brain and spinal cord lecture

regions of the brain

cerebellum, cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem

cerebrum

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory.

gyri

ridges of the brain that increase surface area and the number of cortical neurons

longitudinal fissure

central sulcus

separates frontal and parietal lobes

lateral sulcus

separates temporal lobe from frontal and parietal lobes

perieto-occipital sulcus

separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe

precentral gyrus

part of frontal lobe responsible for all voluntary movement (skeletal muscle)

prefrontal cortex

part of frontal lobe responsible for personality, inhibition, judgement, decisiveness, abstract thought

postcentral gyrus

part of parietal lobe that detects pain, temp., touch, taste

occipital lobe

vision

temporal lobe

hearing, olfaction and memory

integrative centers

direct extremely complex motor activities/ analytical activities

wernicke's area (general interpretive area)

left hemisphere control of words and their meaning

broca's area (speech center)

muscles that control vocalization

basal nuclei

help inhibit unwanted skeletal movements

limbic system

regulates mood

left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

right hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, recognition

association fibers

connections within one hemisphere

commissural fibers

connect one hemisphere to the other

projection fibers

connects cortex to deeper structures

folia

folds of the cerebellum

arbor vitae

white matter of the cerebellum

cerebellum

2nd largest part of the brain responsible for balance/equilibrium and coordination

Diencephalon

Contains thalamus and hypothalamus and links cerebrum to brainstem

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center

Hypothalamus

-controls autonomic function

-regulates expression of behavior (pleasure, aggression, desire)

-body temp.

-hunger and thirst

-hormone production (endocrine system)

mammillary body

process olfactory reflex

corpora quadrigemina (midbrain)

two pairs of sensory nuclei

superior colliculus (midbrain)

visual reflex-move away from visual stimuli

inferior colliculus (midbrain)

auditory reflex-move toward auditory stimuli

substantia nigra (midbrain)

produces dopamine

cerebral peduncles (midbrain)

ascending=sensory

descending=motor

pontine respiratory center (pons)

helps regulate skeletal muscles during breathing

cerebellar peduncles (pons)

connect the cerebellum to the brainstem

reticular formation (medulla oblongata)

for maintaining consciousness and awake state

cardiovascular centers (medulla oblongata)

sets heart rate and rhythm controls blood flow

respiratory rhythmicity center in medulla oblongata

sets rate and rhythm of respiration

pyramids of medulla oblongata

descending motor tracts

ventricles

contains choroid plexus that produces 500mL of CSF every day

Cerebro spinal fluid

fills the ventricles; circulates continually between the ventricles and through the subarachnoid space and serves as a shock absorber and nutrient source to protect the brain and spinal cord

lateral ventricles

separated by septum pellucidum and communicates with 3rd ventricle via monro foramen

3rd ventricle

communicates with 4th ventricle via cerebral aquaduct

4th ventricle

extends into medulla oblongata

CSF cycle

after circulating brain and spinal cord, CSF drains from subarachnoid space into arachnoid villi

structures that protect the brain

bones of the skull,

meninges,

cerebrospinal fluid,

blood-brain barrier (astrocytes)

spinal cord

ends between L1 and L2

posterior median sulcus

posteior divide of spinal cord

anterior median sulcus

anterior groove of spinal cord

cervical enlargement

supplies nerves to the shoulder and upper limbs

lumbar enlargement

nerves of pelvis and lower limbs

conus medullaris

below lumbar enlargement ;cone shape

filum terminale

anchors spinal cord to coccyx

cauda equina

collection of spinal nerves below the conus medullaris

spinal meninges

membranes that surround and protect the spinal cord and carry blood

dura mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges made of dense connective tissue and is very strong

arachnoid mater

weblike middle layer of the three meninges made of collagen

pia mater

thin, innermost membrane of the meninges that is attached to spinal cord

What is the epidural space?

The space between the dura mater and the wall of the vertebral canal and anesthetic injection site

What does the epidural space contain?

Loose connective tissue and fat.

subarachnoid space

a space in the meninges beneath the arachnoid membrane and above the pia mater that contains the cerebrospinal fluid

denticulate ligaments

extensions of pia mater that secure cord to dura mater

white matter of spinal cord

superficial layer that contains myelinated axons

posterior white column

between posterior gray horns and posterior median sulcus

anterior white column

lies between the anterior gray horns and the anterior median fissure

lateral white column

between the anterior and posterior columns and each side of spinal cord

spinal cord tracts

bundles of axons that run in the white matter of the spinal cord

ascending spinal cord tracts

carry sensory information to the brain

Descending tracts of the spinal cord

conduct motor impulses from the brain to motor neurons reaching muscles and glands

gray matter of spinal cord

deep tissue that is unmyelinated

gray horns

anterior, posterior, and lateral

gray commissure

bridge of gray matter that connects masses of gray matter on either side

sensory nuclei

dorsal/posterior

motor nuclei

ventral/anterior

spinal nerves

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

dorsal root ganglia

contain cell bodies of sensory neurons

A man is involved in a car accident which results in an injury to the brain. If the injury occurs to the surface (cortex) of the brain, what type of tissue would be affected?

gray matter

Which groove would separate the right frontal lobe from the right parietal lobe?

central sulcus

Which type of fiber would connect the right frontal lobe to the left parietal lobe?

commissural

A patient is admitted to the Emergency Room after sustaining a head injury while playing football. He is having difficulty remembering his name and the events that occured after the injury. What lobe of the cerebrum may have been affected by this injury?

temporal

A patient is admitted to the hospital with a suspected brain tumor. In assessing this patient, you learn that she has been experiencing visual disturbances for the last 4 months. Based on this information, which lobe of the cerebrum is the tumor most likely to be in?

occipital

Which area of the cerebrum plays a major role in regulating mood?

limbic system

Which cerebral hemisphere is associated with facial recognition

right hemisphere

Which cerebral hemisphere is associated with writing skills

left hemisphere

The structure that connects the right and left hemispheres of the cerebellum is called the

vermis

Which of the following signs or symptoms would most likely be the result of an injury to the cerebellum?

a patient is having difficulty maintaining their balance

Mammillary Bodies perform what important function?

regulate olfactory reflexes

the inferior colliculus is located in the ________ and has the important function of regulating __________.

midbrain, auditory reflexes

Cerebrospinal Fluid produced in the lateral ventricles would travel through what order of structures to reach the subarachnoid space?

1. lateral ventricle

2. interventricular foramen

3. 3rd ventricle

4. cerebral aqueduct

5. 4th ventricle

All of the following are important in providing protection to the brain EXCEPT?

basal ganglia

superior to inferior spinal cord structures

cervical enlargement

lumbar enlargement

conus medullaris

filum terminale

Descending tracts of the spinal cord would be found in which part of the spinal cord?

anterior white column

Which area of the brainstem has areas that regulate cough reflexes?

medulla oblongata

pathway for motor signals from brain to movement

descending root

ventral root

spinal nerve

ventral ramus

pathway for sensory signals from detection to brain

ventral ramus

spinal nerve

dorsal root

ascending tract