Lab 9: Histology, Brain Anatomy, & Radiology

What is the largest part of the brain?

the cerebrum

Lateralization

specialization, difference of cortical functions between the two hemispheres

gyrus vs. sulcus

gyrus is a fold in the cerebral cortex

sulcus is a shallow groove in the cerebral cortex

Corpus Callosum

white matter that connects the cerebral hemisphere

gray matter vs. white matter

gray matter forms the outer convoluted surface of the cerebral hemispheres and the foliated surface of the cerebellum

white matter lies deep to the cerebral and cerebellar cortices

What is cortical gray matter made up of?

multipolar neuron cell bodies and attendant dendrites

What lies deep to the gray matter?

the bordering white matter composed of tracts of myelinated axons that project from the overlaying gray matter

What do the tracts connect? What are they made of??

one cortical region to another, to brain nuclei, and to motor neurons of the spinal cord; they are made of myelinated axons

Pyramidal cells

multipolar cells of the cortex with a pyramidal or triangle shape

What are the 5 basic layers of the cerebral cortex?

1. molecular layer

2. outer granular layer

3. outer pyramidal cell layer

4. inner granular layer

5. inner pyramidal and polymorphic layer

What does the molecular layer of the cerebral cortex contain?

mainly dendrites synapsing with cortical neuron axons

What does the outer granular layer contain?

mostly stellate cells, axons, and dendrites

What does the outer pyramidal cell layer contain?

mostly pyramidal cells that increase in size as you move deeper into the layer

What does the inner granular layer contain?

mostly densely packed stellate cells

What does the inner pyramidal and polymorphic layer contain?

mostly comprised of large pyramidal cells in the more superficial portion of the layer and a wide variety of cell morphologies in the deepest parts of the layer

What 3 structures make up the diencephalon?

1. thalamus

2. hypothalamus

3. epithalamus

What is the thalamus?

a relay station for incoming information, such as sensory information or integration information, destined for higher brain areas such as the cerebral cortex

What are the 7 functions of the hypothalamus?

1. automatic control center

2. center for emotional response

3. body temperature regulation

4. regulation of food intake

5. regulation of water balance and thirst

6. regulation of sleep-wake cycles

7. control of endocrine system functioning 

What are mammillary bodies?

relay stations in the olfactory pathways

What is the infundibulum?

a stalk of hypothalamic tissue that connects to the pituitary gland

What does the epithalamus contain?

the pineal gland that secretes the hormone melatonin that heals regulate the sleep-wake cycle

What is the pineal gland?

located in the epithalamus, it is under the control of a complex feedback loop with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus

What are the 3 main functions of the cerebellum?

1. coordination of somatic motor function, primarily skeletal muscle contractions

2. coordination of complex movements like walking or shooting a basketball

3. learned muscle patterns, such as those used to play the piano

What are the layers of the cerebellum?

1. molecular layer

2. intermediate layer

3. granular layer

What does the molecular layer of the cerebellum contain?

largely unmyelinated fibers and scattered basket cells and stellate cells

What does the intermediate layer contain?

Purkinje cells

What does the granular layer contain?

granule cells

What 3 parts make up the brain stem?

1. medulla oblongata

2. pons

3. midbrain

What are the 2 main functions of the midbrain?

1. inhibiting inappropriate muscle movements

2. dopamine signals to ease that inhibition to allow for smooth movements

What is the pons composed of?

conduction tracts between higher brain centers and the spinal cord or between the motor cortex and cerebellum

What does the medulla oblongata have control over?

1. cardiovascular system

2. respiratory systems

What is the anterior median fissure?

the dividing line between the mirrored right and left halves of the spinal cord

What pneumonic device is used to remember the 12 cranial nerves?

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What pneumonic device is used to remember the 12 cranial nerve functions?

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