EXERCISE 8: Brain and Cranial Nerves - Part IV

DO NOT EXPLOIT.

limbic system

structures at the edge (limit) of the boundary between the forebrain and hindbrain that are most associated with emotional behavior and memory formation

longitudinal fissure

large separation along the midline between the two cerebral hemispheres

nerve

cord-like bundle of axons located in the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory input and response output to and from the central nervous system

nucleus

in the nervous system, a localized collection of neuron cell bodies that are functionally related; a “center” of neural function

occipital lobe

region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the occipital bone of the cranium

olfaction

special sense responsible for smell, which has a unique, direct connection to the cerebrum

parietal lobe

region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the parietal bone of the cranium

parieto-occipital sulcus

groove in the cerebral cortex representing the border between the parietal and occipital cortices

postcentral gyrus

ridge just posterior to the central sulcus, in the parietal lobe, where somatosensory processing initially takes place in the cerebrum

posterior columns

white matter of the spinal cord that lies between the posterior horns of the gray matter, sometimes referred to as the dorsal column; composed of axons of ascending tracts that carry sensory information up to the brain

posterior horn

gray matter region of the spinal cord in which sensory input arrives, sometimes referred to as the dorsal horn

posterior median sulcus

midline feature of the posterior spinal cord, marking the separation between right and left sides of the cord

posterolateral sulcus

feature of the posterior spinal cord marking the entry of posterior nerve roots and the separation between the posterior and lateral columns of the white matter

precentral gyrus

primary motor cortex located in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex

prefrontal lobe

specific region of the frontal lobe anterior to the more specific motor function areas, which can be related to the early planning of movements and intentions to the point of being personality-type functions

premotor area

region of the frontal lobe responsible for planning movements that will be executed through the primary motor cortex

proprioception

general sensory perceptions providing information about location and movement of body parts; the “sense of the self”

putamen

nucleus deep in the cerebrum that is part of the basal nuclei; along with the caudate, it is part of the striatum

reticular formation

diffuse region of gray matter throughout the brain stem that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and states of consciousness

somatosensation

general senses related to the body, usually thought of as the senses of touch, which would include pain, temperature, and proprioception

striatum

the caudate and putamen collectively, as part of the basal nuclei, which receive input from the cerebral cortex

subcortical nucleus

all the nuclei beneath the cerebral cortex, including the basal nuclei and the basal forebrain

substantia nigra pars compacta

nuclei within the basal nuclei that release dopamine to modulate the function of the striatum; part of the motor pathway

substantia nigra pars reticulata

nuclei within the basal nuclei that serve as an output center of the nuclei; part of the motor pathway

subthalamus

nucleus within the basal nuclei that is part of the indirect pathway

sulcus

groove formed by convolutions in the surface of the cerebral cortex

superior colliculus

half of the midbrain tectum that is responsible for aligning visual, auditory, and somatosensory spatial perceptions

tectum

region of the midbrain, thought of as the roof of the cerebral aqueduct, which is subdivided into the inferior and superior colliculi

tegmentum

region of the midbrain, thought of as the floor of the cerebral aqueduct, which continues into the pons and medulla as the floor of the fourth ventricle

temporal lobe

region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the temporal bone of the cranium

tract

bundle of axons in the central nervous system having the same function and point of origin

ventral nerve root

axons emerging from the anterior or lateral horns of the spinal cord

white matter

regions of the nervous system containing mostly myelinated axons, making the tissue appear white because of the high lipid content of myelin