A&P Chapter 12

At what stage of sleep does the majority of dreaming occur in?

REM sleep

Ascending tracts transmit _________ impulses while descending tracts conduct _________ impulses.

afferent impulses (sensory); efferent impulses (motor)

What structure in the brain is involved in assessing danger and eliciting the fear response?

amygdala

Which brain region would be considered the most crucial for survival? (Hint: the most basic survival functions). List the 3 main structural components of this region.

brain stem (composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata)

Name the 4 regions of the adult brain.

brain stem, cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon

What brain region is the site of our conscious mind? Is it composed of white or grey matter?

cerebral cortex (site of conscious mind); contains grey matter

Define "decussation"

crossing of the pathways

What brain region could be called the "thermostat" of the body because it regulates temperature?

hypothalamic region

What functional system in the brain is also known as our "emotional brain?"

limbic system

Define gyrus, sulcus, and fissure.

ridges; shallow grooves; deep grooves(deep sulci)

Why is the blood-brain barrier ineffective against alcohol?

selective barrier; barrier is absent in some areas (like the hypothalamus where it is necessary to monitor the chemical composition of the blood)

True or false: Delta brain waves are clinical evidence of death.

False

Around which vertebra does the spinal cord end?

L1 or L2 Vertebra

Describe the basic organization of the spinal cord (location of grey/white matter)

The gray matter of the cord is located in its core, the white mater outside

What motor functions does the cerebellum serve?

fine tunes motor skills (precise)

Define "paralysis" and "paresthesia"

loss of motor function; sensory loss

Which brain structure secretes melatonin? What is the primary role of melatonin?

the pineal gland in the epithalamus; (melatonin) helps regulate sleep-wake cycle

True or false: All neurons in the cerebral cortex are interneurons.

true

True or false: Long-term memory is essentially limitless.

true