Brain and Cranial Nerves Lecture

75 fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering major structures, functions, and concepts related to the brain and cranial nerves.

The adult human brain contains almost __ percent of the body’s nervous tissue.

97

The average adult brain weighs about __ kg (approximately 3 lb).

1.4

The four major regions of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and __.

brainstem

The surface layer of gray matter covering the cerebrum is called the __ cortex.

cerebral

Rounded elevations on the cerebral surface that increase surface area are called __.

gyri

Shallow depressions that separate gyri are known as __.

sulci

Deep grooves on the cerebral surface are termed __.

fissures

The cerebellum primarily __ repetitive body movements.

coordinates

Within the diencephalon, the __ relays and processes sensory information.

thalamus

The __ is involved with emotions, autonomic function, and hormone production.

hypothalamus

The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus by the __.

infundibulum

The brainstem includes the midbrain, pons, and __ oblongata.

medulla

The __ processes sight and sound and helps maintain consciousness.

midbrain

The __ connects the cerebellum to the brainstem and contains nuclei for motor control.

pons

Autonomic functions such as heart rate and digestion are regulated by the __ oblongata.

medulla

The three primary brain vesicles are the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and __.

rhombencephalon

The __, a secondary brain vesicle, develops into the cerebrum.

telencephalon

The metencephalon gives rise to the cerebellum and the __.

pons

The myelencephalon forms the __ oblongata.

medulla

Each cerebral hemisphere contains a __ ventricle.

lateral

The third ventricle communicates with the lateral ventricles via the __ foramen.

interventricular

The cerebral aqueduct connects the third ventricle to the __ ventricle.

fourth

Physical protection of the brain is provided by cranial bones, meninges, and __.

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

The three layers of cranial meninges are dura mater, arachnoid mater, and __.

pia mater

Extensions of dura mater that stabilize the brain are called dural __.

folds

The dural fold that contains the superior sagittal sinus is the __ cerebri.

falx

The __ cerebelli separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

tentorium

The choroid plexus produces about __ mL of CSF per day.

500

CSF is returned to venous circulation via arachnoid __.

granulations

The internal carotid and vertebral arteries supply __ and oxygen to the brain.

nutrients

The blood–brain barrier is formed by tight junctions between __ endothelial cells.

capillary

Astrocytes regulate the __ of the blood–brain barrier.

permeability

Cardiovascular centers that control blood flow are located in the __ oblongata.

medulla

The respiratory rhythmicity centers that set breathing pace are found in the __ oblongata.

medulla

Somatic sensory information passes through the gracile and __ nuclei of the medulla.

cuneate

The apneustic and pneumotaxic centers that adjust respiration are in the __.

pons

The superior and inferior colliculi make up the __ of the midbrain.

tectum

The pigmented gray matter of the midbrain is the __ nigra.

substantia

Folds of the cerebellar cortex are called __.

folia

The narrow midline band separating cerebellar hemispheres is the __.

vermis

The highly branched internal white matter of the cerebellum is the __ vitae.

arbor

Loss of cerebellar function producing uncoordinated movement is termed __.

ataxia

The pineal gland secretes the hormone __.

melatonin

The thalamus acts as a __ and filter for sensory information.

relay

The __ geniculate body of the thalamus relays visual information.

lateral

The __ geniculate body of the thalamus relays auditory information.

medial

Reflex eating movements are controlled by the __ bodies of the hypothalamus.

mammillary

The supra-optic nucleus of the hypothalamus secretes __.

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Circadian rhythms are regulated by the __ nucleus of the hypothalamus.

suprachiasmatic

The limbic system helps establish __ states and aids memory storage.

emotional

The __ body links the limbic system to sensory systems and the cerebrum.

amygdaloid

Gyri on the cerebrum increase the brain’s __ area for neurons.

surface

The primary motor cortex is located on the __ gyrus.

precentral

The primary somatosensory cortex is located on the __ gyrus.

postcentral

The __ sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe.

lateral

Fibers that connect regions within the same cerebral hemisphere are called __ fibers.

association

The __ callosum is the largest commissural fiber connecting the two hemispheres.

corpus

Basal nuclei provide subconscious control of skeletal muscle __.

tone

Symptoms of __ disease are associated with increased activity of the basal nuclei.

Parkinson’s

The __ area (general interpretive area) is essential for language comprehension.

Wernicke’s

The __ area (motor speech area) regulates speech production.

Broca’s

Abstract intellectual functions are performed by the __ cortex.

prefrontal

The __ cerebral hemisphere is dominant for language, math, and decision making.

left

The __ cerebral hemisphere is specialized for recognizing faces and interpreting sensory cues.

right

__ waves are seen in healthy awake adults who are resting with eyes closed.

Alpha

__ waves typically accompany intense concentration or mental stress.

Beta

__ waves appear in children or intensely frustrated adults and may signal disorder in adults.

Theta

Large, slow __ waves occur during deep sleep or in adults with brain damage.

delta

There are __ pairs of cranial nerves.

12

Cranial nerve I, the __ nerve, carries the sense of smell.

olfactory

Cranial nerve II, the __ nerve, carries visual information.

optic

Cranial nerve III, the __ nerve, controls four of six extrinsic eye muscles.

oculomotor

Cranial nerve V, the __ nerve, has ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular divisions.

trigeminal

Cranial nerve VII, the __ nerve, innervates the muscles of facial expression.

facial

Cranial nerve VIII divides into the __ nerve for balance and the cochlear nerve for hearing.

vestibular