Physiopsychology - Brain

Forebrain

1. The most anterior of the three primary regions of the embryonic brain from which the telencephalon and diencephalon develop. 2. includes the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

Rhinal Sulcus

In the human brain, it appears as a longitudinal elevation, with a corresponding internal furrow, on the under surface of the hemisphere close to the lamina terminalis; it is separated from the lateral surface of the hemisphere by a furrow and is continuous behind with that part of the hemisphere, which will ultimately form the anterior end of the temporal lobe.

Facial Nerve

It emerges from the brainstem between the pons and the medulla, and controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity. It also supplies preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to several head and neck ganglia.

Frontal Lobes

It is an area in the brain of mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to (in front of) the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes. It is separated from the parietal lobe by a space between tissues called the central sulcus, and from the temporal lobe by a deep fold called the lateral (Sylvian) sulcus. The precentral gyrus, forming the posterior border of the frontal lobe, contains the primary motor cortex, which controls voluntary movements of specific body parts. It contains most of the dopamine-sensitive neurons in the cerebral cortex.

Pia Mater

The fine vascular membrane that closely envelops the brain and spinal cord under the arachnoid and the dura mater.

Cerebrum (cerebral hempispheres)

The large rounded structure of the brain occupying most of the cranial cavity, divided into two cerebral hemispheres that are joined at the bottom by the corpus callosum. It controls and integrates motor, sensory, and higher mental functions, such as thought, reason, emotion, and memory.

Lateral Ventricle

The lateral ventricles are part of the ventricular system of the brain. Classified as part of the telencephalon, they are the largest of the ventricles. The lateral ventricles connect to the central third ventricle through the interventricular foramen of Monro.

Meninges

The organs of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) are covered by 3 connective tissue layers collectively called this. Consisting of the pia mater (closest to the CNS structures), the arachnoid and the dura mater (farthest from the CNS), it also support blood vessels and contain cerebrospinal fluid.

Occipital Lobes

The posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, having the shape of a three-sided pyramid and containing the visual center of the brain.

Vagus Nerve

Upon leaving the medulla between the medullary pyramid and the inferior cerebellar peduncle, it extends through the jugular foramen, then passes into the carotid sheath between the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein down below the head, to the neck, chest and abdomen, where it contributes to the innervation of the viscera. Besides output to the various organs in the body, the vagus nerve conveys sensory information about the state of the body's organs to the central nervous system. 80-90% of the nerve fibers in the vagus nerve are afferent (sensory) nerves communicating the state of the viscera to the brain.

Epithalamus

a (dorsal) posterior segment of the diencephalon (a segment in the middle of the brain also containing the hypothalamus and the thalamus) which includes the habenula and their interconnecting fibers the habenular commissure, the stria medullaris and the pineal body. Its function is the connection between the limbic system to other parts of the brain.

Fornix

a C-shaped bundle of fibers (axons) in the brain, and carries signals from the hippocampus to the hypothalamus.

Central Sulcus

a brain fissure extending upward on the lateral surface of both hemispheres; separates the frontal and parietal lobes

Substantia Nigra

a brain structure located in the mesencephalon (midbrain) that plays an important role in reward, addiction, and movement. Latin for "black substance", reflecting the fact that parts appear darker than neighboring areas due to high levels of neuromelanin in dopaminergic neurons.[citation needed] Parkinson's disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons here.

Limbic System

a complex set of brain structures that lies on both sides of the thalamus, right under the cerebrum.[1] It is not a separate system, but a collection of structures from the telencephalon, diencephalon, and mesencephalon.[2] itincludes the olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, amygdala, anterior thalamic nuclei, fornix, column of fornix, mamillary body, septum pellucidum, habenular commisure, cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, limbic cortex, limbic midbrain areas and pons. It supports a variety of functions, including emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction.[3] It appears to be primarily responsible for our emotional life, and has a great deal to do with the formation of memories.

Lateral Fissure

a deep horizontal cleft in each cerebral hemisphere: marks the separation of the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes

Tegmentum

a general area within the brainstem. It is located between the ventricular system and distinctive basal or ventral structures at each level. It forms the floor of the midbrain whereas the tectum forms the ceiling.[2] It is a multisynaptic network of neurons that is involved in many unconscious homeostatic and reflexive pathways.

Ventral Tegmental Area

a group of neurons located close to the midline on the floor of the midbrain (mesencephalon). It is the origin of the dopaminergic cell bodies of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and is widely implicated in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain. It is important in cognition, motivation, drug addiction, intense emotions relating to love, and several psychiatric disorders.

Basal Ganglia

a group of nuclei of varied origin in the brains of vertebrates that act as a cohesive functional unit. They are situated at the base of the forebrain and are strongly connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and other brain areas. They are associated with a variety of functions, including voluntary motor control, procedural learning relating to routine behaviors or "habits" such as bruxism, eye movements, cognitive,[1] and emotional functions.[2]

Hippocampus

a major component of the brains of humans and other vertebrates. It belongs to the limbic system and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory and spatial navigation. Humans and other mammals have two, one in each side of the brain. It is a part of the cerebral cortex; and in primates it is located in the medial temporal lobe, underneath the cortical surface. It contains two main interlocking parts: Ammon's horn and the dentate gyrus.

