Brain Anatomy Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on brain anatomy.

Cingulate Gyrus

Part of the limbic system involved in processing emotion, learning, and memory formation; influences motivation to behavioral outcomes.

Thalamus

Interprets and relays sensory information; carrying, sorting, and processing information between the spinal cord, midbrain, and cerebral cortex. Affects consciousness and awareness to pain.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis. Monitors and regulates thirst, hunger, blood pressure, body temperature. Control and releases hormones to control the pituitary gland.

Optic Chiasm

The part of the brain where the right and left optic nerves cross.

Pituitary Gland

The "master gland" which secretes nine hormones that regulate the body, including secretions of other endocrine glands.

Midbrain

Controls reflex patterns associated with vision and hearing. Helps concentrate on specific stimulus and block out the rest. Connects hindbrain to spinal cord.

Pons aka “Bridge”

Relay station between the cerebellum. Transfers sensory and motor information to and from the facial region and the brain. Connects all 3 major regions as well as the medulla to spinal cord.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls vital bodily functions like breathing, heart rate and blood vessel diameter. All neurons from spinal cord run through it to remaining CNS structures.

Meninges

Three layers of connective tissue and cerebral spinal fluid that provide protection to the brain against physical impacts and infection; also known as the "blood-brain barrier".

Cerebral Cortex

Both hemispheres have different lobes associated with specific tasks and functions.

Cerebrum

Largest brain structure, accounts for over 2/3rds of the brain mass; has two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. Is made up of grey matter. Has many folds. Coordinates motor and sensory activity.

Corpus Callosum

Large “C”band of nerve fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain to relay information.

Pineal Gland

Regulates the body's circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycles) through the hormone melatonin.

Cerebellum

Maintains balance, regulates and coordinates movement, aids with muscle tone. Has two hemispheres and a highly folded surface.

Olfactory Lobe

Receives sensory input from olfactory sensory receptors in the nose, interprets sense of smell.

Fissures

Folds in cerebrum that increases the surface area and allows for more neurons in a confined space.

Frontal Lobe

Controls voluntary muscle movement, personality, intellectual activities (sorts our sensory information); contains primary motor cortex along the central sulcus. Motor speech: Broca’s area (be able to talk).

Occipital Lobe

Interprets visual sensory information; contains primary visual cortex.

Temporal Lobe

Interprets sound or auditory and smell information. Sensory speech : Wernicke’s area (understand)

Ventricles

Four interconnected ventricles in brain. Are continuous with spinal canal in spinal cord and meninges; allowing cerebrospinal fluid to circulate.

Parietal Lobe

Interprets touch, temperature, taste and pain perception.