Nervous System Part 2

What does the cerebrum contain?

• Right and Left hemispheres

What is the cerebrum divided by?

• Divided by; deep fissures

What divisions do they have on the surface?

1. Gyri; folds

2. Sulci; superficial cracks

Contain cerebral cortex

What are the 4 major regions of the brain?

1. Cerebrum

2. Cerebellum

3. Diencephalon

4. Brainstem

What is the cerebral cortex?

• Superficial layer of gray matter

What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?

1. Conscious thought

2. Memory storage and processing

3. Sensory processing

4. Control of skeletal muscles

What is the diencephalon? What are its parts?

• Link between cerebral hemispheres and CNS

  1. Thalamus

  2. Hypothalamus

What is the function of the thalamus?

• Thalamus: sensory/relay processing

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

• Hypothalamus: hormone production, autonomic functions

What is located in the cerebellum? What does this mean?

• More than 50% of neurons located here; most sophisticated thinking

  • 2nd largest brain

What is the function of the cerebellum?

• Coordinates/modulate motor commands from cerebral cortex

What is gray matter?

• Combination of cell bodies and nuclei

What are the 3 parts of the brain stem?

1. Midbrain

2. Pons

3. Medulla Oblongata

What does the midbrain contain?

• Contains nuclei; many cell bodies (gray matter)

What is the function of the midbrain? What does it help do?

• Process visual/auditory information and controls its relaxation

• Helps maintain consciousness

What does the pons connect?

• Connects cerebellum to brainstem

What are tracts?

• Tracts: bundles of axons

What are the functions of the pons?

• Somatic and visceral motor control (digestive system)

• Tracts and relay centers to dig. system

What are the functions of the medulla oblongata?

• Relays sensory information through brainstem and thalamus

• Regulates autonomic function

What are the lobes of the brain?

1. Frontal lobe

2. Parietal lobe

3. Occipital lobe

4. Temporal lobe

5. Insula

Does the gyri and sulci look the same in every person?

• No, unique to every person

What does the lateral sulcus separate?

• Separates frontal from temporal lobe

What does the parieto-occipital sulcus separate?

• Separates parietal lobe from occipital lobe

What does the central sulcus separate? What gyrus does it contain?

• Separates frontal from parietal lobe

  • Precentral gyrus

  • Postcentral gyrus

What does the precentral gyrus contain? What is its function?

• Contains primary motor cortex

  • Controls voluntary movement

What does the postcentral gyrus contain? What is its function?

• Contains primary somatosensory cortex

  • awareness of TOUCH, somatosensory information

Where is the motor cortex found? What does it contain?

• Frontal Lobe

  • Primary motor cortex

  • Premotor cortex

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

• Directs voluntary movement by controlling neurons in brain stem

What is the function of the premotor cortex?

(Motor Association Area)

• Coordinates learned movements

  • Walking, running, dancing, etc

Where is the sensory cortex found? What does it contain?

• Parietal lobe

  • Primary somatosensory cortex

  • Somatosensory association area

What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

• Ability to detect touch, pressure, pain, vibration, temperature

What is the function of the somatosensory association area?

• Monitors activity in somatosensory cortex; recognizes different sensations

Where is the gustatory cortex found? What is its function?

• Insula

• Receives information from taste receptors

Where is the olfactory cortex found? What is its function?

• Insula

• Receives sensory information from olfactory receptors

Where is the auditory cortex found? What does it contain?

• Temporal lobe (near ear)

  • Primary auditory cortex

  • Auditory association area

What is the function of the primary auditory cortex?

• Recieves auditory information, hearing

What is the function of the auditory association area?

• Recognizes different sounds

Where is the visual cortex found? What does it contain?

• Occipital lobe

  • Primary visual cortex

  • Visual association area

What is the function of the primary visual cortex?

• Receives visual information

What is the function of the visual association area?

• Distinguishes between color; interprets the information

What are the lateral ventricles?

• 2, one in each cerebral hemisphere

What is the interventricular foramen?

• Connects lateral ventricles to third ventricle

What is the third ventricle?

• Located in diencephalon

What is the cerebral adueduct?

• Canal in midbrain

  • connects 3rd to 4th ventricle

What is the fourth ventricle?

• Starts from medulla oblongata and narrows to become central canal

What are integrative centers?

• Receive information multiple association areas; link uo senses

• Direct motor activities

• Perform analytical functions

What does Broca's Area combine? For what?

• Speech production:

  • Motor control of frontal lobe + auditory association area of temporal lobe

What is the function of Broca's area?

• Regulates breathing, vocal pattern for speech

  • speech production

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

• Intellectual functions, ability to think, learning

  • integrates from all association areas

What does the frontal eye field contain? What is its function?

• Controls learned eye movements

  • frontal (motor) + occipital

What does the wernicke's area receive information from?

• Receives information from somatosensory association areas

What is the function of wernicke's area?

• Language comprehension

• Personality; link sensory info. to memories