SLHS 450 Exam 1

Frontal Lobe Location

Anterior to the central sulcus.

Frontal Lobe Function

Plans and controls movement, executive functions, expressive language, and speech production.

Frontal Lobe (If disrupted)

Cognitive communication disorder, motor speech disorder (dysarthria), swallowing disorder (dysphagia) and broca's aphasia.

Prefrontal Cortex Location

Anterior frontal lobe

Prefrontal Cortex Function

Executive function & social communication

Prefrontal Cortex (if disrupted)

Cognitive communication disorder

Motor Cortex Location

Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus), premotor cortex, supplemental motor area (SMA)

Motor Cortex Function

Planning & sequencing of voluntary movement for speech & swallowing

Motor Cortex (If Disrupted)

Voluntary movement for speech and swallowing, motor speech disorder (dysarthria), and swallowing disorder (Dysphagia).

Broca's Area Location

Left inferior frontal gyrus

Brocas Area Function

Verbal expression & speech production

Broca's Area (if disrupted)

Aphasia (expressive or nonfluent)

Parietal Lobe Location

Posterior to the central sulcus and superior to the Sylvian fissure.

Parietal Lobe Function

Processes sensory information, supports awareness of the body and environment, and provides feedback to support movement.

Parietal Lobe (if disrupted)

Impaired communication (reading, writing, and understanding of spatial language) & swallowing (safe, coordinated swallowing & bolus).

Primary Sensory Cortex Location

Post-central gyrus

Primary Sensory Cortex Function

Touch, pressure & position in space

Primary Sensory Cortex (if disrupted)

Difficulty with sensory awareness, reading/writing, and swallowing feedback

Temporal Lobe Location

Inferior to the Sylvian fissure and anterior to the occipital lobe.

Temporal Lobe Function

Processes sound supports language comprehension

Temporal Lobe (if disrupted)

Central auditory processing disorder, cortical deafness, auditory agnosia & aphasia (receptive or fluent).

Primary Auditory Cortex Location

Hshl's gyrus (transverse temporal gyrus)

Primary Auditory Cortex Function

Process auditory information

Primary Auditory Cortex (if disrupted)

CAPD: cortical deafness, auditory agnosia

Wernicke's Area Location

Posterior ⅓ of the left superior temporal gyrus

Wernicke's Area Function

Auditory processing for language

Wernicke's Area (If disrupted)

Receptive or fluent aphasia

Occipital Lobe Location

Posterior cortex

Occipital Lobe Function

Processes visual information

Occipital Lobe (if disrupted)

Impair reading and visual recognition

Primary Visual Cortex Location

Medial portion of the occipital lobe

Primary Visual Cortex Function

Vision processing

Primary Visual Cortex (if disrupted)

Impair reading and visual recognition

Insula Location

Deep within the sylvian fissure

Insula Function

Multisensory integration and regulation (motor, emotion, auditory, and somatosensory integration).

Insula (if disrupted)

Apraxia (motor planning & coordination), Prosody & emotion (internal body states), affective processing (emotional tone).

Basal Ganglia Location

Deep and medial portion of the brain

Basal Ganglia Function

Regulates movement (smooth, initiate, stop)

Basal Ganglia (if disrupted)

Speech production disruption and dysarthria; too much movement (involuntary) or too little movement (rigidity, slow)

Limbic System Location

Medial brain (ring-like)

Limbic System Function

Emotion and memory

Limbic System (if disrupted)

Changes in emotional tone, shifting attention, memory for stories, past events, emotional memory, and recognizing facial expression.

Thalamus Location

Above the brainstem

Thalamus Function

Sensory relay between systems

Thalamus (if disrupted)

Disruption in communication between systems

Brainstem Location

Base of the brain

Brainstem Function

Controls basic life functions, reflexive swallowing, and cranial nerve control.

Brainstem (if disrupted)

Severe swallowing and breathing difficulty, movement difficulty (dysarthria), and loss of basic reflexes.

Spinal Cord Location

Inside the spinal column (base of the brainstem down the back)

Spinal Cord Function

Carries signals between the brain and body, supports reflexes, posture, and breathing for speech (spinal nerves).

Spinal Cord (if disrupted)

Paralysis, weakness, and can reduce breath support for speech.

Cerebellum Location

Back of the brain, below the occipital lobe

Cerebellum Function

Coordinates movement (timing, accuracy, balance)

Cerebellum (if disrupted)

Uncoordinated speech movements (ataxic dysarthria), poor timing of movements, or difficulty coordinating swallowing.

Skull Location

Surrounds brain

Skull Function

Protects the brain from injury

Skull (if disrupted)

Increased risk of damage to brain structures

Meninges Location

Layers surrounding the brain (dura, arachnoid, pia).

Meninges Function

Protect and stabilize the brain

Meninges (if disrupted)

Meningitis, bleeding/hematoma creates pressure, disrupted signaling

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Location

Around the brain and spinal cord

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Function

Cushions the brain, reduces weight, maintains chemical balance, and removes waste

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) (if disrupted)

Pressure changes, system-wide disruption, intracranial hypotension (lower pressure inside the skull, CSF leak), or hydrocephalus (excess CSF, increased pressure affecting multiple systems)

Ventricles Location

Fluid-filled spaces in the brain (2 lateral, third, fourth).

Ventricles Function

Circulates cerebral spinal fluid, providing space for the brain to swell

Ventricles (if disrupted)

Disruption leads to pressure changes (hypotension, hydrocephalus)