Brain and Cranial Nerves – Chapter 14 Review

A comprehensive set of 110 question-and-answer flashcards covering brain regions, development, protection, functional systems, cortical areas, brain waves, hemispheric differences, and all 12 cranial nerves.

What percentage of the body’s nervous tissue is contained in the adult human brain?

About 97 percent.

What is the average weight of an adult human brain?

Approximately 1.4 kg (3 lb).

Which brain region is the largest part of the adult brain and controls higher mental functions?

The cerebrum.

What surface layer of gray matter covers the cerebrum?

The cerebral cortex.

Which structures increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex?

Gyri (rounded elevations).

What shallow depressions separate adjacent gyri?

Sulci.

What are the deep grooves in the cerebral cortex called?

Fissures.

Which brain region coordinates repetitive body movements?

The cerebellum.

What gray-matter layer covers the cerebellum?

The cerebellar cortex.

Which diencephalic structure relays and processes sensory information?

The thalamus.

Which diencephalic structure regulates emotions, autonomic function, and hormone production?

The hypothalamus.

What endocrine gland is connected to the hypothalamus by the infundibulum?

The pituitary gland.

Name the three major parts of the brainstem.

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Which brainstem region processes sight and sound and helps maintain consciousness?

The midbrain.

Which structure connects the cerebellum to the brainstem and contains relay centers?

The pons.

Which brainstem region regulates autonomic functions such as heart rate and blood pressure?

The medulla oblongata.

During embryonic development, which three primary brain vesicles form at the rostral end of the neural tube?

Prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon.

Which secondary brain vesicle gives rise to the cerebrum?

The telencephalon.

Which secondary brain vesicle forms the cerebellum and pons?

The metencephalon.

Which secondary brain vesicle forms the medulla oblongata?

The myelencephalon.

How many lateral ventricles are located within the cerebrum?

Two (one in each hemisphere).

Through which opening does each lateral ventricle communicate with the third ventricle?

The interventricular foramen.

What narrow channel connects the third and fourth ventricles?

The cerebral aqueduct.

List the main physical structures that protect the brain.

Cranial bones, cranial meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Name the three meningeal layers in order from superficial to deep.

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Which dural fold projects between the cerebral hemispheres?

The falx cerebri.

Which dural fold separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum?

The tentorium cerebelli.

Which space filled with CSF lies between arachnoid mater and pia mater?

The subarachnoid space.

Give three major functions of cerebrospinal fluid.

Supports the brain, cushions neural structures, and transports nutrients/chemical messengers/wastes.

Approximately how much CSF is produced each day by the choroid plexus?

About 500 mL per day.

Through what apertures does CSF leave the fourth ventricle to enter the subarachnoid space?

Two lateral apertures and one median aperture.

What structures absorb CSF into the venous circulation?

Arachnoid granulations (clusters of arachnoid villi).

Which arteries deliver most of the brain’s blood supply?

The internal carotid and vertebral arteries.

What term describes a loss of blood flow that causes neurons to die within minutes?

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

What barrier isolates the CNS from general circulation?

The blood–brain barrier (BBB).

Which glial cells regulate the permeability of the blood–brain barrier?

Astrocytes.

Name two brain regions where the BBB is naturally absent or reduced.

Hypothalamus and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (others include pineal gland and choroid plexus).

Which three functional groups of nuclei are found in the medulla oblongata?

Visceral control nuclei, sensory and motor cranial-nerve nuclei, and relay stations.

Which centers in the medulla set the basic pace for breathing?

Respiratory rhythmicity centers.

Which medullary centers regulate heart rate and blood vessel diameter?

Cardiac and vasomotor centers.

Which cranial nerves have nuclei located in the medulla oblongata?

VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII.

Where do somatic sensory tracts cross to the opposite side within the medulla?

At the decussation of the pyramids.

Which pontine nuclei adjust the output of the respiratory rhythmicity centers?

The apneustic and pneumotaxic centers.

What are transverse pontine fibers?

Axons that link pontine nuclei with the opposite cerebellar hemisphere.

Name the two pairs of sensory nuclei that form the tectum of the midbrain.

Superior colliculi (visual) and inferior colliculi (auditory).

Which dark, pigmented midbrain structure is rich in dopamine-releasing neurons?

