Brain, Sensory Pathways, ANS & Special Senses Flashcards

Flashcards for Brain, Sensory Pathways, ANS & Special Senses review.

Occipital Lobe

Processes vision.

Precentral Gyrus

Located in the frontal lobe.

Postcentral Gyrus

Contains the primary somatosensory cortex.

Hemispheric Lateralization

Functional specialization of each hemisphere.

Left Hemisphere

Handles analytical tasks like math and logic.

Cerebellum Folia

Folds on the lobes of the cerebellum.

Cerebral Medulla

White matter of the cerebellum.

Third Ventricle

Lies in the diencephalon, specifically the thalamus.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to the somatosensory cortex.

Superior Colliculi

Process visual reflexes in the midbrain.

Oculomotor Nerve

A mixed cranial nerve.

Corpus Callosum

Contains commissural fibers.

Posterior Column

Includes fasciculus cuneatus and gracilis.

Somatic Sensory Pathways

Use 3 neurons; the secondary neuron decussates.

Spinocerebellar Pathway

Does not project to the somatosensory cortex; carries only proprioceptive data to the cerebellum.

Fasciculus Cuneatus

Carries touch/pressure from the upper body.

Primary Neurons

Deliver sensory input to the CNS.

Lateral Pathway

Handles 75% of motor traffic (pyramidal tract); includes the rubrospinal tract.

Corticospinal Tract

Controls voluntary skeletal movement.

'Spino' tracts

Carry information to the CNS.

'Spinal' tracts

Carry information from the CNS.

Exteroceptors

Located near the body surface.

Lower Neuron

Directly synapses on skeletal muscle effectors.

ANS Effectors

Include smooth muscle, glands, and cardiac muscle.

Sympathetic Division

Functions during stress (fight or flight); uses short preganglionic and long postganglionic neurons; uses chain, collateral, and adrenal medullae ganglia.

Parasympathetic Division

Uses acetylcholine at both synapses; nerves include cranial and sacral spinal nerves; uses intramural ganglia (synapse directly inside the target organ).

Memory Consolidation

The process of converting short-term to long-term memory.

Photoreceptors

In the retina are responsible for vision.

Sclera

Gives rise to the cornea (outermost eye layer).

Cones

Retinal cells that detect color.

Cochlea and Vestibule

Found in the inner ear.

Light Refraction

Occurs mainly via the cornea and lens.

Superior Rectus Muscle

Innervated by the oculomotor nerve.

Fovea Centralis

The region with the highest visual acuity and dense cone concentration.