Physio Lab Exam

Meninges Dura mater and Pia mater

Dura Mater →

Outermost layer which forms a tough protective sheet enclosing the brain

Pia Mater →

Thin covering which tightly adheres to surface of the cerebrum; innermost layer, a filmy, delicate covering. Protects and supports the brain surface.

Cerebrum →

Largest part of the brain; handles higher thought, sensation, and voluntary movement.

Cerebral Cortex →

Outer mantle of brain; most highly developed in man; source of complex functions; involved in interpreting sensory input and mediating cognitive processes such as learning, speaking, and problem solving

Gyri →

Ridges of the folded gray matter cortex. Folding increases cortical surface area

Sulci →

The furrows between gyri. Allow the cortex to fold and fit more surface area in the skull.

Medial Longitudinal Fissure →

Divides cerebrum into right and left hemispheres

Central Fissure →

Runs laterally across cerebrum. Landmark separating the frontal lobe (motor) from the parietal lobe (sensory).

Precentral Gyrus →

Anterior to central fissure (in frontal lobe); serves motor functions, specialized for control of fine movements

Postcentral Gyrus →

Posterior to central fissure (in parietal lobe); primary somatosensory cortex (receives input from sensory receptors in the skin, joints, and muscles)

Lateral Fissure →

From lateral view, dorsal to temporal lobe. Landmark separating the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

Pyriform Lobe & Olfactory Bulb →

Both are involved in the sense of smell

Rhinal Fissure →

Separates the pyriform lobe from the rest of the cerebrum. Landmark for finding the smell-processing area.

Occipital Lobe →

Posterior end of cortex; serves primarily visual function

Parietal Lobe →

Lies between occipital lobe and central fissure; responsible for body sensations (i.e., touch, muscle-stretch receptors, joint receptors, etc.)

Temporal Lobe →

Located laterally in each hemisphere below lateral fissure; responsible for hearing and advanced visual processing; involved in motivational and emotional behavior

Frontal Lobe →

Extends from the central fissure to the anterior limit of the brain; responsible for the planning of movements, some aspects of memory, and inhibition of inappropriate behaviors

Hypophysis (Pituitary Gland) →

Anterior to brain stem; endocrine gland that synthesizes and releases hormones into the blood stream in response to the hypothalamus

Brain Stem →

Connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic life functions. Includes pons and medulla

Pons →

Anterior to the medulla; contains nuclei for several cranial nerves; contains part of reticular formation (plays role in arousal, sleep, attention, etc.)

Cerebellum →

Major contribution is to the control of movement/balance

Medulla →

Anterior to the spinal cord; controls several vital reflexes (i.e., breathing, heart rate, salivation, etc.); contains part of reticular formation

Spinal Cord →

Most posterior portion of brain; consists of ascending and descending nerve tracts and nuclei. Relays signals between brain and body and mediates simple reflexes.

Optic Chiasm →

Anterior to the pituitary; point where the optic nerves from each eye come together. Where some visual fibers cross so both eyes' input reaches both sides of the brain.

Optic Tract →

Posterior to chiasm; axon bundles which carry visual information (end of line was covered by a tooltip in your screenshot). Carries visual information from the chiasm into the brain.

Cerebral Peduncle →

Anterior to pons; houses nerve tracts that extend from spinal cord to cortex

Pyramidal Tract →

Carries motor nerves responsible for muscle movement and motor behavior

Cranial Nerves →

Indicated by Roman numerals; difficult to see on the sheep brain. Cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve, is always broken off when removing the brain. Carry sensory and motor information between the brain and the head, neck, and organs.

Sagittal cut

divides the brain into left and right halves

Fourth Ventricle →

Connects to the central canal of the spinal cord and also to the third ventricle by way of the cerebral aqueduct. CSF-filled cavity.

Third Ventricle →

Connected to the fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct. CSF-filled cavity between the two halves of the thalamus.

Cerebral Aqueduct →

Connects third and fourth ventricles (in the tegmentum). Channel that lets CSF flow between them.

Lateral Ventricles →

Seen by removing the septum pellucidum (a thin lining that divides each of the lateral ventricles). CSF-filled cavities in the cerebral hemispheres.

Choroid Plexus →

Delicate fibrous strands, sheets, or masses; remains of the tissue which produces the cerebral spinal fluid

Cerebral Spinal Fluid →

Cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord, and carries nutrients and removes waste.

Thalamus →

Sensory relay station; collection of nuclei

Lateral geniculate nucleus: vision

Medial geniculate nucleus: auditory

Ventral posterior nucleus: somatosensory

Massa Intermedia →

Connects lobes of thalamus

Hypothalamus →

Inferior to thalamus; regulates release of hormones from the pituitary; involved in regulation of temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, water and food intake, sexual behavior, aggression

Mammillary Bodies →

Posterior to pituitary; nuclei of hypothalamus. Involved in memory.

Fornix →

Major pathway of limbic system. Connects the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and hypothalamus.

Pineal Body →

Function unknown although may be involved in seasonal depression. Secretes melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Superior Colliculus →

Part of the tectum (roof of midbrain); serves a visual function. Orients the eyes and head toward visual stimuli.

Inferior Colliculus →

Part of the tectum; serves an auditory function. Orients toward sounds and relays auditory information.

Cerebral Aqueduct (midbrain) →

Contained in the tegmentum; connects third and fourth ventricles

Coronal cut

divides the brain into front and back halves

Limbic System →

Group of structures involved in feeding, fleeing, fighting, and sexual behavior. Includes amygdala, hippocampus, fornix, septum, cingulate cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus

Hippocampus →

Portion of paleocortex structure between thalamus and cerebral cortex; in coronal view it is dorsal to the thalamus; involved in memory

Amygdala →

Large group of nuclei situated in the temporal lobe just anterior to the hippocampus; involved in emotion

Basal Ganglia →

Group of structures near the thalamus and hypothalamus; play major role in the performance of voluntary motor responses. Includes globus pallidus, striatum, and amygdala

Globus Pallidus →

Located lateral to thalamus. Helps regulate voluntary movement.

Striatum →

Includes putamen and caudate nuclei. Receives input from cortex and helps coordinate voluntary movement.

Putamen →

The putamen is lateral to the globus pallidus. Involved in motor control.

Caudate Nuclei →

Located dorsal to the putamen and lateral to the lateral ventricles. Involved in motor control and learning.

Tegmentum →

Floor of midbrain; contains cerebral aqueduct and periaqueductal gray; also contains various nuclei and portions of the reticular formation. Involved in movement and arousal.

Periaqueductal Gray →

Gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct. Involved in pain modulation and defensive behavior.

Substantia Nigra →

Nuclei containing dopamine secreting neurons; involved in sensorimotor system. Helps initiate movement; its loss causes Parkinson's disease.