6.3

Spinal cord

a column of nerve tissue that extends from the brain stem to the beginning of the lumbar region of the spine

Hyptothalamus

a portion of the diencephalon, which regulates functions such as metabolism, heart rate, and blood pressure

Primary somatic sensory cortex

outer region of the brain in the parietal lobes that interprets sensory impulses received from the skin, internal organs, muscles, and joints

Midbrain

relay station for sensory and motor impulses; located on the superior end of the brain stem

Cerebellum

section of the brain that coordinates body movements, including balance

Frontal lobes

sections of the brain located behind the forehead

Parietal lobes

sections of the brain located behind the frontal lobes; integrate sensory information from the skin, internal organs, muscles, and joints

Occipital lobes

sections of the brain located behind the parietal lobes; integrate sensory information from the skin, internal organs, muscles, and joints

Cerebrum

the largest part of the brain, consisting of the left and right hemispheres

Thalamus

the largest portion of the diencephalon, which communicates sensory and motor information between the body and the cerebral cortex

Medulla oblongata

the lower portion of the brain stem, which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, and controls several reflexes

Temporal lobes

the most inferior portions of the brain; responsible for speech, hearing, vision, memory, and emotion

Lobes

the name for the 4 regions of the brain - frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal

Pons

the section of the brain that plays a role in regulating breathing

Fissures

the uniformly positioned, deep grooves in the brain

Epithalamus

the uppermost portion of the diencephalon, which includes the pineal gland and regulates sleep-cycle hormones

Meninges

3 protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

Diencephalon

area of the brain that includes the epithalamus, thalamus, metathalamus, and hypothalamus; also known as the interbrain

Primary motor cortex

outer region of the brain in the frontal lobes that sends neural impulses to the skeletal muscles