Unit 3: Brain Flashcards
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
CT scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body
PET
using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain)
MRI
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
brainstem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
frontal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
parietal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
temporal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
thalamus
the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
cerebellum
the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
