Physiology Final Exam (shortened)

Primary olfactory cortex

processes smells

Primary gustatory cortex

processes taste

Association areas

integrate information from multiple brain regions

Prefrontal cortex

complex thought judgment personality planning decision-making

Wernicke’s area

language comprehension

White matter

myelinated axons organized into tracts

Association tracts

connect regions within same hemisphere

Arcuate fibers

connect adjacent gyri

Longitudinal fibers

connect gyri in different lobes

Commissures

connect the two hemispheres (corpus callosum etc.)

Projection tracts

connect cortex to lower CNS structures (internal capsule)

Cerebral lateralization

hemisphere specialization

Left hemisphere (categorical)

language analysis logic Broca’s Wernicke’s

Right hemisphere (representational)

visual-spatial skills imagination comparison

Cerebral nuclei

gray matter clusters in white matter

Putamen

subconscious motor control

Globus pallidus

regulates muscle tone via thalamus

Claustrum

subconscious visual processing

Amygdala

emotion and emotional memory

Lentiform nucleus

putamen + globus pallidus

Diencephalon

brain region between cerebrum and brainstem

Epithalamus

includes pineal gland and habenular nuclei

Pineal gland

secretes melatonin circadian rhythm

Habenular nuclei

connect limbic system and midbrain

Thalamus

sensory relay center except olfaction

Hypothalamus controls

autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, temperature, hunger, thirst, emotion, regulates sleep-wake rhythms

Brainstem

connects brain to spinal cord

Midbrain

contains peduncles substantia nigra

Pons

connects brain regions breathing control, function in respiration and communication

Medulla oblongata

cardiac respiratory reflex control, continuation of spinal cord

Cerebral peduncles

motor pathways

Superior cerebellar peduncles

connect cerebellum to midbrain

Medial lemniscus

sensory pathway

Substantia nigra

dopamine production for movement

Somatosensory association area

integrates touch sensations, stimulates integration, object identification

Middle cerebellar peduncles

connect pons to cerebellum

Superior olivary nuclei

sound localization

Cranial nerve nuclei (pons)

CN V–VIII

Pyramids

corticospinal tract crossing (decussation)

Olives

send proprioception to cerebellum

Inferior cerebellar peduncles

connect medulla to cerebellum

Autonomic centers

control heart rate breathing digestion BP

Cerebellum

coordination balance motor learning

Cerebellar cortex

outer gray matter

Arbor vitae

inner white matter

Deep cerebellar nuclei

output nuclei of cerebellum

Function of cerebellum

coordination posture balance movement correction

Motor pathway

premotor → motor cortex → cerebellum basal ganglia → thalamus → spinal cord

Limbic system

emotional brain

Hippocampus

memory formation

Cingulate gyrus

emotion processing

Amygdala

fear and emotion processing

Parahippocampal gyrus

memory association

Reticular formation

brainstem network regulating arousal

RAS

reticular activating system alertness and wakefulness

Olfactory nerve (CN I)

smell

Optic nerve (CN II)

vision

Oculomotor (CN III)

eye movement pupil constriction

Trochlear (CN IV)

superior oblique eye muscle

Trigeminal (CN V)

face sensation chewing

Abducens (CN VI)

lateral eye movement

Facial (CN VII)

facial expression taste 2/3 tongue

Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)

hearing and balance

Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

taste swallowing

Vagus (CN X)

parasympathetic control of organs

Accessory (CN XI)

neck muscles

Hypoglossal (CN XII)

tongue movement

Axon hillock

trigger zone for action potentials

Petalias

brain asymmetry differences

Right-handed petalia

right frontal left occipital dominance

Left-handed petalia

left frontal right occipital dominance

PFK

rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis

Blood-brain barrier

regulates entry between blood and brain

Aerobic respiration

uses oxygen high ATP long duration

Anaerobic respiration

no oxygen low ATP produces lactate short bursts

Excitation-contraction coupling

ACh → depolarization → Ca2+ release → contraction → relaxation

Passive transport

no energy diffusion osmosis

Active transport

uses ATP moves against gradient

Vesicular transport

bulk transport using vesicles

Electrical synapse

direct ion flow fast

Chemical synapse

neurotransmitters slower flexible

Sensory neurons

afferent receptors → CNS

Motor neurons

efferent CNS → muscles

Interneurons

connect neurons in CNS

Somatic neurons

voluntary movement

Autonomic neurons

involuntary control

Graded potentials

local variable strength decay

Action potentials

all-or-none long distance no decay

Motor unit ratio

fibers per motor neuron small = precise large = powerful

Vision

receptors rods cones CN II

Hearing

hair cells CN VIII

Taste

taste buds CN VII IX

Smell

olfactory receptors CN I

Touch

mechanoreceptors CN V

CSF production

choroid plexus in ventricles

CSF flow

lateral → 3rd → 4th ventricle → subarachnoid space

CSF function

cushion buoyancy transport protection

Anatomy

study of structure

Physiology

study of function