Module 3 BioPsych

Dorsal

Toward the back, away from ventral.

Ventral

Toward the stomach, away from dorsal.

Anterior

Towards the front end.

Posterior

Towards the rear end.

Superior

Above another part.

Inferior

Below another part.

Lateral

Toward the side, away from the mid-line.

Medial

Toward the mid-line, away from the side.

Proximal

Located close to the point of origin/attachment.

Distal

Located more distant from point of origin/attachment.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Coronal plane

Shows brain structures as seen from the front.

Sagittal plane

Shows brain structures as seen from the side.

Horizontal plane

Shows brain structures as seen from above.

Lamina

A row or layer of cell bodies separated from other cell bodies by a layer of axons and dendrites.

Tract (projection)

A set of axons within the CNS.

Nerve

A set of axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Nucleus

A cluster of neuron cell bodies within the CNS.

Ganglion (ganglia)

A cluster of neuron cell bodies, usually outside the CNS.

Gyrus (gyri)

A protuberance on the surface of the brain.

Sulcus (sulci)

A fold/groove that separates one gyrus from another.

Fissure

A long deep sulcus.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

is composed of the somatic and autonomic NS. it also Consists of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Nervous System

 consists of the axons conveying messages from the sense organs to the CNS and from the CNS to the muscles. It controls voluntary activities of the muscles. carries messages from the CNS to the skeletal muscles that control movements of the body ( voluntary )

Autonomic Nervous System

 is largely concerned with involuntary functions such as respiration, circulation and digestion. plays a vital role in emotion and physiological responses of the body (headache, diarrhea, stomach ache when anxious).

Sympathetic Nervous System

has an activation or arousal function, and it tends to act as a total unit. Mobilizes the body for "fight-or-flight" response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Slows down body processes and maintains tranquility.

Homeostasis

A delicately balanced or constant internal state.

Spinal Cord

Part of the CNS within the spinal column. It communicates with all of the sense organs and muscles except those of the head. It is a segmented structure and each segment has on each side a sensory and motor nerve.

Dorsal roots (axon bundles)

Carry sensory information into the spinal cord.

Ventral roots

Carry motor information out of the spinal cord.

Bell Magendie Law

The entering dorsal roots (axon bundles) carry sensory information, and the exiting ventral roots carry motor information.

Dorsal root ganglia

The cell bodies of the sensory neurons are in a cluster of neurons outside the spinal cord

cell bodies and dendrites.

 H shaped gray matter in the center of the cord is densely packed with these

White matter, which consists of myelinated axons

Many neurons of the spinal cord send axons from the gray matter to the brain or other parts of the spinal cord through this

Midbrain

 is the middle of the brain, surrounded & dwarfed by the forebrain. It is also sometimes referred to as the mesencephalon.

Tectum

 the roof of the midbrain. The swelling on each side of the it are called superior colliculus which process information for vision and the inferior colliculus which process information for hearing (audition).

 Tegmentum

 is the intermediate level of the midbrain that covers several other midbrain structures. It contains nucleus for III & IV. cranial nerves 

Substantia nigra

gives rise to the dopamine containing a pathway that facilitates readiness for movement

Forebrain

 topmost structure of the brain whereas higher cognitive processes take place. It is sometimes referred to as the telencephalon. 

Thalamus

is where most sensory input is received, then sends it to the cerebral cortex. 

Hypothalamus

 is a small area at the base of the brain ventral to thalamus. It conveys a message to the pituitary gland, controls feeding, drinking, temperature regulation and sexual behavior.

Basal Ganglia

a group of subcortical structures lateral to the thalamus. It includes three major structures: caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus. In conditions like Parkinson's & Huntington's disease, this deteriorates which result in impaired movement, depression, deficits of memory, reasoning and attention.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer portion of the forebrain,  also called the cerebrum. It is divided in two hemispheres connected by the corpus callossum, and the four lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital. The cells of it are gray matter, and their axons extending inward are the white matter.

corpus callosum

Neurons in each hemisphere communicate with neurons in the corresponding part of the other hemisphere through a bundle of axons

Hindbrain

Lowest portion of the brain, includes cerebellum, pons, and medulla. sometimes called the rhombencephalon (parallel brain), myelencephalon (marrow brain), and metencephalon (after brain).

medulla

helps to control vital reflexes including breathing, heart rate, vomiting, salivation, coughing and sneezing through the cranial nerves (which controls sensation & movement from the head).

 pons

lie anterior and ventral to the medulla. it contains nuclei of some cranial nerves, “bridge” axons in the pons cross from 1 side of the brain to the other.

Cerebellum

 is involved in movement, motor coordination and balance, as well as processing visual & auditory stimuli

Olfactory

(smell)

Optic

(vision)

Oculomotor

(eye movements/ pupil constriction)

Trochlear

 (eye movements)

Trigeminal

(skin sensations from the face)

Abducens

(eye movements)

Facial

(taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue, facial expression, salivation)

Statoacoustic

 (hearing / equilibrium)

Glossopharyngeal

(taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue, swallowing, throat movements during speech)

Vagus

(sensations from neck, control of throat, esophagus, larynx, parasym. nerves of stomach/intestines)

Accessory

(neck & shoulder movements)

Hypoglossal

(control of muscles of the tongue)

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

 a clear fluid similar to blood plasma. fills the ventricles, and some of it flows into the central canal of the spinal cord. cushions the brain and provides buoyancy.

Meningitis

is a condition characterized by inflammation of the meninges. It is very painful because of presence of pain receptors at this area.

Hydrocephalus

is a condition that happens when the flow of CSF is obstructed, CSF is accumulated within the ventricles increasing pressure on the brain, causing the spread of skull bones.

Frontal Lobe

contains the primary motor cortex involved in the control of movements and the prefrontal cortex which receives information from all the sensory system and plays a role in working memory.

Further this lobe is associated to planning, judgment, adapting to new situations, flexibility of behavior and personality. Prefrontal lobotomies (perfromed in the 1940-50s) is done by cutting the prefrontal cortex from other parts of the cortex. It resulted in tamer behaviors, apathy, loss of ability to plan and/or take initiative, memory disorders, distractibility and loss of emotional expression.

Temporal Lobe

 is located on the lateral portion of each hemisphere. It processes auditory information and complex visual information (such as the perception of movement, recognition of faces)

Wernicke's Area (left of temporal lobe)

is responsible for  understanding spoken language. a tumor in a temporal lobe may cause elaborate visual & auditory hallucinations - plays a role in emotional and motivational behaviors.

Parietal Lobe

 lies between the occipital lobe & central sulcus. It contains the primary somatosensory cortex which processes touch sensations. This lobe is involved in registering spatial location, attention and motor control.

Occipital Lobe

 is located at the posterior end of the cortex and it contains the primary visual cortex. A stroke or wound in this area can cause cortical blindness.