Brain Lobes and Neuron Structure

Frontal Lobe

Most anterior part of the brain, generally responsible for higher cognitive functions such as memory, emotions, and problem solving. It is the largest lobe of the brain.

Parietal Lobe

The middle part of the brain, generally responsible for the interpretation of pain and understanding spatial relationships. It assembles our senses into a usable form.

Occipital Lobe

The smallest and rear-most lobe of the brain, generally responsible for processing visual signals and playing an important role in recognition and other functions.

Temporal Lobe

Located right behind the temple area of each side of the head, extending to a point right behind the ears. Responsible for processing auditory information. Generally responsible for language, memory, and senses. It is the second largest lobe of the brain and makes up about 20% of the cerebral cortex.

Lateral View

A side view.

Medial View

A middle/sliced view.

Ventral View

An underneath view.

Structure of Brain

Pons, medulla oblongata, mamillary body, optic chiasm, hypothalamus, thalamus, corpus callosum, precentral gyrus, central sulcus, postcentral gyrus, limbic lobe, parieto-occipital sulcus, pineal gland, corpora quadrigemina, fourth ventricle, cerebellum.

Structure of Nueron

cell body, dendrites, axon, cell membrane, oligodendrocyte, axon hillock, myelin sheath, node of Ranvier, axon terminal, synaptic end bulbs

Cell body

organizes and keeps the cell functional

Cell membrane

A cell structure that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell. Protects the cell

Dendrites

receive messages from other cells

Axon

the extension of a neuron, messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Myelin sheath gap

a bare region of axonal membrane in myelinated axons only: allows diffusion of ions

Axon terminal

The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are stored, end of axon where forms junctions with other cells

Synaptic end bulbs

found at end of axon terminal & contain synaptic vesicles that are filled with neurotransmitters

Myelin sheath

layer of affty tissue covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

Central sulcus

separates frontal and parietal lobes; seperates primary motor cortex and somasensory cortex

Postcentral gyrus

the strip of parietal cortex that receives somatosensory information from the entire body (press.temp.paim)

Limbic lobe

emotion and memory, located under lobes

Parieto-occipital sulcus

separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe

Pineal gland

produces melatonin

Corpora quadrigemina

located in the midbrain; contains reflex centers for vision and auditory reflexes. superior and inferior colliculi

Aqueduct of midbrain

connects the third and fourth ventricles

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Brainstem

Core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions (contains pons, medulla oblongota, midbrain)

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Mamillary body

process olfactory sensations and controls reflex movements associated with eating.

Optic chiasm

the point in the brain where the visual field information from each eye "crosses over" to the appropriate side of the brain for processing X

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature),

Thalamus

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex: located top of brainstem

Corpus collosum

the thick band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them