Bio lab142 lab #1
Circle of Willis
A circle of arteries at the base of the brain that supply blood to the brain
Amygdala
A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.
temporal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
occipital lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
parietal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing sensory information
corpus callosum
A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.
Cerebellum
Balance, posture, and coordination
pituitary gland
Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that stimulate the ovaries. The pituitary gland also regulates other endocrine organs.
Gyri (gyrus)
Large folds of tissue covering the surface of the cerebrum
Trigeminal Nerve (V)
Mixed (sensory and motor) to face (important for chewing)
medulla oblongata
Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as primitive visceral reflexes, cardiac centers, vasomotor center, and respiratory centers
frontal lobe
The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, reasoning, language, and impulsive behavior.
fornix
a fiber tract that extends from the hippocampus to the mammillary body
Hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage
Hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs ANS and pituitary gland, master control center for homeostasis
basilar artery
blood vessel from the merged vertebral arteries that runs along the dorsal surface of the brain stem
lateral ventricles
cavities in the brain for CSF, carries CSF to third ventricle
third ventricle
conducts cerebrospinal fluid from the lateral ventricles to the fourth ventricle
cerebral aqueduct
connects the third and fourth ventricles
dura and arachnoid mater
contains blood vessels and protects brain
pons
important in sleeping, breathing, hearing, taste, facial expressions, and equilibrium
Oculomotor Nerve (III)
motor, eye movement
mammillary body
one of a pair of limbic system structures that are connected to the hippocampus
Thalamus
relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex, receives almost all sensory info
pineal gland
secretes melatonin
olfactory nerve (I)
sensory, smell
longitudinal fissure
separates cerebral hemispheres (left and right)
septum pellucidum
separates lateral ventricles
fourth ventricle
the passageway within the pons that receives cerebrospinal fluid from the third ventricle and releases it to surround the brain and spinal cord
optic chiasm
the point at which the optic nerves from the inside half of each eye cross over and then project to the opposite half of the brain
Optic Nerve (II)
vision (sensory)
arbor vitae
white matter of the cerebellum tree of life
Sulci (sulcus)
~shallow grooves separating the gyri ~ Divides the cerebral hemispheres into lobes