Unit III: The Nervous System (3) Flashcards
Where is the primary motor cortex located?
Frontal lobe
What is the function of the primary motor cortex?
Conscious, voluntary, precise, skilled control of the skeletal muscles.
What is the corticospinal or pyramidal tract?
A collection of axons that carry movement relay info from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord to control movement.
Where is the primary somatosensory cortex located?
Parietal lobe, postcentral gyrus.
What type of information enters in the primary somatosensory cortex?
Receives general somatic sensory info from receptors for touch, pain, pressure, vibration, and temperature.
Where is the primary visual cortex located and what special sense enters this part of the brain?
Located in the occipital lobe, for visual information.
Where is the primary auditory cortex located, and what special sense enters this part of the brain?
Temporal lobe, receives information about the hearing.
Pitch, rhythm and loudness.
Where is the primary olfactory cortex located and what special sense enters this part of the brain?
Located deep in the temporal lobe, for smell.
Where is the primary gustatory cortex located and what special sense enters this part of the brain?
Located deep in the temporal lobe, for taste.
Where are the association areas located in general?
Connected to nearby sensory and motor areas.
Premotor Cortex (aka motor association area)
Coordinates learned movements- refines the signal going to the skeletal muscles.
Somatosensory Association Area
Monitors activity in the primary somatosensory cortex.
Allows you to recognize what signal it is receiving.
Visual Association Area
Monitors the pattern of activity in the visual cortex and interprets the results. Identifies what you see
Auditory Association Area
Monitors sensory activity in the auditory cortex. Word recognition takes place in this association area. Identifies what you hear
What are the three “higher-order” centers?
Wernicke’s Area, Broca’s Area, and Prefrontal Cortex.
Wernicke’s Area
Ability to interpret what is read or heard (Language Comprehension)
Usually present in only one hemisphere, mainly on the left.
Broca’s Area
Regulates patterns of breathing and vocalization needed for normal speech
Near the motor cortex.
Prefrontal Cortex
Coordinates information from the association area of the entire cortex
Abstract intellectual functions- predicting future consequences of events or actions.
Damage to what part of the brain results in a person making sounds but not words?
Broca’s area
Damage to what part of the brain results in difficulties in estimating temporal relationships between events?
Prefrontal cortex
What is the limbic system?
Groups of neurons and tracts of white matter along the border of the cerebrum and diencephalon.
Where is the limbic system located?
Beneath the cerebral cortex, above the brainstem and lateral to the thalamus.
What is the function of the limbic system?
Long-term memory storage, Control of instincts, emotions, and motivation.
What two other parts of the brain does the limbic operate with?
Hypothalamus and cerebrum.
What are the three parts of the diencephalon?
Thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.
Thalamus
Function and Location
Function: relay center, receives sensory input and transmits the signals to the appropriate area of the cerebrum.
Location Between hypothalamus and epithalamus.
Hypothalamus
Function and Location
Function Controls functions that are important in maintaining homeostasis. Controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
Location: below the thalamus.
Epithalamus
Function and Location
Function:* Pineal gland- produces melatonin.
Choroid Plexus- produces cerebrospinal fluid.
Location: most dorsal portion of the diencephalon.
Midbrain
Function and Location
Function: Reticular Activating system! Coordinates head movements related to vision and hearing. Controls eye movements and size of the pupils.
Location: Superior part of the brainstem.
Pons
Function and Location
Function: Autonomic and endocrine functions, posture, alertness and sleep, and reflexes. Respiratory centers
Located: Middle part of the brainstem
Medulla Oblongata
Function and Location
Function: Respiratory centers, cardiovascular center, coughing, vomiting, and swallowing center.
Location: Lowest part of brain stem
Contains nuclei of reticular formation.
Where is the cerebellum located?
Partially hidden by the cerebral hemispheres, the posterior part of the brain
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Adjusting the postural muscles of the body. BALANCE and programming and fine-tuning movements are controlled at the conscious and subconscious levels.
What occurs when the cerebellum is damaged?
Ataxia- lack of balance.
Reticular Activating System
Alertness- increases your attention, movement of your head, monitor the environment, vision.
