A&P Chapter 12
At what stage of sleep does the majority of dreaming occur in?
REM sleep
Ascending tracts transmit _________ impulses while descending tracts conduct _________ impulses.
afferent impulses (sensory); efferent impulses (motor)
What structure in the brain is involved in assessing danger and eliciting the fear response?
amygdala
Which brain region would be considered the most crucial for survival? (Hint: the most basic survival functions). List the 3 main structural components of this region.
brain stem (composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata)
Name the 4 regions of the adult brain.
brain stem, cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon
What brain region is the site of our conscious mind? Is it composed of white or grey matter?
cerebral cortex (site of conscious mind); contains grey matter
Define "decussation"
crossing of the pathways
What brain region could be called the "thermostat" of the body because it regulates temperature?
hypothalamic region
What functional system in the brain is also known as our "emotional brain?"
limbic system
Define gyrus, sulcus, and fissure.
ridges; shallow grooves; deep grooves(deep sulci)
Why is the blood-brain barrier ineffective against alcohol?
selective barrier; barrier is absent in some areas (like the hypothalamus where it is necessary to monitor the chemical composition of the blood)
True or false: Delta brain waves are clinical evidence of death.
False
Around which vertebra does the spinal cord end?
L1 or L2 Vertebra
Describe the basic organization of the spinal cord (location of grey/white matter)
The gray matter of the cord is located in its core, the white mater outside
What motor functions does the cerebellum serve?
fine tunes motor skills (precise)
Define "paralysis" and "paresthesia"
loss of motor function; sensory loss
Which brain structure secretes melatonin? What is the primary role of melatonin?
the pineal gland in the epithalamus; (melatonin) helps regulate sleep-wake cycle
True or false: All neurons in the cerebral cortex are interneurons.
true
True or false: Long-term memory is essentially limitless.
true