Brain Structure and Development

Flashcards covering the major anatomical divisions of the human brain, prenatal neural development stages, and concepts of postnatal neuroplasticity.

Gray matter

The inner component of the brain primarily consisting of cell bodies.

White matter

The outer area of the brain mainly consisting of myelinated axons.

Sulcus

A small groove on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Gyrus

A convolution or ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Fissure

A major groove in the surface of the brain.

Telencephalon

A subdivision of the forebrain that includes the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system.

Diencephalon

A subdivision of the forebrain containing the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Mesencephalon

The major division known as the midbrain, consisting of the tectum and tegmentum.

Metencephalon

A subdivision of the hindbrain containing the cerebellum and pons.

Myelencephalon

A subdivision of the hindbrain containing the medulla oblongata.

Frontal Lobe

The lobe containing the primary motor cortex.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe containing the primary sensory cortex.

Temporal Lobe

The lobe containing the primary auditory cortex.

Occipital Lobe

The lobe containing the primary visual cortex.

Sensory association cortex

Regions adjacent to the primary sensory areas that analyze information received from the primary sensory cortex.

Limbic System

A group of brain structures including the hippocampus, amygdala, fornix, and mammillary bodies.

Basal Ganglia

A group of structures including the caudate nucleus, the putamen, and the globus pallidus.

Striatum

A structure in the basal ganglia composed of the caudate and the putamen.

Thalamus

A part of the diencephalon that includes the lateral geniculate nuclei and medial geniculate nuclei.

Hypothalamus

A structure that controls sleeping, reproductive behavior, and eating, and regulates the pituitary gland.

Tectum

The dorsal part of the mesencephalon containing the superior and inferior colliculi.

Substantia Nigra

A part of the tegmentum important in movement control; its degeneration is part of Parkinson's disease.

Cerebellum

A structure in the metencephalon involved with balance.

Pons

A structure in the metencephalon involved with sleep and arousal.

Neural plate

The layer originating from the back of the embryo approximately $3$ weeks after conception that develops into the neural tube.

Stem cells

Cells of the neural plate that are totipotent, meaning they can self-replicate and differentiate into any mature cell type.

Neural tube

The hollow tube formed on day $28$ of embryonic development from which the brain and spinal cord develop.

Ventricular zone

The center of the neural tube where neural proliferation occurs.

Progenitor cells

Original cells in the ventricular zone that undergo symmetrical and asymmetrical division.

Radial glial cell

The first type of brain cell produced by asymmetrical division, featuring long extensions used for neuron migration.

Apoptosis

The active process of programmed cell death where cell contents are neatly packaged and removed by macroglia.

Somal Translocation

A method of cell migration where an extension grows from the top and the cell body follows while the bottom retracts.

Glia-mediated migration

A radial-only method of migration where neurons follow the extensions of radial glial cells.

Neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons; in adults, this occurs in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus.

Phantom Limbs

A phenomenon where sensations are felt from an amputated limb, resulting from the remapping of the somatosensory cortex.