Brain Anatomy Flashcards

Flashcards for key vocabulary and concepts related to brain anatomy and cerebrospinal fluid circulation.

Cerebellum

A major region of the brain responsible for coordination and balance.

Cerebral aqueduct

A passageway for cerebrospinal fluid from the third to the fourth ventricle.

Cerebral peduncle

Bundles of axons that connect the cerebrum to the brainstem.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain responsible for higher brain functions.

Corpora quadrigemina

A structure located in the midbrain involved in visual and auditory reflexes.

Corpus callosum

The structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Fornix

A C-shaped bundle of nerve fibers in the brain.

Fourth ventricle

A cavity located between the brainstem and the cerebellum that contains cerebrospinal fluid.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain that regulates many autonomic functions, such as temperature.

Medulla oblongata

The part of the brain that controls vital life functions, such as respiration and heart rate.

Olfactory bulb

A structure involved in the sense of smell.

Optic chiasma

The crossing of optic nerve fibers in the brain.

Pineal gland

A small gland that produces melatonin, regulating sleep-wake cycles.

Pituitary gland

The master gland of the endocrine system that controls other hormone glands.

Pons

A structure in the brainstem that relays signals between different parts of the brain.

Sagittal (longitudinal) fissure

The groove that separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Spinal cord

The central nervous system structure that runs down the vertebral column.

Thalamus

The brain region that organizes all sensory information, except for smell.

Intermediate mass of thalamus

A small bridge of gray matter that connects the two thalamic lobes.

Septum pellucidum

The thin membrane that separates the lateral ventricles.

CSF Circulation

Cerebrospinal fluid pathway: lateral ventricle -> third ventricle -> cerebral aqueduct -> fourth ventricle -> subarachnoid space -> reabsorbed into veins.