Practical Exam Structures

three membranes lying underneath the skull that envelop and protect the brain

meninges

the skull. provides protection and structure along with the surrounding meninges

cranium

the skin covering the head, aids in protection

scalp

the outermost of the 3 meninges. Leathery and thick. Provides the strongest protection for the brain underneath the skull.

dura mater

Located between the dura mater and pia mater. Cushions the brain.

arachnoid mater

Tender mother, innermost layer. Wraps tightly around the brain and spinal cord. Keeps cerebrospinal fluid from leaking out.

pia mater

Acts as a cushion or buffer for the cortex. Located in the subarachnoid space in the brain between the skull and the cerebral cortex.

cerebrospinal fluid

Found in each of the brain ventricles. Produces cerebrospinal fluid.

choroid plexus

House and circulate CSF. Located deep within the cerebrum. Wraps around the thalamus. Capable of producing new neurons in adulthood.

lateral ventricles

A narrow cleft below the corpus callosum, between the 2 thalami. Produces, secretes, and circulates CSF.

3rd ventricle

Produces and circulates CSF. Inferior to the 3rd ventricle.

4th ventricle

the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex, joined by the corpus callosum

cerebral hemispheres

Largest lobe of the cerebral cortex. Executive function, information processing, higher cognition. Located superior to the temporal lobe and anterior to the parietal lobe.

frontal lobe

Located posterior to the frontal lobe and anterior to the occipital lobe. Information integration, somatosensation, proprioception.

parietal lobe

Located at the back of the head. Decodes visual signals.

occipital lobe

Sits behind the ears/temples. Houses memories, emotion, and language comprehension. Houses the hippocampus, the primary auditory cortex, and Wernicke's area.

temporal lobe

Forms the boundary between the frontal and parietal lobes on the lateral and medial surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres. This separates the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex.

central sulcus

Separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

lateral sulcus/sylvian fissure

A deep groove that divides the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

longitudinal fissure

A bundles of axons that connects the two temporal lobes across the midline. Connects the olfactory bulb and parts of the cerebrum to the same areas on the opposite side.

anterior commissure

Left hemisphere. Anterior part of the brain. Involved in functions of cognitive control such as decision making. Influences personality traits.

prefrontal cortex (frontal lobe)

Left hemisphere, located in the frontal lobe in the inferior frontal gyrus. Inferior to the motor cortex. Controls response inhibition which stops an action when cued. Controls language production.

Broca's area/inferior frontal gyrus (frontal lobe)

Right hemisphere. Superior part of the brain, posterior to the somatosensory cortex. Reconciles visual information from the occipital lobe, identifies objects by touch, sifts through information in the memory.

superior parietal lobule

Left hemisphere. Anterior part of the parietal lobe. Where sense of touch is processed.

somatosensory cortex/postcentral gyrus (parietal lobe)

Located on the superior temporal gyrus in the temporal lobe. Interprets sounds, enables identification of unique sounds and the origin of sounds.

primary auditory cortex (temporal lobe)

Contains motor neurons involved in the comprehension of speech. Located near the posterior part of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere.

Wernicke's area (temporal lobe)

The superior part of the temporal lobe. Lies inferior to the lateral sulcus and superior to the superior temporal sulcus. Contains part of the auditory cortex. Involved in auditory processing, including language.

superior temporal gyrus

Comprehension of speech. Located in the left hemisphere near the back of the temporal lobe, in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus.

Wernicke's area

posterior part of the occipital lobe. The first part of the occipital lobe to receive visual information, which is relayed to other areas in the occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes for further processing.

primary visual cortex (occipital lobe)

Located inferior to the cerebral cortex at the topmost part of the brainstem. Connects the brain to the spinal cord. Regulates movement and plays a role in visual and auditory processing.

midbrain (brainstem)

Inferior to the midbrain, connected to the spinal cord. Links the brain to the spinal cord and handles involuntary processes such as respiration, sleep cycles, and bladder control.

pons (brainstem)

Lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord. Controls functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

medulla oblongata

Located in the midbrain caudal to the superior colliculus. Acts as a relay point for auditory information.

inferior colliculus

Located on the posterior midbrain, rostral to the inferior colliculus. Helps orient us, particularly using eye movements. Multisensory; integrates visual, auditory, and somatosensory spatial information.

superior colliculus