Brain Anatomy and Nervous System Structures

Vocabulary flashcards detailing the anatomical regions, functional lobes, meninges, glands, and fluid spaces of the human brain.

Cerebrum

The largest, most superior part of the brain (also known as the left and right cerebral hemispheres) whose surface has ridges (gyri) and grooves (sulci).

Frontal Lobe

A brain region housing the primary motor area and Broca's area, responsible for higher intellectual reasoning and complex memories.

Primary Motor Area

An area within the frontal lobe that sends impulses to skeletal muscles.

Broca's Area

A specialized motor speech area located in the frontal lobe that controls movements necessary to speak.

Parietal Lobe

Brain lobe containing the somatic sensory area and gustatory area (taste), where sensory pathways cross so that the left cortex receives impulses from the right side of the body.

Somatic Sensory Area

A region in the parietal lobe that receives impulses from sensory receptors; body regions with more sensory receptors occupy a larger part of this cortex.

Temporal Lobe

Lobe of the brain containing the auditory (hearing) area, olfactory (smell) area, memory functions, and Wernicke's area.

Wernicke's Area

A speech area in the temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and processing.

Occipital Lobe

The posterior lobe of the cerebrum that houses the visual area.

Corpus Callosum

A large band of white matter connecting the two cerebral hemispheres, enabling communication and information transfer between them.

Diencephalon

Also known as the interbrain; sits on top of the brain stem enclosed by the cerebrum, consisting of the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

Thalamus

A relay station for sensory and motor input that routes impulses to the correct part of the cerebrum for localization and interpretation.

Hypothalamus

An autonomic nervous system center located under the thalamus that regulates body temperature, water balance, metabolism, and heart rate; it is also a center for pleasure and an important part of the limbic system (emotion).

Epithalamus

Part of the diencephalon that houses the pineal body (which produces melatonin to regulate the sleep cycle) and includes the choroid plexus.

Brain Stem

A structure attaching to the spinal cord consisting mostly of nerve fiber tracts; divided into the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Midbrain

Segment of the brain stem featuring two bulging fiber tracts (cerebral peduncles) and four rounded protrusions (corpora quadrigemina); serves as a relay station for sensory and motor impulses involving vision, hearing, motor activity, and sleep/wake.

Pons

Brain stem component composed mostly of fiber tracts that also contains nuclei involved in the control of breathing.

Medulla Oblongata

The lowest part of the brain stem that merges into the spinal cord, containing control centers for heart rate control, blood pressure regulation, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, and coughing/sneezing.

Cerebellum

Brain structure divided by a longitudinal fissure that receives input from eyes, ears, and other sensory receptors to provide precise timing for skeletal muscle activity and control balance and equilibrium.

Meninges

The protective coverings of the brain, composed of three layers: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Dura Mater

A double-layered external brain covering with one layer attached to the skull and one forming the outer covering of the brain; folds inward in several areas.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle, web-like layer of the meninges.

Pia Mater

The internal, delicate, clingy layer of the meninges.

Cranial Nerves

Nerves that relay impulses to and from the brain to control various organs and muscles; can be exclusively sensory, exclusively motor, or mixed (both).

Olfactory Bulb

Structure located on the inferior side of the brain beneath the frontal lobe that contains sensory receptors for smell.

Optic Nerve

Tracts of nerves running from the back of the eye to the thalamus that carry visual information.

Pituitary Gland

A small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain below the hypothalamus that makes several essential hormones and instructs other endocrine glands to release hormones.

Pineal Gland

A tiny gland located inferior and posterior to the corpus callosum that secretes the hormone melatonin to control the sleep/wake cycle.

Ventricles

Four internal fluid-filled chambers within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid.

Choroid Plexus

Vascular structure located within the brain that forms cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A watery cushion that circulates in the arachnoid space, ventricles, and central canal of the spinal cord.