Chapter 12

Gray matter

Where processings of sensation, perception, movement takes place; includes cell bodies and short unmyelinated neurons

white matter

provide communication between grey matter and rest of body; includes mylinated axons and SOME unmyelinated axons

cerebellum

in charge of coordinating movements, balance, and posture

cerebrospinal fluid

circulates through the brain's ventricles and around the surface of the brain and spinal cord; nourishes brain, removes waste, cushions and protects

frontal lobe

executive functioning, higher thought, primary motor cortex

precentral gyrus

where primary motor cortex is located; responsible for controlling voluntary movements of contralateral side of body

central sulcus

separates frontal lobe from parietal

parietal lobe

responsible for processing sensory information (touch, temp, pain) and contains association cortex

postcentral gyrus

where somatosensory cortex comes from

temporal lobe

responsible for processing auditory information (hearing)

occipital lobe

responsible for processing visual information (seeing)

Broca’s area

responsible for speech production, articulation, and language processing

wernicke’s area

responsible for language comprehension, processing hearing and written words

basal nuclei

gatekeeper for movement, selecting and initiating desired voluntary actions while inhibiting unwanted ones

corpus callosum

communication between left/right brain hemispheres

thalamus

Gets information of sensory, integrates, and informs hypothalamus what to do

Lateral geniculate body

Area where visual info is dropped off, informs thalamus what the body is seeing to get orders; info stops here and synapse

Medial geniculate body

all auditory info stops here, synapses, drop off to inform thalamus

Hypothalamus

executes the plan made by thalamus; links endocrine control system and autonomic nervous system; maintain homeostasis, controls essentail body functions like heart rate

infundibulum

stem of pituitary gland; connects hypothalamus and pituitary gland to transport hormones

optic chiasm

area where optic nerves crossover

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

responsible for determining circadian rhythm

vasopressin

Helps regulate water balance, blood pressure regulation; known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

oxytocin

produces breast milk

Mamillary body

strong connection with limbic system; Connects strong emotions with memories associated with them

Limbic system

involved with strong emotions (fear, panic)

Diencephalon

thalamus + hypothalamus

Pituitary gland

where hormones are released to the blood stream

Mid brain

transport/ connection for neurons coming up/down into the diencephalon

Superior coliculus

reflexes involved with visual input

Inferior coliculus

reflexes involved with auditory input

accessory nerve

responsible for controlling head and shoulder movement

Pons

relaying signals between the cerebrum, cerebellum; controls breathing, sleep, facial expressions, balance, taste, and hearing

Medulla oblongata

controls vital involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, blood pressure

Pineal gland

producing melatonin to regulate your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) by responding to light and darkness

reticular formation

Keeps us aroused, alert, and awake at appropriate times

Temporary storage

working memory in cerebral cortex; Brain get rid of extra unnecessary sensory input, memory is permanently lost

short term memory

hold small amount of information for a brief period

Automatic memory

a subconscious system for learned skills, habits, and conditioned responses that operate without conscious effort

• ex bike riding

Dura matter

tough and protective layer surrounding brain and spinal cord and gives structural support

Periosteal layer

layer connected to the inside of skull bones

Meningeal layer

not in contact of bone, separates from periosteal layer and dips into falx cerebri fissures

superior sagittal sinus

space between periosteal and meningeal layer

• Main vein that drains the brain

• Where deoxygenated blood is collected from brain tissue

• Last place were CSF goes, and travels up arachnoid granulations

arachnoid matter

spider web like layer, superior to subarachnoid space

subarachnoid space

connects arachnoid matter to pia matter; where CSF flows

pia matter

very thin meninges layer and sticks to every crevice (gyrus + sulcus+ fissures)

Falx cerebri

connected of two dura mater layers that drops down into longitudinal layers

Longitudinal layer

• keep left and right sides of brain separated

• Provides structural support to brain

• Connects brain to skull

ependymal cells

Creates CSF, get rid of waste, and filters blood

Conus medullaris

lowest tip of the spinal cord, ending

Cauda equina

bundle of nerve roots extending from bottom of spinal cord

Filum terminale

Helps keep spinal cord in position, prevents it from curling up; ligament like structure that connects conus medullaris all the way to the base of sacrum

Proprioception

sensory input from muscle and joints; Tells brain and cerebellum the length of muscles, all the muscles, tension the muscles/joints are under

Muscle spindle

detects stretch of a muscle

supraoptic nucleus

produces and releases ADH (antidiuretic hormone) and oxytocin