Brain Flashcards
(122 cards)
1
Q
Q: What is the function of the olfactory nerve (Cranial Nerve I)?
A
A: Smell
2
Q
Q: Where is the nucleus location of the optic nerve (Cranial Nerve II)?
A
A: At the thalamus
3
Q
Q: What is the function of the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III)?
A
A: Eye movements, pupil and ciliary constriction
4
Q
Q: Which cranial nerve is responsible for touch and jaw proprioception?
A
A: Trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V)
5
Q
Q: What is the exit point for the abducens nerve (Cranial Nerve VI)?
A
A: Pons
6
Q
Q: What are the functions of the facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)?
A
A: Muscles of facial expression, nasal/oral/palatine glands, taste from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue, and ear pinna and external acoustic meatus sensation
7
Q
Q: Which cranial nerve mediates hearing?
A
A: Vestibulocochlear nerve (Cranial Nerve VIII)
8
Q
Q: What is the function of the glossopharyngeal nerve (Cranial Nerve IX)?
A
A: Stylopharyngeus muscle movement, parotid gland secretion, taste from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, and sensation from the upper pharynx and inner tympanic
9
Q
Q: What are the functions of the vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X)?
A
A: Swallowing, phonation, cardiovascular and respiratory regulation, taste from the pharynx, and sensation from the external ear and tympanic membrane
10
Q
Q: What is the function of the hypoglossal nerve (Cranial Nerve XII)?
A
A: Tongue movements
11
Q
Q: What is the function of the pulvinar in the thalamus?
A
A: It is the largest thalamic nucleus, has a strong visual cortex connection, and participates in reciprocal cortico-cortical interactions.
12
Q
Q: What role does the superior colliculus play?
A
A: It processes visual stimuli, integrates with the cerebellum, and helps coordinate head and neck movements.
13
Q
Q: What is the function of the cerebral peduncle?
A
A: It connects the cerebrum to the brainstem and carries corticospinal, corticopontine, and corticobulbar tracts.
14
Q
Q: What is the role of the mamillary body?
A
A: It is part of the hypothalamic nuclei and is involved in spatial and episodic memory consolidation and storage (Papez circuit).
15
Q
Q: What does the cerebellorubrothalamic tract connect?
A
A: It connects the cerebellar nuclei to the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus, passing by the red nucleus.
16
Q
Q: What types of pain do the spinothalamic and spinoreticular tracts process?
A
A: The spinothalamic tract processes conscious pain, while the spinoreticular tract processes subconscious pain.
17
Q
Q: What is the function of the anterior nucleus in temperature regulation?
A
A: Decreases SNS skeletal muscle tone, decreases SNS skin tone, and dilates capillaries.
18
Q
Q: What hormones are produced by the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei?
A
A: Oxytocin and ADH (antidiuretic hormone).
19
Q
Q: What is the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus?
A
A: It regulates diurnal hormones and behavior and connects to the arcuate nucleus.
20
Q
Q: What behaviors are linked to the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei?
A
A: The dorsomedial nucleus is linked to rage behavior and satiety, while the ventromedial nucleus is involved in feeding behavior and detecting satiety.
21
Q
Q: What is the function of the mamillary bodies?
A
A: They connect to the limbic system (circuit of Papez) and are involved in memory and exploratory behavior.
22
Q
Q: What is the significance of the lamina terminalis?
A
A: It controls body osmolality and includes the median preoptic area and two circumventricular organs (subfornical organ and organum vasculosum).
23
Q
Q: What are the functions of the medial and lateral geniculate bodies?
A
A: The medial geniculate body is a thalamic relay between the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex, while the lateral geniculate body is a relay between the optic tract and optic cortex.
24
Q
Q: What is the role of the substantia nigra?
A
A: It is part of the basal ganglia and is involved in movement functions through dopamine production.
25
Q: What does the red nucleus help control?
A: It helps control upper limb flexion and extension through input from the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord, and output via the rubrospinal tract.
26
Q: What is the function of the periaqueductal grey?
A: It is involved in pain modulation (autonomic and behavioral) and communicates with micturition centers in the pons.
27
Q: What is the role of the ventral tegmental area?
A: It is involved in reward pathways and memory through dopamine production.
28
Q: What is the function of the reticular formation?
A: It extends from the midbrain to the medulla and is involved in vomiting, urination, cardiovascular regulation, respiratory regulation, sleep-wake cycles, and consciousness.
29
Q: What tracts are associated with the superior cerebellar peduncle?
A: Efferent cerebellothalamic and cerebellorubral tracts; afferent ventral spinocerebellar, ventral trigeminal, and tectocerebellar tracts.
30
Q: What is the function of the locus coeruleus?
A: It contains major noradrenergic neurons and is part of the reticular activating system, involved in arousal, sleep-wake cycles, memory, emotion, and stress.
31
Q: What information does the parabrachial nuclei process?
A: The medial parabrachial nucleus processes taste information from the solitary nucleus to the thalamus, while the lateral parabrachial nucleus processes fluid, electrolyte, and cardiovascular information from the solitary nucleus to the hypothalamus.
32
Q: What is the role of the trapezoid body?
A: It is the decussation point of fibers from the cochlear nucleus to the contralateral superior olivary nucleus.
33
Q: What are the functions of the superior and lateral vestibular nuclei?
A: The superior vestibular nucleus mediates the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and ascends to the thalamus, while the lateral vestibular nucleus descends ipsilaterally to the spinal cord to activate extensors and inhibit flexors (antigravity).
34
Q: What is the function of the superior olivary nucleus?
