CFS which help to protect the brain and transfer nutrients and waste
What is the Cerebral aqueduct?
a small space that allows CFS to flow from the third ventricle to the fourth
What do the Lateral ventricles do?
they contain CFS which help to protect the brain