Cerebellar Hemispheres

a median and two lateral, which are continuous with each other, and are substantially the same in structure. The median portion is constricted, and is called the vermis, from its annulated appearance which it owes to the transverse ridges and furrows upon it; the lateral expanded portions are named the hemispheres.

Thalamus

a midline symmetrical structure of two halves, within the brains of vertebrates, situated between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain. Some of its functions are the relaying of sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex,[2][3] and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness. It surrounds the third ventricle.

Habenula

a neighboring group of nerve cells with which the pineal gland was believed to be associated. It is a set of well conserved structures in all vertebrate animals.[1] Currently, the Terminologia Anatomica term refers exclusively to this separate cell mass in the caudal and dorsal aspect of the dorsal thalamus (the epithalamus), embedded in the posterior end of the medullary stria from which it receives most of its afferent fibers. By way of the fasciculus retroflexus (habenulointerpeduncular tract) it projects to the interpeduncular nucleus and other paramedian cell groups of the midbrain tegmentum.

Trigeminal Nerve

a nerve responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting and chewing. It is the largest of the cranial nerves.

Cerebellar Peduncles

a nerve tract that permits communication between the cerebellum and the other parts of the central nervous system.

Caudate/Putamen

a nucleus located within the basal ganglia. it is an important part of the brain's learning and memory system.

Mammilary bodies

a pair of small round bodies, located on the undersurface of the brain, that, as part of the diencephalon form part of the limbic system. They are located at the ends of the anterior arches of the fornix. They consist of two groups of nuclei, the medial mammillary nuclei and the lateral mammillary nuclei.

Parietal Lobes

a part of the brain positioned above (superior to) the occipital lobe and behind (posterior to) the frontal lobe.

Cingulate Gyrus

a part of the brain situated in the medial aspect of the cerebral cortex. It is usually considered part of the limbic lobe. It receives inputs from the thalamus and the neocortex, and projects to the entorhinal cortex via the cingulum. It is an integral part of the limbic system, which is involved with emotion formation and processing, learning, and memory. The combination of these three functions makes it highly influential in linking behavioral outcomes to motivation (e.g. a certain action induced a positive emotional response, which results in learning)

Hypothalamus

a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the it is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis). itis located below the thalamus, just above the brain stem. In the terminology of neuroanatomy, it forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. All vertebrate brains contain a hypothalamus. In humans, it is roughly the size of an almond. it is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, often called hypothalamic-releasing hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones. itcontrols body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and attachment behaviors, thirst,[1] fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles

Midbrain

a portion of the central nervous system associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake, arousal (alertness), and temperature regulation.[2] Anatomically, it comprises the tectum (or corpora quadrigemina), tegmentum, the ventricular mesocoelia (or "iter"), and the cerebral peduncles, as well as several nuclei and fasciculi. Caudally the mesencephalon adjoins the metencephalon (pons and cerebellum) while rostrally it adjoins the diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, etc.). It is located below the cerebral cortex, and above the hindbrain placing it near the center of the brain.

Cerebellum

a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses,[1] but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established. it does not initiate movement, but it contributes to coordination, precision, and accurate timing. It receives input from sensory systems of the spinal cord and from other parts of the brain, and integrates these inputs to fine tune motor activity.[2] damage does not cause paralysis, but instead produces disorders in fine movement, equilibrium, posture, and motor learning.[

Tectum

a region of the brain, specifically the dorsal part of the mesencephalon (midbrain). This is contrasted with the tegmentum, which refers to the region ventral to the ventricular system. responsible for auditory and visual reflexes.

Nucleus Accumbens

a region of the human brain in the basal forebrain rostral to the preoptic area. this and the olfactory tubercle collectively form the ventral striatum, which is part of the basal ganglia. It is located where the head of the caudate and the anterior portion of the putamen meet just lateral to the septum pellucidum.

Pineal Body

a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions.[1][2] Its shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located near the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two rounded thalamic bodies join.

Globus pallidus

also known as paleostriatum, is a sub-cortical structure of the brain. It is part of the telencephalon, but retains close functional ties with the subthalamus - both of which are part of the extrapyramidal motor system.[1] it is a major component of the basal ganglia core along with the striatum and its direct target, the substantia nigra. The latter are made up of similar neuronal elements, have similar afferents from the dorsal striatum, and have a similar synaptology; neither receives cortical afferents.

Corpus Callosum

also known as the colossal commissure, is a wide, flat bundle of neural fibers beneath the cortex in the eutherian brain at the longitudinal fissure. It connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication. It is the largest white matter structure in the brain, consisting of 200-250 million contralateral axonal projections.

