W6 - The Brain & Spinal Cord Flashcards
What cavity does the brain lie in?
The cranial cavity
What’s the opening at the base of the skull called?
Foreman magnum
What four parts of the brain divided into?
Brain stem
Cerebellum
Diencephalon
Cerebrum
What three parts of the brain stem divided into?
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
What two parts is the diencephalon divided into
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
What role does the midbrain do?
Associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleeping, alertness, wakefulness, temperature regulation
What role does pons have?
Breathing and respiratory rhythm
Forms a bridge between the cerebrum and the cerebellum
What role does the medulla oblongata do?
Contains cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centres
Deals with autonomic functions of breathing , heart rate and blood pressure as well as the sleep wake cycle
What role does the cerebellum do?
Coordination of voluntary movements
Motor learning
Balance
10% of the total brain weight
Contains more neuron than the rest of the brain
What function does the thalamus do?
Principal relay station for sensory input
Executive assistant for sensory cortex
What function does the hypothalamus do?
Regulates homeostasis through the influence on automatic system and pituitary gland
What role does the cerebrum do?
Two hemispheres: left and right
Divided by a longitude fissure
Surface of the brain is covered in sulci
What does the corpus callosum do
Large bundle of fibres that connect the right and left hemisphere and allows information to move between the hemispheres
What kind of matter is the outer layer of the brain made up of?
Grey matter
What matter is the central area of the brain made up of?
White matter with an area of grey matter