ANP I Functions of Brain Structures

Cerebrum

Conscious thought processes, intellectual functions, memory storage, conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contractions, awareness of sensory stimuli.

Gyrus (cerebrum)

Raised areas.

Sulcus (cerebrum)

Grooved areas.

Longitudinal Fissure (cerebrum)

Deep grove separates right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Corpus Callosum (cerebrum)

Bundle of axons that sends information between the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Frontal Lobe (cerebrum)

Contains primary motor cortex (voluntary skeletal muscle activity), premotor cortex (somatic motor association), and prefrontal cortex (predicting consequences, temporal relationships).

Parietal Lobe (cerebrum)

Contains somatosensory cortex — conscious perception of general senses: touch, pressure, pain, vibration, temperature, and proprioception.

Occipital Lobe (cerebrum)

Contains primary visual cortex — conscious perception of visual stimuli.

Temporal Lobe (cerebrum)

Contains auditory and olfactory cortex — conscious perception of auditory and olfactory stimuli.

Insula (Lobe) (cerebrum)

Contains gustatory cortex — conscious perception of taste.

Cerebellum

Compares somatic motor activity (intended vs. active movement), makes rapid adjustments for balance and equilibrium. Highly inhibited by alcohol.

Thalamus (diencephalon)

Major sensory relay center — routes sensory information up to the cerebrum, excluding olfaction (smell).

Hypothalamus (diencephalon)

Major autonomic center — involved in basic drives (hunger, thirst, lust, rage). Controls the pituitary gland.

Pituitary Gland (hypothalamus) (diencephalon)

Major endocrine gland controlled by hypothalamic inputs. Attached to the hypothalamus via the infundibulum.

Pineal Gland (epithalamus) (diencephalon)

Releases melatonin — involved in day/night cycles and seasonal behaviors. Located within the epithalamus.

Optic Chiasm (diencephalon)

The area where the optic nerves partially cross, allowing visual information from each eye to reach both brain hemispheres.

Brainstem

Involved in basic physiological functions.

Superior Colliculi (midbrain) (brainstem)

Part of the midbrain — involved in visual reflexes and turning of the head and neck in response to visual stimuli.

Inferior Colliculi (midbrain) (brainstem)

Part of the midbrain — involved in auditory reflexes and turning of the head, neck, and trunk in response to sounds.

Pons (brainstem)

Relay centers for information going to and from the cerebellum. Contains vasomotor centers (blood vessel diameter reflexes), respiratory centers (respiratory rate reflexes), and nuclei for several cranial nerves.

Medulla Oblongata (brainstem)

Contains cardiovascular, vasomotor, and respiratory reflex centers (heart rate, blood vessel diameter, respiratory rate). Also has processing centers (nuclei) for several cranial nerves.

Dura Mater (meninges)

Outermost and toughest meningeal layer. Cranial dura has two layers (outer and inner dura).

Arachnoid Mater (meninges)

Middle meningeal layer — transparent and weblike in structure.

Pia Mater (meninges)

Deepest and most delicate meningeal layer, directly covering the brain surface.

Subarachnoid Space (meninges)

Space below the arachnoid mater and above the pia mater — contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Lateral Ventricles

One lateral ventricle located in each cerebral hemisphere. Separated medially by the septum pellucidum.

3rd Ventricle

Associated with the diencephalon. The thalamus forms the wall of the 3rd ventricle.

Cerebral Aqueduct (ventricles)

Also called the aqueduct of the midbrain — connects the 3rd ventricle to the 4th ventricle.

4th Ventricle

Associated with the brainstem.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Produced and travels throughout the ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord. Also found in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid and pia mater.