Chapter 14: The Brain and Cranial Nerves

Practice flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 14: The Brain and Cranial Nerves.

Rostral

Toward the forehead.

Caudal

Toward the spinal cord.

Cerebrum

Largest part of the forebrain, comprising 83% of brain volume.

Gyri

Thick folds on the surface of the cerebrum.

Sulci

Shallow grooves between gyri.

Corpus Callosum

Thick nerve bundle that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Meninges

Three membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Clear, colorless liquid that fills the ventricles and surrounds the brain.

Thalamus

Ovoid mass that processes information on its way to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Control center for autonomic nervous system and endocrine system.

Brain Barrier System

Regulates the passage of substances from the bloodstream into the brain tissue.

Medulla Oblongata

All ascending and descending fibers connecting the brain and spinal cord pass through here.

Pons

Anterior bulge in the brainstem connecting to the cerebellum.

Cerebellum

Largest part of the hindbrain, important for motor coordination.

Cranial Nerves

12 pairs of nerves that arise from the base of the brain and communicate with the body.

Motor Function

Involves voluntary muscle contraction, beginning in the motor association area of the frontal lobes.

Left Hemisphere

Typically the categorical hemisphere, specialized for language and analytical reasoning.

Right Hemisphere

Typically the representational hemisphere, involved in creativity and holistic perception.