Brain

Thalamus

"Gateway to Cerebral Cortex." Major relay station of information. Sends incoming information (except smell) to the proper place in the brain. Transmits information from one part of the brain to another

Cerebellum

"Little brain." Smooths and coordinates movement. This is especially important for being able to carry out complicated movements. Main region that regulates posture and balance. Functions: Monitoring intentions for movement, Monitoring actual movement, Comparing motor signals with sensory feedback, Sending out corrective feedback.

Folia

"leaf"; wrinkle (gyrus) on the surface of the cerebellum. The cortex (skin or rind) consists of three layers of cells - the top molecular layer, the Purkinje layer, and the bottom granular layer - and this cortex covers deeper white matter (interconnecting fibers).

Vermis

"worm"; the median part of the cerebellum, between the two cerebellar hemispheres

Precentral gyrus

(a.k.a. motor strip) is a prominent structure on the surface of the posterior frontal lobe. It is the site of the primary motor cortex

Cerebral Aqueduct of Sylvius

(cerebral aqueduct) connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle, runs dorsal to the pons and ventral to the cerebellum

Longitudinal Fissure

(or cerebral fissure, medial longitudinal fissure, or interhemispheric fissure) is the deep groove that separates the two hemispheres of the vertebrate brain.

Brainstem

3 parts: Medulla oblongata, Pons, Midbrain. Controls many automatic behaviors necessary for survival. Structure that controls consciousness is within it (reticular formation). Contains all the tracts that run between the brain and the spinal cord. 10 of the 12 cranial nerves attach to it

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

Temporal Lobe

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information

Ventricles

CSF-filled cavities system in the brain

Medulla Oblongata

Cardiovascular Center: Rate and force of heart beat, Blood vessel diameter. Medullary Respiratory Center: Adjusts the basic rhythm of breathing. Deals a lot with things that happen at the entry to your trachea and esophagus; Deals with reflexes that involve: Vomiting, Deglutition (swallowing), Sneezing, Coughing, Hiccupping.

Diencephalon

Central core of brain tissue that sits just superior to the midbrain. Surrounded by the cerebral hemispheres. Three parts: Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Epithalamus. Primarily composed of gray matter

Cerebrospinal fluid

Clear, watery fluid that fills the space between the arachnoid and pia mater. Functions in mechanical protection of the brain. Shock-absorber: Allows the brain to "float" in the cranial cavity. Chemical transport: Circulates through the ventricles and subarachnoid space.

Hypothalamus

Homeostasis center. Major controller of autonomic nervous system- visceral activities. Master gland's master- pituitary gland. Feeding, satiety and thirst centers Thermostat. Regulates circadian rhythms. Involved in emotions and basic behavior

Cerebellar Hemisphere

Left and right portions of cerebellum.

Postcentral Sulcus

Lies parallel to, and behind, the central sulcus in the human brain. Divides the postcentral gyrus from the remainder of the parietal lobe.

Precentral Sulcus

Lies parallel to, and in front of, the central sulcus. Divides the inferior, middle and superior frontal gyri from the precentral gyrus.

Pons

Means "bridge." Acts as a bridge between the midbrain and medulla oblongata

Frontal Lobe

Motor cortexes, Speech production, Personality: Decision making, Reasoning, Conscience.

Pineal Gland

Produces melatonin. Involved in setting body's biological clock. Thought to promote sleepiness.

Parietal Lobe

Receives and processes somatosensory input. I.e. input for: Touch, pressure, vibration, itch, tickle, temperature, pain, proprioception, texture

Midbrain

Sits between the pons and diencepahlon. Startle reflex: Reflex that that governs movements of the head, eyes, and trunk in response to visual and auditory stimuli; Tracking moving images; Scanning stationary images (reading).

Epithalamus

Small region superior and posterior to the thalamus.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

Sulcus (Sulci)

a groove or furrow, especially one on the surface of the brain.

Olfactory Bulbs

a neural structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction, the sense of smell. Flow of olfactory information from receptors to glomeruli layer.

Postcentral gyrus

a prominent gyrus in the lateral parietal lobe of the human brain. It is the location of the primary somatosensory cortex, the main sensory receptive area for the sense of touch. Like other sensory areas, there is a map of sensory space in this location, called the sensory homunculus.

Gyrus (Gyri)

a ridge or fold between two clefts on the cerebral surface in the brain.

Infundibulum

alternative names for the pituitary stalk, the connection between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary.

Arbor Vitae

cerebellar white matter, so called for its branched, tree-like appearance. In some ways it more resembles a fern and is present in both cerebellar hemispheres. It brings sensory and motor information to and from the cerebellum.

Interventricular Foramen (2)

connects each lateral ventricle to the central inferior third ventricle

Interthalamic adhesion

in the center of the thalamus. It connects the thalamus in the right and left hemisphere of the brain.

Fourth Ventricle

lies between the brain stem and the cerebellum

Third Ventricle

narrow, slit-like cavity along the midline of the brain, superior to the hypothalamus, sits between the right and left halves of the thalamus

Choroid Plexus

networks of capillaries in the walls of the ventricles; produces CSF. Found in the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. Ependymal cells cover these capillaries and selected substances flow from the blood, through the cell to become CSF.

Lateral Ventricles

one in each cerebral hemisphere

Cerebral Hemisphere

separated by a groove, the longitudinal fissure. The brain can thus be described as being divided into left and right

Cerebral Cortex

the outer layer of the cerebrum, composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

Optic Chiasm

the point in the brain where the visual field information from each eye "crosses over" to the appropriate side of the brain for processing