central nervous system

Primary somatosensory area

Interprets tactile, pain, thermal and proprioception senses *these senses come from the opposite side of body

Primary auditory area

hearing

Premotor area

organizes the motor activity of learned, skilled movements ex. riding a bike, taking a step ie. which muscles must contract? In what order? To what degree? Then sends impulses to the primary motor area which actually initiates each planned movement

Prefrontal cortex

Intellect, cognition, memory, personality, persistence and planning

Primary gustatory

taste

Primary motor area

Initiation of voluntary skeletal muscles *controls muscles on the opposite side of body

Primary visual area

vision

Projection fibers (tracts)

Transmit nerve impulses from inferior to superior brain areas or vice versa. Internal capsule (ascending sensory to cortex, descending motor from cortex)

Commissural fibers (tracts)

Transmit nerve impulses between 2 hemispheres. Corpus callosum.

Association fibers (tracts)

Transmit nerve impulses within the same hemisphere

Thalamus

Relays all (except smell which goes through the hypothalamus) sensory input to the cerebral cortex

Pons

Helps control breathing; conducts impulses to and from the cerebellum, midbrain, and medulla

Hypothalamus

Controls and integrates the autonomic NS; regulates hormones, emotional behaviour, temperature, eating, and drinking behaviour

Cerebellum

Smoothes and coordinates skilled skeletal muscle movement; also posture and balance

Medulla oblongata

Contains vital centers that regulate heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, vomiting, coughing

Cerebrum

Interprets sensory input, controls skilled skeletal muscle movements, and is involved in emotional and intellectual processes

Midbrain (consists of: corpora quadrigemina, cerebral peduncles)

Coordinates visual and auditory reflexes

Epithalamus (pineal gland)

Secretes melatonin that controls the sleep-wake cycle