Brain Structures & Functions

Q: What are the major regions of the brain?

A: The cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, and cerebellum.

Q: What is the largest part of the brain?

A: The cerebrum.

Q: What is the function of the cerebrum?

A: It controls voluntary actions, reasoning, memory, emotions, and sensory perception.

Q: What divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres?

A: The longitudinal fissure.

Q: What connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres?

A: The corpus callosum.

Q: What are gyri?

A: Elevated ridges on the brain's surface that increase surface area.

Q: What are sulci?

A: Shallow grooves between gyri on the brain's surface.

Q: What are fissures?

A: Deep grooves in the brain that separate major regions.

Q: What are the four main lobes of the cerebrum?

A: The frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

Q: What is the main function of the frontal lobe?

A: It controls voluntary movement, decision-making, problem-solving, and speech production.

Q: What is the main function of the parietal lobe?

A: It processes sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Q: What is the main function of the temporal lobe?

A: It processes hearing, language comprehension, and memory.

Q: What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

A: It processes visual information.

Q: What is the motor cortex?

A: The area of the frontal lobe responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements.

Q: What is the sensory cortex?

A: The area of the parietal lobe that receives and interprets sensory input from the body.

Q: What is Broca’s area?

A: A region in the frontal lobe that controls speech production.

Q: What is Wernicke’s area?

A: A region in the temporal lobe responsible for understanding spoken and written language.

Q: What is the diencephalon?

A: The brain region that includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus, located between the brainstem and cerebrum.

Q: What is the function of the thalamus?

A: It acts as a relay station for sensory impulses going to the cerebral cortex.

Q: What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A: It regulates autonomic functions, temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, and emotions, and controls the pituitary gland.

Q: What is the function of the epithalamus?

A: It includes the pineal gland, which secretes melatonin to regulate sleep-wake cycles.

Q: What hormone does the pineal gland secrete?

A: Melatonin.

Q: What is the brainstem?

A: The part of the brain that connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord and controls automatic vital functions.

Q: What are the three parts of the brainstem?

A: The midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Q: What is the function of the midbrain?

A: It controls visual and auditory reflexes and maintains alertness.

Q: What is the function of the pons?

A: It connects higher brain regions with the medulla and cerebellum and helps regulate breathing.

Q: What is the function of the medulla oblongata?

A: It controls vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.

Q: What happens if the medulla oblongata is damaged?

A: It can result in death due to loss of control over breathing and circulation.

Q: What is the cerebellum?

A: The brain structure that coordinates movement, posture, and balance.

Q: What are the two hemispheres of the cerebellum connected by?

A: The vermis.

Q: What is the function of the limbic system?

A: It controls emotions, behavior, motivation, and memory formation.

Q: What brain structures are part of the limbic system?

A: The hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

Q: What is the hippocampus responsible for?

A: Forming and storing long-term memories.

Q: What is the amygdala responsible for?

A: Processing emotions such as fear and aggression.

Q: What is the reticular formation?

A: A network of neurons in the brainstem that helps maintain consciousness and regulate sleep-wake cycles.

Q: What is the reticular activating system (RAS)?

A: A component of the reticular formation that filters sensory input and maintains alertness.

Q: What are ventricles in the brain?

A: Fluid-filled cavities that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Q: What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

A: A clear fluid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord, removes waste, and provides nutrients.

Q: Where is cerebrospinal fluid produced?

A: In the choroid plexuses within the ventricles.

Q: How does CSF circulate?

A: Through the ventricles, central canal, and subarachnoid space, then is reabsorbed into the bloodstream via arachnoid villi.

Q: What are meninges?

A: Protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Q: What is the dura mater?

A: The outermost, tough, fibrous layer of the meninges.

Q: What is the arachnoid mater?

A: The middle, web-like layer of the meninges containing cerebrospinal fluid.

Q: What is the pia mater?

A: The thin, delicate innermost layer of the meninges that adheres closely to the brain and spinal cord.

Q: What is the blood-brain barrier?

A: A selective barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood while allowing essential nutrients to pass.

Q: What is gray matter composed of?

A: Neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons.

Q: What is white matter composed of?

A: Myelinated axons that connect different brain regions.

Q: What is the basal nuclei (basal ganglia)?

A: Clusters of neurons deep within the brain that regulate voluntary motor control and muscle tone.

Q: What is the cerebrum responsible for compared to the cerebellum?

A: The cerebrum handles higher thought and voluntary actions, while the cerebellum coordinates and fine-tunes movements.

Q: What happens during a stroke?

A: Blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, causing cell death and loss of function in that area.

Q: What is a concussion?

A: A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, leading to temporary loss of brain function.

Q: What is the main difference between the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

A: The left hemisphere handles logic, language, and analytical thinking

Q: What connects the brain to the spinal cord?

A: The medulla oblongata.