Chapter 14 - Brain and Cranial Nerves Study Guide

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the brain and cranial nerves for study and review.

Rostral

Towards the nose.

Caudal

Towards the tail.

Cortex

Surface layer of gray matter.

Nuclei

Deeper masses of gray matter.

Tracts

Bundles of axons (white matter).

Cerebrum

83% of brain volume.

Cerebellum

Contains 50% of the neurons.

Brainstem

What remains of the brain if the cerebrum and cerebellum are removed.

Dura mater

Outermost tough membrane of the meninges.

Arachnoid matter

Spider web filamentous layer of the meninges.

Pia Mater

Thin vascular layer adherent to contours of the brain.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Clear fluid that fills the ventricles and canals and bathes the external surface of the brain.

Thalamus

Receives nearly all sensory information on its way to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates autonomic functions such as thermoregulation and food intake.

Basal nuclei

Masses of gray matter deep to the cerebral cortex involved in motor control.

Limbic system

Loop of cortical structures surrounding the deep brain involved in emotions.

Somatosensory area

Postcentral gyrus responsible for processing sensory information from the body.

Wernicke’s area

Permits recognition of spoken and written language.

Broca’s area

Generates motor programs for speech.

Cerebral lateralization

Differentiation of function between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Cranial nerves

12 pairs of nerves arising from the brain, connecting to muscles, glands, and sensory organs.

Trigeminal neuralgia

Recurring episodes of intense, stabbing facial pain.

Bell’s palsy

Facial nerve disorder causing paralysis of facial muscles on one side.