Brain Structure and Function Overview

Hypothalamus

Regulates homeostasis: temperature, hunger, thirst.

Gyrus

Raised ridge on the cerebral cortex.

Sulcus

Shallow groove between gyri in the brain.

Fissure

Deep groove separating brain regions.

Transverse Fissure

Separates cerebellum from cerebrum.

Longitudinal Fissure

Divides brain into left and right hemispheres.

Lateral Fissure

Separates temporal lobe from frontal and parietal.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate.

Brainstem

Includes hindbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Cerebral Peduncles

Contain motor tracts from cortex to pons, spinal cord.

Corebrain developed into

Develops into cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus.

Diencephalon

Includes thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus.

Neural Tube Formation

Indicates developing nervous system.

Auditory Lobe location

Located in the temporal lobe.

Gustatory Lobe location

Located in insular lobe, deep to temporal lobe.

Broca's Area function

Responsible for speech production in frontal lobe.

Prefrontal Cortex function

Involved in decision-making, planning, personality.

Primary Sensory Cortex located

Located in the parietal cortex.

Primary Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements in precentral gyrus.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to cerebral cortex.

Gnostic Area

Integrates sensory information for understanding.

Limbic System

Regulates emotion, motivation, and memory.

Reticular Activating System

Regulates wakefulness and alertness in brainstem.

Lateralization of Function

Functional differences between left and right hemispheres.

Aggregate Field View

All brain parts contribute to mental functions.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Cushions brain, removes waste, delivers nutrients.

Cerebrum

This brain part controls thinking.

cerebellum

This brain part controls balance, movement, and coordination.

brain stem

This brain part controls involuntary actions such as breathing, heartbeats, and digestion.

spinal cord

This part of the nervous system moves messages between the brain and the body.

Parietal

This part of the cerebrum interprets and sorts information from the senses.

Occipital

This part of the cerebrum processes messages from the eyes.

temporal

This part of the cerebrum helps us with speech and hearing and learning language.

Frontal

This part of the cerebrum helps us make decisions and solve problems.