lect 14 pt 1

What does the brain do with sensory information?

Processes and integrates information from and to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Coordinates an appropriate motor output.

What other functions does the brain regulate?

Bodily functions that maintain the body. Drives such as eating, sleeping, and wakefulness.

What are higher brain functions?

Reasoning, speech, creativity, curiosity, and dreaming.

Are higher brain functions unique to humans?

No. Other animals, especially mammals, can demonstrate reasoning, communication, creativity, curiosity, and dreaming.

What was Aristotle’s idea of the “higher functions”?

Humans were considered the pinnacle of life because their brains allowed advanced abilities that supposedly distinguished them from other animals.

What is the neural tube?

An early, hollow tube of the embryonic central nervous system extending from the cranial to the caudal end.

When does the neural tube form, and why is it important?

It forms about 1–2 weeks in utero and develops into structures of the central nervous system.

What happens to the neural tube around week 4?

Three swellings develop, forming the three primary brain vesicles.

What are the three primary brain vesicles?

1. Prosencephalon — forebrain.

2. Mesencephalon — midbrain.

3. Rhombencephalon — hindbrain.

What structure continues from the developing brain?

The spinal cord extends from the caudal end.

What happens to the primary brain vesicles around week 5?

The three primary vesicles develop into five secondary brain vesicles.

Which secondary vesicles develop from the prosencephalon?

Telencephalon and diencephalon.

Which secondary vesicle develops from the mesencephalon?

Mesencephalon, which remains the midbrain.

Which secondary vesicles develop from the rhombencephalon?

Metencephalon and myelencephalon.

What are the five secondary brain vesicles in order?

1. Telencephalon,

2. diencephalon,

3. mesencephalon,

4. metencephalon,

5. myelencephalon.

What happens as the secondary brain vesicles continue developing?

Some vesicles grow much larger than others and expand over neighboring structures.

What happens to the telencephalon during development?

It grows dramatically, becoming a large swelling that expands over the diencephalon.

What happens to the metencephalon during development?

It expands considerably and contributes to the structures of the lower brain.

What happens to the myelencephalon as the brain develops?

It remains as the lower portion of the developing brain, leading into the spinal cord.

What does the telencephalon become?

The cerebrum.

What does the diencephalon become?

The thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

What does the mesencephalon become?

The midbrain, including the corpora quadrigemina and its superior and inferior colliculi.

What does the metencephalon become?

The pons and cerebellum.

What does the myelencephalon become?

The medulla oblongata.

When do the major brain structures begin resembling their final arrangement?

The structures are largely present by approximately week 13; by birth, they are larger and more developed.

What structure lies inferior to the brain?

The spinal cord.

What are the two hemispheres of the cerebrum?

The left hemisphere and the right hemisphere.

How many lobes does the cerebrum have?

Five lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula.