Brain Anatomy

how is the human brain different to most others

lots of additional material which is highly folded to fit

are humans born developmentally young compared to other species

yes

why are humans born developmentally young compared to other species

because of bipedalism

what is a gyrus/gyri

a smooth 'ridge' of the brain

what is a sulcus/sulci

the grooves/crevices in the brain

what three brain segments are present in all animal brains

forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain

what is used to scan the brain and diagnose

MRI, can be used to detect areas of brain activity

white vs grey matter meaning

white have myelinated sheaths

where is grey matter in the brain

cerebral cortex, in cerebellum, on the inner of the brain stem

where is white matter in the brain

within the cerebrum, outer of brain stem

cerebellum location

the base of the brain, next to brain stem

cerebellum function

coordinates movement and balance

what is the medial longitudinal fissure

separates the left and right hemispheres of the brain

corpus callosum location and function

connects the left and right hemispheres and allows for communication between

frontal lobe location and function

front of the brain, controls conscious thought and higher processing

parietal lobe location and function

behind frontal, mostly controls sensation

occipital lobe location and function

back of the brain, processes sight

temporal lobe location and function

bottom of brain beneath parietal lobe, processes auditory information and location of hippocampus

hippocampus function

processing and storing memory

central sulcus location and function

separates the frontal and parietal lobes

lateral sulcus location and function

separates the temporal lobe from the parietal and frontal

precentral gyrus location

anterior to central sulcus

precentral gyrus function

primary motor area

postcentral gyrus location

posterior to central sulcus

postcentral gyrus function

primary somatosensory (sensation) area

midbrain location

between thalamus and pons

midbrain function

process vision and sound, control movements (especially eyes)

pons location

between midbrain and medulla oblongata

pons function

connects cerebrum and cerebellum

medulla oblongata location

between pons and spinal cord

medulla oblongata function

regulates breathing, heart rate and blood pressure

what are the foramen of Luschka and foramen of Magendie and their function

holes that allow the passage of CSF

what are cerebral meninges

the space between brain mass and the skull where CSF exists

what are the 3 components make up the cerebral meninges

dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

what is the dura mater

hard outer of meninges

what is the arachnoid mater

middle layer of the meninges, web like

what is the pia mater

delicate inner layer of meninges that clings to the brain

what are the two main arteries that supply the brain

internal carotid and vertebral

the internal carotid artery is _ to the vertebral

anterior

what brain structures does the carotid artery mainly supply

the cerebrum and cerebral cortex

what brain structures does the vertebral artery mainly supply

the brainstem

which arteries make up the circle of willis

the carotid and vertebral

what are the three branches of the circle of willis that supply the brain with blood

anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries

what is meant by the decussation of the pyramids

this is where neurons and fibres cross to the opposite side in the medulla, meaning that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body