A&P Brain Anatomy

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Medulla oblongata

Autonomic processes, cerebellar activity, and special senses.

Medulla oblongata nuclei

Bundles of neurons that regulate vital functions.

Medulla oblongata pyramids

Bundles of white matter that carry sensory and motor axons to the brain.

Decussation of pyramids

The crossing of the medulla oblongata' pyramids, making signals from the right side of the body correspond to the left hemisphere of the brain and vise versa.

Pons

Latin for bridge; links parts of the brain.

Midbrain cerebral peduncle

Conducts nerve impulses from the cerebrum to the spinal cord.

Midbrain tectum

Contains centers for visual and startle reflexes.

Midbrain

Releases dopamine.

Reticular formation (reticular activating system)

Contains sensory and motor neurons that control consciousness, wakefulness, focus, and stimulus filtering.

Reticular activating system senses

Sight, sounds, touch.

NOT taste or smell!!!

Cerebellum

Determines how well movements initiated by motor areas of cerebrum are being carried out; motor autocorrect.

Cerebellum arbor vitae

White matter of the cerebellum.

Diencephalon

Contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

Thalamus

A relay station for nerves impulses from senses NOT including SMELL.

Hypothalamus

The main regulator of homeostasis.

Hypothalamus - pituitary gland

The master gland.

Circumventricular organ connections

Related to the hypothalamus. These surround ventricles where CBF is produced from blood. Monitors blood chemistry and pressure.

Cerebrum

Gray matter = cerebral cortex, white matter = inside. Contains the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and insula.

Hemispheric lateralization

The functional asymmetry of the brain’s hemispheres.

The limbic system

A ring of structures that induces pain, pleasure, rage, and docility. Also involved in smell and memory.