CNS & Structure & Function

Wernicke’s area

language

comprehension;

concept of words

originates here

Frontal lobe

Anterior portion of each hemisphere; voluntary motor control, judgement, inhibition, decision making, personality

Parietal lobe

processes somesthetic and proprioceptive information; interpretation of textures and shapes; understand speech

Temporal lobe

Auditory centers; interpretation of auditory sensations and storage of auditory experiences

Occipital lobe

vision & coordination of

eye movements;

correlation of visual

images with previous

experiences; conscious

perception of vision

Amygdala

Helps link emotions to

memories; especially

memory of fear

responses

Corpus Callosum

Allows the right and left

cerebral hemispheres

to communicate;

composed of 200

million fibers (axons)

Reticular Activating

System (RAS)

keeps cortex in alert

state; fibers run through

brainstem, thalamus, and

hypothalamus; activity of

neurons promotes

wakefulness & inhibition

of neurons promotes sleep

Hypothalamus

regulates water

balance, body temp,

hunger… homeostasis;

links ANS and

endocrine systems

Brain Stem

(Midbrain, Pons,

Medulla)

contains vital control

centers - respiratory,

cardiac, and vasomotor

centers

Limbic System

Nuclei and fiber tracts

that form a ring around

brain stem; emotional,

visceral brain

Broca’s area

speech production;

someone with an

aphasia in this area

would have slow

speech that is poorly

articulated

Cerebellum

Receives input from

proprioceptors & works

with basal nuclei and

motor cortex to

coordinate movement

(balance &

coordination)

Hippocampus

Maintains recent

memories & helps

convert short-term to

long-term memory

(memory consolidation)

Prefrontal Cortex

Portion of the frontal

lobe that is involved in

complex problem

solving; planning;

inhibition of

inappropriate actions

Somatosensory

Cortex

Portion of parietal lobe

(behind central sulcus);

primary area

responsible for

perception of

sensations (cutaneous

& proprioceptive)

Primary Motor Cortex

Portion of frontal lobe

(in front of central

sulcus); primarily

responsible for muscle

regulation (upper motor

neurons)

Spinal Cord

contains ascending &

descending tracts;

connects afferent &

efferent information

Thalamus

Gray matter within the

cerebrum; relay center

for sensory into to cortex

Cerebral Cortex

outer 2 - 4 mm of

cerebral hemispheres -

responsible for

consciousness,

perception, voluntary

movement & is

contralateral

Basal Nuclei

Masses of gray matter

located deep within

cerebrum; Monitors

voluntary movement,

inhibits unwanted

movement