Neuroscience Lecture on Brain Structure and Function

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to brain anatomy and function, based on the provided lecture notes.

Thalamus

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory and motor information.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure that regulates functions including hunger, thirst, sleep, and sexual behavior.

Pineal Body

A small endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A clear fluid produced in the brain that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord.

Diencephalon

A region of the brain that includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and subthalamus.

Mesencephalon

Also known as the midbrain, it plays a key role in vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake regulation, and temperature.

Corpore Quadrigemina

A structure in the midbrain that contains the superior and inferior colliculi, involved in visual and auditory processing.

Hippocampus

A brain structure involved in learning and memory.

Amygdala

An almond-shaped cluster of nuclei in the temporal lobe associated with emotions such as fear, aggression, and pleasure.

Fornix

A C-shaped bundle of fibers that carries signals from the hippocampus to the hypothalamus.

Blood-brain barrier

A selective permeability barrier that shields the brain from potentially harmful substances in the bloodstream.

Hydrocephalus

A condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain's ventricles, potentially leading to increased intracranial pressure.

Midsagittal Cut

A vertical cut that divides the brain into left and right halves, allowing for observation of internal structures.

Choroid plexus

A network of cells in the ventricles of the brain involved in producing cerebrospinal fluid.

Anastomosis

A connection or joining between two structures, such as blood vessels, providing an alternative pathway for blood flow.

Sinuses (in the brain)

Large spaces in the brain that drain venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

Arachnoid granulations

Small protrusions of the arachnoid membrane through the dura mater, allowing for the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid into the venous system.

Coup-contrecoup injury

A type of brain injury where the brain strikes one side of the skull and is injured on the opposite side.

Insular lobe

A portion of the cerebral cortex that is hidden from view, involved in diverse functions usually linked to emotion and homeostasis.

Basal ganglia

A group of nuclei in the brain involved in the control of voluntary motor movements and learning.