9. Nervous System (Brain) Lecture Questions

The four major portions of the brain are:

(1) The Cerebrum; (2) The Diencephalon; (3) The brains stem; and (4) the Cerebellum.

Name the three basic regions of the cerebrum:

(1) internal area of white matter; (2) islands of gray matter called basal nuclei; (3) superficial covering of gray matter called the cerebral cortex

Lateral sulcus

(sometimes called a fissure) separates temporal lobe from parietal and frontal lobes

Occipital lobe

Area located at the back of each cerebral hemisphere; associated with processing visual information

Loss of muscle coordination results from damage to the:

Cerebellum

What do the ventricles contain?

Cerebrospinal fluid

Name the vascular network that produces cerebrospinal fluid

Choroid plexus

Frontal lobe

Contains the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) which directs movement by enabling controls of skeletal muscle. The Broca's area, which allows for motor speech function, is located within the left frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is also involved in planning, decision-making, and purposeful and appropriate behavior. Damage to the frontal results in personality abnormalities.

Parietal Lobe

Contains the primary sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus) that functions to interpret sensation such as touch, pain, pressure, temperature. Also functions in spatial reasoning ( Estimating sizes, shapes and distances).

Name the band of white matter that allows communication between the two hemispheres of the brain:

Corpus callosum

What white matter structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

Corpus callosum

Longitudinal fissure

Deep fissure (groove) that separates the two hemispheres (right and left) of the cerebrum.

Transverse fissure

Deep fissure that separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

Which structure of the spinal cord contains ascending tracts that carry sensory impulses from peripheral receptors up to the brain?

Dorsal (posterior) horn

Name the layers of meninges from outermost to innermost:

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

What are the deeper grooves that separate large areas of the brain called?

Fissures

The lobe (of the cerebrum) that contains the primary motor area that enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles:

Frontal

Damage to which lobe of the brain (that normally plans appropriate behavior) has been the most frequently associated with personality abnormalities?

Frontal lobe

Which lobe of the cerebrum controls motor function (movement) and speech?

Frontal lobe

The cerebral cortex (which is the most highly evolved area of the brain) consists of _______ _______.

Gray matter.

Parieto-occipital sulcus

Groove located on the medial surface of each hemisphere, separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe

What are the ridges or wrinkles of the brain called?

Gyri

Control of temperature, endocrine activity, metabolism, and thirst are functions associated with the?

Hypothalamus

The vital centers for the control of visceral activity such as heart rate breathing, blood pressure, swallowing and vomiting are located in the:

Medulla oblongata

The protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord are the:

Meninges

Name the three structures that form the brain stem:

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

The three major parts of the brain stem are:

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Which structure of the brain stem is involved in eye and ear reflexes?

Midbrain.

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the visual area?

Occipital lobe

The primary visual area is located in the _________ lobe.

Occipital.

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the somatosensory area that interprets sensations such as pain, touch, temperature pressure. It also estimates distances, sizes, and shapes.

Parietal lobe

Which structure of the brain stem serves as an important connecting system between the cerebellum and motor cortex?

Pons

Name the two structures of the brain stem that play a role in respiratory rate:

Pons and medulla oblongata

Temporal lobe

Region of the cerebrum located deep to the temporal lobe. It functions to process information associated with hearing, equilibrium and olfaction (smell). It is also involved with perception and facial recognition.

The are of the brain that plays a role in consciousness and the awake/sleep cycles (maintaining a wakeful, alert state) is the:

Reticular activating system

What are the shallow grooves of the brain called:

Sulci

A shallow groove on the surface of the cerebral cortex is the:

Sulcus

Which structure of the cerebrum contains the auditory and olfactory areas?

Temporal lobe

Insula of brain

Term means "like an island; isolated". The insula is a region of the cerebrum, deep within the lateral sulcus, between the parietal, temporal, occipital and frontal lobes. It functions to process information taste and influences autonomic function.

The three major parts of the diencephalon are the:

Thalamus, epithalamus and hypothalamus

What is the most highly evolved area of the brain, responsible for memory, conscious thought, judgement and reasoning.

The cerebral cortex

What is the largest part of the brain, accounting for 40% of total brain mass?

The cerebrum

Corpus callosum

The major bridge of white fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.

Which are of the brain serves as the sensory relay station (or switchboard operator) for all sensory input except smell?

The thalamus

Which structure comprises the major portion (80%) of the diencephalon?

The thalamus

Name the three main structures of the diencephalon:

Thlalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus

What structure of the spinal cord contains descending tracts which carry motor impulses from the brain to an effector?

Ventral (anterior) horn.

Describe cerebrospinal fluid

Watery broth, similar to blood plasma, that circulates in an around the brain. It functions to cushion and protect the brain, provide nourishment for the brain and may also carry signals from one part of the brain to another.

The limbic system is concerned with:

relating feelings to experiences, our deepest emotions (i.e. rage and pleasure, and learning and memory.

The primary auditory area is located in the ______ lobe.

temporal