CSDS 172: Exam 1 - Part 2

The central nervous system consists of two structures

Brain

Spinal Cord

Frontal lobe location

extends from the frontal pole (most anterior part of brain) back to the central fissure (Rolandic fissure), and downward to lateral fissure (Sylvian fissure).

Parietal Lobe location

bounded anteriorly by the central sulcus, inferiorly by the posterior end of the lateral sulcus, and posteriorly by an imaginary border line from the parieto-occipital sulcus extending to the preoccipital notch.

Extends downward to the temporal lobe from which it also does not have a clear separation.

Temporal Lobe location

underneath the lateral fissure extending forward from the occipital lobe to the frontal lobe.

Occipital Lobe location

at the most posterior portion of the brain.

bordered by the parietal and temporal lobes and extends backward to the occipital pole (most posterior part of the brain).

Frontal lobe function

thinking, planning, & central executive functions

motor execution

Parietal lobe function

somatosensory perception integration of visual & somatic spatial information

Temporal lobe function

language function and auditory perception involved in long term memory and emotion

Occipital lobe function

visual perception and processing

Define Central sulcus

divides the posterior and anterior (Frontal and Parietal lobe) part of the brain - goes through the motor strip

Define lateral sulcus

divides the frontal and temporal lobes

Define Prefrontal lobe

contributes to complex cognitive functions such as reasoning, abstract thinking, self-monitoring, decision making, planning, and pragmatic behaviors

Define Premotor regions of the frontal lobe

This area is located anterior to the primary motor cortex?

Define motor cortex

this area is responsible for voluntary control of skeletal muscles on the contralateral side of the body.

Define Third frontal convolution

inferior frontal gyri?

Define Primary sensory cortex

postcentral gyrus?

Define Angular gyrus

lies near the superior edge of the temporal lobe, and immediately posterior to the supramarginal gyrus

Attributed to reading

Supramarginal gyrus

second prominent gyrus-Brodmann area 40

attributed to writing

Suprior, middle, inferior gyrus

three large horizontal gyri in the frontal lobe (also referred to as first, second, and third frontal convolution)

Difference between a “dominant” and “nondominant” hemisphere

A "dominant" hemisphere refers to the side of the brain that is primarily responsible for a specific function, usually language processing,

The "nondominant" hemisphere is the other side of the brain which takes on more specialized roles like spatial awareness and emotional processing

for most people, the left hemisphere is dominant and the right hemisphere is nondominant, particularly for right-handed individuals.

Language areas are larger!

importance of the corpus callosum to speech and language functions, especially in light of the research conducted with split-brain patients.

The surgery also provided information on the differing psychological functions of each hemisphere and on the role of the corpus callosum in the brain mechanisms for speech and language.

The split-brain patients clearly showed asymmetry for speech and language functions.

The findings suggest that the corpus callosum plays a decisive role in transmitting language heard in the right ear to the left hemisphere.

Language is processed in the dominant hemisphere by the major mechanisms for speech and language.

Three major divisions in the cortical areas

Primary motor projection areas

Primary sensory reception areas

Association areas

Primary function of Primary motor projection areas

voluntary movement patterns are initiated

serves as a source of descending motor pathways, projecting to lower levels of the nervous system

Primary function of Primary sensory reception areas

registers impulses relayed from the periphery to the thalamus and upward to the cortex (ex: Heschl’s gyrus in the superior temporal lobe)

Primary function of Association areas

covers 86% of the cortex

elaborate information received at the primary motor and sensory areas

Adds meaning and significance to the sensory or motor information received in the primary motor or sensory areas

Three main association areas that comprise the association cortex

Prefrontal Cortex (associated with higher cognitive functions like decision-making, planning, and problem-solving)

Parietal-Temporal-Occipital Association Cortex (involved in integrating sensory information and spatial awareness)

Limbic Association Cortex (related to emotions, memory, and motivation)

Uncinate fasciculus location

white matter tract in the brain that connects the anterior temporal lobe to the orbitofrontal cortex

Occipital-frontal fasciculus location

located in the white matter and passes from the occipital lobe to frontal lobe

Inferior longitudinal fasciculus location

pathway that is located passing from the temporal lobe to the occipital cortex

Superior longitudinal fasciculus

a while matter tract that connects the parietal, frontal, and temporal lobes

Arcuate fasciculus location

white matter tract that connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area

Define Calcarine sulcus

a groove located on the occipital lobe of brain that houses the visual cortex

Define cingulate gyrus

a limbic-cortical structure (midsagittal) that has emotional, somatic, and autonomic functions. It begins with the anterior subcallosal area and arches back to the junction with the parahippocampal gyrus

Define Corpus callosum

Massive bundle of axonal fibers that interconnects the cortex of the two cerebral hemispheres

Define fornix

Bundle of nerve fibers that mediates two way connections among hypothalamus, septum, and hippocampus, it's important for respiration, phonation, and digestion

Define hypothalamus

Major diencephalic structure beneath the thalamus that secretes hormones and regulates feeding, fighting, and sexual behavior

Define thalamus

Major diencephalic structure on either side of the third ventricle that is important in sensorimotor integration and projection to the cortex

Define septum

(septum pellucidum) thin membrane that divides the lateral ventricles

Limbic system location

part of the cortex that is located on the medial surfaces of the two hemispheres. It is shaped in an arch-like way, and is surrounded by non convoluted central portions.

Primary function of limbic system

responsible for the rhinencephalon, or also called the smell brain.

Three main parts of the basal ganglia -referred to as the striatum

Caudate nucleus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Primary function of the basal ganglia

help regulate and control motor movements and muscle tone

Primary function of cerebellum

provides fine coordination to the movements of the body and appears to play a particularly key role in coordinating the extremely rapid and precise movements needed for the normal articulation of speech

Location of medulla oblongata

It is a rounded bulge that is an enlargement of the upper spinal cord. It contains descending tracts plus the nuclei of several of the nerves

Function of medulla oblongata

control phonation, velopharyngeal closure, swallowing and articulation

extremely important for the control of speech production

Pons location

Lies just above the medulla in the neuraxis. It is a massive round structure that serves in part as a connection to the hemispheres of the cerebellum. Bridge to the cerebellum.

Mesencephalon (midbrain) location

It is located above the pons, and it is the “narrowest” part of the brainstem.

The inferior colliculi serve as way stations in the central auditory nervous system, and the superior colliculi are way stations in the visual nervous system.

The base of the midbrain also contains the substantia nigra

Function of mesencephalon

plays a key role in motor control by sending dopaminergic efferent fibers to the striatum

Location of diencephalon

a double oval structure located above the midbrain, is made up of two structures, the thalamus and the hypothalamus, and is almost completely hidden from the surface of the brain

Function of diencephalon

The thalamus integrates sensation in the nervous system, the hypothalamus forms part of the third ventricle.

Location of the reticular system

Running throughout the entire length of the brain stem is a diffuse mass of gray matter called the reticular activating system.

Net-like structure.

Comprised of a small group of reticular formation neurons

Function of reticular system

plays a role in consciousness

the sleep/wake system