Chapter 12 Part 1 Central Nervous System

Cerebrum

cerebral hemispheres

Includes cerebral cortex, white matter, and basal nuclei.

Cerebellum

Brain region

most involved in producing smooth, coordinated skeletal muscle activity.

Diencepehalon

part of forebrain

between cerebral hemispheres and midbrain

includes thalamus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus.

Brain stem

Connection to spinal cord.

Filters information flow between peripheral nervous system and rest of brain.

Contains midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Cortex

Outer surface layer of organ.

Ventricles

Cavities in brain

Filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Septum pellucidum

Thin membrane

separates lateral ventricles.

Interventricular foramen

Opening

connects lateral ventricles and third ventricle.

Cerebral aqueduct

slender cavity of midbrain

connects third and fourth ventricles.

Gyrus

Bumps

outward surface fold of cerebral cortex.

Sulcus

Dips

furrow on brain,

less deep than a fissure.

Fissures

deepest depression or inward folds on brain.

Central sulcus

furrow in brain

separates frontal lobe from parietal lobe.

Frontal lobe

region of cerebral cortex

movement, speech, personality, and impulsive behavior.

Parietal lobe

region of cerebral cortex

receiving and processing information about touch and body position.

Occipital lobe

Region of cerebral cortex

responsible for vision.

Temporal lobe

region of cerebral cortex

responsible for hearing and language.

Insula

Region of cerebral cortex

Sits deep at junction of frontal and temporal lobes

responsible for taste

Postcentral gyrus

strip of parietal cortex

posterior to central sulcus

primary somatosensory cortex

receives somatosensory information from entire body

Precentral gyrus

strip of frontal cortex

anterior to central sulcus

primary motor cortex

crucial for executing motor control commands.

Cerebral cortex

outer gray matter region of cerebral hemispheres

where conscious thinking occurs.

Contralateral

Relating to opposite side.

Lateralization

Specialization of function in a hemisphere of cerebral cortex

Primary motor cortex

region of posterior frontal lobe

neurons control movements of skeletal muscles

Pyramidal cells

in primary motor cortex of cerebrum

triangular cell body

single, long dendrite among many smaller dendrites.

Motor homunculus

Map showing portion of motor cortex devoted to each body region.

Premotor cortex

Area of frontal cortex

anterior to primary motor cortex

active during planning of movement

Olfactory

Sense of smell

Rhinencephalon

part of forebrain

receiving and integrating olfactory impulses

connects to limbic system and emotions.

Gustatory

Sense of taste.

Cerebral dominance

Designates hemisphere

dominant for language.

Cerebral white matter

myelinated fibers bundled into large tracts

communication between cerebral areas and lower CNS centers.

Basal nuclei

Specific gray matter areas

located deep within white matter of cerebral hemispheres.

Thalamas

mass of gray matter in diencephalon of brain.

Interthalamic adhesion

small, midline mass of gray matter

connects right and left thalamic bodies.

Hypothalamus

Region of diencephalon

Forms floor of third ventricle of brain

responsible for many homeostatic functions.

Mammillary bodies

Paired anterior nuclei

olfactory relay stations.

Infundibulum

stalk of tissue

connects pituitary gland to hypothalamus.

Pituitary gland

Neuroendocrine gland located beneath brain

serves variety of functions

regulation of gonads, thyroid, adrenal cortex, lactation, and water balance.

Epithalamus

Most dorsal portion of diencephalon

forms roof of third ventricle with pineal gland extending from its posterior border.

Pineal gland

hormone-secreting part of diencephalon of brain

sets biological clock and influences reproductive function.

Midbrain

Region of brainstem

between diencephlon and pons.

Pons

part of brain stem

Connects medulla with midbrain

linkage between upper and lower levels of central nervous system.