Pituitary

an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 grams (0.018 oz) in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica) covered by a dural fold (diaphragma sellae). it is functionally connected to the hypothalamus by the median eminence via a small tube called the ____ stalk, (also called the infundibular stalk or the infundibulum). Itsits in the hypophysial fossa, situated in the sphenoid bone in the middle cranial fossa at the base of the brain. It secretes nine hormones that regulate homeostasis

Fourth Ventricle

extends from the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius) to the obex, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Temporal Lobes

it is a region of the cerebral cortex that is located beneath the lateral fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain. they are involved in the retention of visual memories, processing sensory input, comprehending language, storing new memories, emotion, and deriving meaning

Third Ventricle

it is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is in the midline, between the left and right lateral ventricles. Running throughit is the Interthalamic adhesion, fibers which connect the two thalami.

Amygdala

lmond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep and medially within the temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans.[2] Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing of memory and emotional reactions, they are considered part of the limbic system.

Vermis

located in the medial, cortico-nuclear zone of the cerebellum, residing in the posterior fossa of the cranium. The primary fissure curves ventrolaterally to the superior surface of the cerebellum, dividing it into anterior and posterior lobes. Functionally, it is associated with bodily posture and locomotion. it is included within the spinocerebellum and receives somatic sensory input from the head and proximal body parts via ascending spinal pathways

Cranial Nerves

nerves that emerge directly from the brain, in contrast to spinal nerves, which emerge from segments of the spinal cord.

Arachnoid

of or relating to a thin membrane of the brain and spinal cord that lies between the dura mater and the pia mater

Superior Colliculi

paired structure that forms a major component of the vertebrate midbrain. The tectum is a layered structure, with a number of layers that vary by species. The superficial layers are sensory-related, and receive input from the eyes as well as other sensory systems.[1] The deep layers are motor-related, capable of activating eye movements as well as other responses. There are also intermediate layers, with multi-sensory cells and motor properties. The general function of the tectal system is to direct behavioral responses toward specific points in egocentric ("body-centered") space. Each layer of the tectum contains a topographic map of the surrounding world in retinotopic coordinates, and activation of neurons at a particular point in the map evokes a response directed toward the corresponding point in space. In primates, the tectum has been studied mainly with respect to its role in directing eye movements. Visual input from the retina, or "command" input from the cerebral cortex, create a "bump" of activity in the tectal map, which, if strong enough, induces a saccadic eye movement. Even in primates, however, the tectum is also involved in generating spatially directed head turns, arm-reaching movements,[2] and shifts in attention that do not involve any overt movements.[3] In other species, the tectum is involved in a wide range of responses, including whole-body turns in walking rats, swimming fishes, or flying birds; tongue-strikes toward prey in frogs; fang-strikes in snakes; etc.

Pons

part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. This white matter includes tracts that conduct signals from the cerebrum down to the cerebellum and medulla, and tracts that carry the sensory signals up into the thalamus

Olfactory Nerve

the first of twelve pairs of cranial nerves. It is instrumental in the sense of smell.

Longitudinal Fissure

the largest and deepest groove between the medial surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres.

Hindbrain

the posterior of the three primary divisions of the developing vertebrate brain or the corresponding part of the adult brain that includes the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata, and in mammals the pons and that controls autonomic functions and equilibrium

Brainstem

the posterior part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. It is usually described as including the medulla oblongata (myelencephalon), pons (part of metencephalon), and midbrain (mesencephalon).[1][2] Less frequently, parts of the diencephalon are included. It provides the main motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck via the cranial nerves. Though small, this is an extremely important part of the brain as the nerve connections of the motor and sensory systems from the main part of the brain to the rest of the body pass through the brainstem. This includes the corticospinal tract (motor), the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (fine touch, vibration sensation and proprioception) and the spinothalamic tract (pain, temperature, itch and crude touch). It also plays an important role in the regulation of cardiac and respiratory function. It also regulates the central nervous system, and is pivotal in maintaining consciousness and regulating the sleep cycle. The brainstem has many basic functions including heart rate, breathing, sleeping and eating

Inferior Colliculi

the principal midbrain nucleus of the auditory pathway and receives input from several more peripheral brainstem nuclei in the auditory pathway, as well as inputs from the auditory cortex.[1] has three subdivisions: the central nucleus (CIC), a dorsal cortex (DCIC) by which it is surrounded, and an external cortex (ICX) which is located laterally.

Diencephalon

the region of the vertebrate neural tube which gives rise to posterior forebrain structures. In development, the forebrain develops from the prosencephalon, the most anterior vesicle of the neural tube which later forms both the diencephalon and the telencephalon. In adults, it appears at the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem. It is made up of four distinct components: the thalamus, the subthalamus, the hypothalamus and the epithalamus.

Dura Mater

the tough fibrous membrane that envelops the brain and spinal cord external to the arachnoid and pia mater

Optic Nerve

transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.