Brain, Sensory Pathways, ANS & Special Senses Flashcards

Chapter 32 - Brain and Cranial Nerves

Cerebral Lobes: There are four cerebral lobes in the brain.
Occipital Lobe: Processes vision.
Precentral Gyrus: Located in the frontal lobe.
Postcentral Gyrus: Contains the primary somatosensory cortex.
Hemispheric Lateralization: Refers to the functional specialization of each hemisphere.
Left Hemisphere: Handles analytical tasks such as math and logic.
Cerebellum: Has two lobes with folds called folia.
Cerebral Medulla: White matter of the cerebellum.
Third Ventricle: Lies in the diencephalon, specifically within the thalamus.
Thalamus: Relays sensory information to the somatosensory cortex.
Superior Colliculi: Process visual reflexes in the midbrain.
Oculomotor Nerve: Is a mixed cranial nerve.
Alpha Waves: Recorded in resting adults with eyes closed.
Corpus Callosum: Contains commissural fibers.

Posterior Column: Includes fasciculus cuneatus and fasciculus gracilis.
Somatic Sensory Pathways: Utilize three neurons; the secondary neuron decussates.
Spinocerebellar Pathway: Does not project to the somatosensory cortex; it carries only proprioceptive data to the cerebellum.
Fasciculus Cuneatus: Carries touch and pressure sensory information from the upper body.
Primary Neurons: Deliver sensory input to the CNS.
Lateral Pathway: Handles 75% of motor traffic; includes the pyramidal tract.
Voluntary Skeletal Movement: Controlled by the corticospinal tract.
Rubrospinal Tract: Belongs to the lateral pathway.
'Spino' Tracts: Carry information to the CNS.
'Spinal' Tracts: Carry information from the CNS.
Exteroceptors: Located near the body surface.
Lower Motor Neuron: Directly synapses on skeletal muscle effectors.

Effectors of the ANS: Include smooth muscle, glands, and cardiac muscle.
Sympathetic Division: Functions during stress (fight or flight).
Parasympathetic Division: Uses acetylcholine at both preganglionic and postganglionic synapses.
ANS Divisions & Acetylcholine: Both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions use acetylcholine at preganglionic synapses.
Sympathetic Neuron Length: Sympathetic division has short preganglionic and long postganglionic neurons.
Ganglionic Neuron: Innervates the effector organ.
Sympathetic Ganglia: Sympathetic division uses chain, collateral, and adrenal medullae ganglia.
Parasympathetic Nerves: Include cranial and sacral spinal nerves.
Intramural Ganglia: Synapse directly inside the target organ.
Memory Consolidation: The process of converting short-term memory to long-term memory.

Photoreceptors: Located in the retina, responsible for vision.
Sclera and Cornea: The sclera gives rise to the cornea, forming the outermost layer of the eye.
Cones: Retinal cells that detect color.
Inner Ear: The cochlea and vestibule are 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.