Chapter 3 (2)

Describe the cranial nerves and their general functions

12 pairs; sensory and motor olfactory, optic, auditory, regulate movement of eyes face and toungue, jaw

Describe cortical columns

A group of neurons in the cortex of the brain that can be successively penetrated by a probe inserted perpendicularly to the cortical surface, and which have nearly identical receptive fields

What is a dermamyotome?

An epithelial cell layer constituting of the dorsal part of the somite lying under the ectoderm. As its name implies, it will give rise to dorsal dermis and to the skeletal muscle of the myotome,

What are the major functions of the cerebellum?

Balance, coordination, posture, fine muscle control

What are the basal ganglia, and what do they do?

Basal Ganglia are set of interconnected subnuclei which provide connections to Thalamic nuclei Refine movement and remove excess movement

What are Broca's and Wernicke's areas?

Broca's Area: region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, of the brain with functions linked to speech production Wernicke's area: Region of the brain that is important for language development. It is located in the temporal lobe on the left side of the brain and is responsible for the comprehension of speech

Describe the major functional systems of the forebrain.

Cerebral Cortex: outer layer; attention, short term memory, sensory processing Thalamus: Relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex, regulate consciousness and alertness Hypothalamus: Releasing hormones. regulating body temperature Basal Ganglia: Group of subcortical nuclei responsible primarily for motor control, as well as other roles such as motor learning, executive functions and behaviors, and emotions. Amygdala: Experiencing emotions Hippocampus: Memories

What is the periaqueductal grey?

Consists mostly of cell bodies of neurons that surround the cerebral aqueduct Controls sequences of movements like fighting

What is the limbic system, and what does it do?

Consists of thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, limbic cortex, septum, and mammillary bodies processes emotional information and anxiety and depression

What is the cingulate gyrus?

Curved fold covering the corpus callosum. A component of the limbic system, it is involved in processing emotions and behavior regulation. It also helps to regulate autonomic motor function

What is the longitudinal fissure?

Deep groove that separates the two cerebral hemispheres of the vertebrate brain

Describe the sensory inputs and motor outputs of the spinal cord. What is a spinal nerve?

Efferent axons leave the spinal cord through ventral roots and afferent axons bring sensory info into CNS Spinal Nerves: , any one of many paired peripheral nerves that arise from the spinal cord. In humans there are 31 pairs

What is the difference between gray and white matter

Gray matter consists primarily of neuronal cell bodies, or soma. White matter areas of the brain mainly consist of myelinated axons.

Define gyrus; sulcus; fissure.

Gyrus: elevated ridge Sulcus: shallow groove Fissure: deep groove; helps to separate larger regions of the brain

Describe the association between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

Hypothalamus secretes or inhibits hormones in pituitary gland

What are the major structures of the tectum, and what sensory processes do they interact with?

Inferior colliculus: Auditory system Superior colliculus: Visual system

What is the pons?

Large bulge in the brainstem, between mesencephalon and medulla oblongata, contains a portion of reticular formation, links medulla and thalamus Relays info from cerebral cortex to cerebellum; important in sleep and arousal

What is the reticular formation?

Large structure of many nuclei in diffuse interconnected network, recieves sensory information, and projects axons. Plays a role in sleep, arousal, attention, muscle tone, and movement

What is the corpus callosum?

Large, C-shaped nerve fiber bundle found beneath the cerebral cortex. It stretches across the midline of the brain, connecting and allowing communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

What is the hypothalamus, and what does it do?

Lies at the base of the brain under the thalamus. Controls basic drives: fighting, feeding, fleeing and mating

What is the calcarine fissure?

Located at the caudal end of the medial surface of the brain. Where primary visual cortex is.

What is the medulla oblongata?

Most caudal on brian, part of reticular formation, controls regulation of cardiovascular system, respiration, and skeletal muscle tone

What is limbic cortex?

Part of limbic system supports a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, long-term memory, and olfaction

Describe the primary motor and primary somatosensory cortices

Primary motor cortex: Region of cerebral cortex most directly involved in control of movement, contralaterally Primary somatosensory cortex: Receives info from body senses and is caudal to central sulcus in parietal lobe

What is the vagus nerve?

Regulates functions of organs in thoracic and abdominal cavities

What in general does the thalamus do?

Relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex.

What are the major structures of the tegmentum?

Reticular Formation, Periaqueductal gray matter, Red Nucleus, Substantia Nigra, and Ventral Tegmentum area

What is motor association cortex.

Rostral to primary motor cortex, used in planning and execution of movements

What is the lateral fissure?

Separates temporal lobe from frontal and parietal lobes, where primary auditory cortex is located

What is the central fissure?

Separates the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe and the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex.

What is a homunculus?

Some parts of body have many neurons (hands for example) and larger parts of the body like the back have less, represented within the cortex

What is "Fight-or-Flight"? What is "Rest-and-Digest"?

Sympathetic NS fight or flight: inc cardiac output, dialated pupils, bronchials, inc perspiration, adrenal gland Parasympathetic NS: Rest and digest

Describe the divisions and functions of the midbrain

Tectum: Dorsal part of midbrain, Reflexes involving auditory or visual stimuli Tegmentum: Beneath tectum, basic body movements

What are the differences between the anterior pituitary gland and the posterior pituitary gland?

The anterior pituitary influence growth, sexual development, skin pigmentation, thyroid function, and adrenocortical function The posterior pituitary gland releases oxytocin and regulates body fluids

Describe the divisions and functions of the hindbrain

The hindbrain coordinates functions that are fundamental to survival, including respiratory rhythm, motor activity, sleep, and wakefulness. Cerebellum: Coordinated movement, balance Pons: Sleep and arousal Medulla Oblongata: Regulates cardiovascular system, respiration, and skeletal muscle tone

What are the red nucleus and the substantia nigra?

The red nucleus constitutes 1 or 2 major fiber systems bringing motor info from the cerebral cortex and cerebellum to the spinal cord The substantia nigra contains axons that project to the caudate nucleus, putamen and parts of the basal ganglia

Describe the organization of the spinal cord

The spinal cord has 33 vertebrae and is a long conical structure that distributes motor fibers to effector organs and collect somatosensory info to pass to the brain protected by 24 vertebral column

Describe the anatomy of the branches of the autonomic nervous system.

The sympathetic division involves thoracic and lumbar regions Parasympathetic: Cranial and sacrospinal nerves

Do the cranial nerves have sensory function? Do they have motor function?

They have both

Do the cranial nerves have sympathetic function? Do they have parasympathetic function?

They have both

What is thoracolumbar? What is craniosacral?

Thoracolumbar: Thoracic lumbar sympathetic Craniosacral: Cranial and sacrospinal parasympathetic

What is the pituitary gland, and what does it do?

Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Produces neurohormones.

What is the enteric nervous system?

Weblike network of neurons that surround gastrointestinal tract and help digest food

What are sensory association cortices?

Where cerebral cortices send info. Analyze information, perception, and memory. Regions close to primary cortices analyze information and regions far away integrate multiple sensory info.

What is a dorsal root ganglion?

Where the majority of afferent sensory neurons cell bodies reside.

1. What are the five groups of vertebrae?

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal