Neuroanatomy and development

Cerebral Hemispheres

The two halves of the brain, typically referred to as the left and right hemispheres, separated by the corpus callosum.

Left Hemisphere

Primarily associated with language, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning.

Right Hemisphere

Often linked to creativity, intuition, and spatial awareness; responsible for recognizing faces and interpreting emotions.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and planning; houses the primary motor cortex.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in spatial cognition and processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception.

Temporal Lobe

Key role in processing auditory information and involved in learning formation; contains the primary auditory cortex.

Occipital Lobe

Primarily responsible for visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex which interprets input from the eyes.

Sulci

The grooves or indentations found on the surface of the brain, creating boundaries between different regions of the cerebral cortex.

Gyri

The raised ridges or folds of tissue that lie between the sulci on the surface of the brain.

Horizontal Plane

Divides the brain into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts, allowing for cross-sectional views.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the brain into left and right halves, useful for examining symmetry and lateralization.

Coronal Plane

Divides the brain into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections, useful for understanding regions in relation to one another.

Cerebellum

Involved in motor coordination, located at the back of the brain.

Brain Stem

Controls vital functions; includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla.

Thalamus

Acts as a sensory relay station, directing sensory information to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates autonomic functions such as hunger and sleep, and influences emotional responses.

Amygdala

Involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and pleasure, and plays a role in emotional memory formation.

Hippocampus

Essential for the formation of new memories and learning; involved in consolidating information from short-term to long-term memory.

Cingulate Gyrus

Involved in emotion formation and processing, learning, memory, and regulating autonomic functions.

Basal Ganglia

A group of nuclei involved in coordinating movement, habit formation, and procedural learning.

Meninges

Three layers of protective membranes composed of dura mater, arachnoid space, and pia mater.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid that circulates in the ventricular system, acting as a shock absorber and exchange medium between blood and brain.

Blood Brain Barrier

A network of cells and blood vessels that filter to protect the brain and regulate nutrient supply.

Glymphatic System

Network of vessels that clears waste products and excess fluids from the brain, primarily active during sleep.

Neural Tube

The initial structure in brain development which expands to form the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.