The substantia nigra.

Which midbrain structure with many blood vessels aids in motor control?

The red nucleus.

What nerve-fiber bundles on the midbrain’s ventrolateral surface carry descending motor commands?

The cerebral peduncles.

What narrow band of cortex separates the cerebellar hemispheres?

The vermis.

What cerebellar lobe is important for balance and lies above the fourth ventricle?

The flocculonodular lobe.

What name is given to the highly branched cerebellar white matter?

Arbor vitae (tree of life).

What large, branched neurons populate the cerebellar cortex?

Purkinje cells.

Define ataxia.

A disturbance in muscular coordination caused by cerebellar damage.

Which tracts connect the cerebellum to the rest of the brain?

The superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles.

Which epithalamic gland secretes melatonin?

The pineal gland.

Which thalamic nuclei are part of the limbic system and influence emotions?

Anterior nuclei.

Which thalamic nuclei provide awareness of emotional states?

Medial nuclei.

Which thalamic bodies relay visual and auditory information?

Lateral geniculate body (visual) and medial geniculate body (auditory).

What are mammillary bodies responsible for?

Reflex eating movements.

What stalk connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?

The infundibulum.

Name two hormones secreted by the hypothalamus.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin.

Which hypothalamic region regulates body temperature?

The pre-optic area.

Which hypothalamic nucleus acts as the master circadian clock?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Which hypothalamic centers drive hunger and thirst?

The feeding center and thirst center (satiety center regulates food intake).

State three major functional roles of the limbic system.

Establishes emotional states, links conscious cortex with autonomic functions, and facilitates memory storage and retrieval.

List four parts of the limbic lobe.

Cingulate gyrus, dentate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and hippocampus.

Which limbic structure is key for fear, aggression, and linking emotions to memories?

The amygdaloid body (amygdala).

What white-matter tract connects the hippocampus to the hypothalamus?

The fornix.

Which part of the brain is responsible for all conscious thoughts?

The cerebrum.

What fissure separates the two cerebral hemispheres?

The longitudinal cerebral fissure.

Which sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

The central sulcus.

Which gyrus contains the primary motor cortex?

The precentral gyrus.

Which gyrus contains the primary somatosensory cortex?

The postcentral gyrus.

What sulcus separates the temporal lobe from the frontal lobe?

The lateral sulcus.

What small lobe of cortex lies deep to the lateral sulcus?

The insula.

Which short association fibers connect one gyrus to another?

Arcuate fibers.

What large commissural tract connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

The corpus callosum.

What term describes the collection of all ascending and descending projection fibers through the diencephalon?

The internal capsule.

Name the major components of the basal nuclei.

Caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and claustrum.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease result from increased activity of which structures?

The basal nuclei.

What are the neurons of the primary motor cortex called?

Pyramidal cells.

Which cortical area receives visual input?

The visual cortex in the occipital lobe.

Which cortical area receives auditory input?

The auditory cortex in the temporal lobe.

Which cortical area receives olfactory information?

The olfactory cortex.

Which cortical area receives taste information?

The gustatory cortex.

Which association area coordinates learned motor activities?

The premotor cortex (somatic motor association area).

Which association area interprets touch sensation?

The somatosensory association cortex.

Which cortical region is essential for language comprehension?

Wernicke’s area (general interpretive area).

Which cortical region regulates speech production?

Broca’s area (motor speech area).

Which part of the frontal lobe performs abstract intellectual functions such as predicting consequences?

The prefrontal cortex.

What term describes functional differences between the cerebral hemispheres?

Hemispheric lateralization.

Which hemisphere is usually dominant for language and analytical tasks?

The left cerebral hemisphere.

Which hemisphere specializes in spatial analysis and recognizing emotional tone?

The right cerebral hemisphere.

What instrument records electrical activity of the brain?

An electroencephalogram (EEG).

Which brain waves are seen in relaxed, awake adults with eyes closed?

Alpha waves.

Which brain waves accompany intense mental concentration?

Beta waves.

Which brain waves are common in children and frustrated adults?

Theta waves.

Which brain waves are characteristic of deep sleep?

Delta waves.

How many pairs of cranial nerves arise from the brain?

Twelve pairs.

Which cranial nerve (I) is responsible for the sense of smell?

The olfactory nerve.