A: It processes auditory information, with the medial part locating sounds and the lateral part connecting to the inferior colliculus.
35
Q: What is the function of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (CNX)?
A: It provides parasympathetic innervation to most subdiaphragmatic organs, regulating feeding, digestion, and energy/glucose homeostasis.
36
Q: What is the role of the pyramids in the medulla?
A: They contain the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts.
37
Q: What information does the cuneate nucleus process?
A: It processes fine touch, vibration, and proprioception from the upper body and limbs (not the face).
38
Q: What is the function of the gracile nucleus?
A: It processes DCML input from the lower trunk and limbs (below T6).
39
Q: What is the role of the nucleus ambiguus?
A: It is involved in swallowing and phonation, with ipsilateral efferent output via CNIX and CNX to the pharynx, larynx, and soft palate.
40
Q: What is the function of the solitary nucleus and tract (CNX vagus)?
A: It receives input from visceral afferents and mediates the cough reflex, gag reflex, vomit reflex, and carotid sinus reflex.
41
Q: What is the function of the globus pallidus?
A: It is involved in motor control, motivation, and cognition and is part of the basal ganglia.
42
Q: What is the function of the pulvinar in the thalamus?
A: It is the largest thalamic nucleus, has a strong visual cortex connection, and participates in reciprocal cortico-cortical interactions.
43
Q: What role does the superior colliculus play?
A: It processes visual stimuli, integrates with the cerebellum, and helps coordinate head and neck movements.
44
Q: What is the function of the cerebral peduncle?
A: It connects the cerebrum to the brainstem and carries corticospinal, corticopontine, and corticobulbar tracts.
45
Q: What is the role of the mamillary body?
A: It is part of the hypothalamic nuclei and is involved in spatial and episodic memory consolidation and storage (Papez circuit).
46
Q: What does the cerebellorubrothalamic tract connect?
A: It connects the cerebellar nuclei to the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus, passing by the red nucleus.
47
Q: What types of pain do the spinothalamic and spinoreticular tracts process?
A: The spinothalamic tract processes conscious pain, while the spinoreticular tract processes subconscious pain.
48
Q: What is the function of the anterior nucleus in temperature regulation?
A: It decreases SNS skeletal muscle tone, decreases SNS skin tone, and dilates capillaries.
49
Q: What hormones are produced by the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei?
A: Oxytocin and ADH (antidiuretic hormone).
50
Q: What is the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus?
A: It regulates diurnal hormones and behavior and connects to the arcuate nucleus.
51
Q: What behaviors are linked to the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei?
A: The dorsomedial nucleus is linked to rage behavior and satiety, while the ventromedial nucleus is involved in feeding behavior and detecting satiety.
52
Q: What is the function of the mamillary bodies?
A: They connect to the limbic system (circuit of Papez) and are involved in memory and exploratory behavior.
53
Q: What is the significance of the lamina terminalis?
A: It controls body osmolality and includes the median preoptic area and two circumventricular organs (subfornical organ and organum vasculosum).
54
Q: What are the functions of the medial and lateral geniculate bodies?
A: The medial geniculate body is a thalamic relay between the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex, while the lateral geniculate body is a relay between the optic tract and optic cortex.
55
Q: What is the role of the substantia nigra?
A: It is part of the basal ganglia and is involved in movement functions through dopamine production.
56
Q: What does the red nucleus help control?
A: It helps control upper limb flexion and extension through input from the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord, and output via the rubrospinal tract.
57
Q: What is the function of the periaqueductal grey?
A: It is involved in pain modulation (autonomic and behavioral) and communicates with micturition centers in the pons.
58
Q: What is the role of the ventral tegmental area?
A: It is involved in reward pathways and memory through dopamine production.
59
Q: What is the function of the reticular formation?
A: It extends from the midbrain to the medulla and is involved in vomiting, urination, cardiovascular regulation, respiratory regulation, sleep-wake cycles, and consciousness.
60
Q: What is the function of the preoptic area in temperature regulation?
A: It decreases SNS skeletal muscle tone, decreases SNS skin tone, and dilates capillaries, and contains prostaglandin receptors involved in inflammation.
61
Q: What is the role of the arcuate nucleus?
A: It is involved in energy regulation and produces various hormones such as POMC, CART, NPY, AgRP, GNRH, GHRH, TRH, CRH, MSH, somatostatin, NKB, and GABA.
62
Q: What is the function of the lamina terminalis?
A: It controls body osmolality and includes the median preoptic area and two circumventricular organs (subfornical organ and organum vasculosum).
63
Q: What is the role of the central tegmental tract?
A: It connects the nucleus solitarus to the thalamus and the red nucleus to the inferior olive.
64
Q: What is the function of the medial lemniscus?
A: It carries second-order neurons in the DCML pathway.
65
Q: What is the role of the periaqueductal grey?
A: It is involved in pain modulation (autonomic and behavioral) and communicates with micturition centers in the pons.
66
Q: What is the function of the ventral tegmental area?
A: It is involved in reward pathways and memory through dopamine production.
67
Q: What is the role of the parabrachial nuclei?
A: The medial parabrachial nucleus processes taste information from the solitary nucleus to the thalamus, while the lateral parabrachial nucleus processes fluid, electrolyte, and cardiovascular information from the solitary nucleus to the hypothalamus.
68
Q: What is the function of the trapezoid body?
A: It is the decussation point of fibers from the cochlear nucleus to the contralateral superior olivary nucleus.
69
Q: What is the role of the superior olivary nucleus?
A: It processes auditory information, with the medial part locating sounds and the lateral part connecting to the inferior colliculus.
70
Q: What is the function of the inferior olivary nuclei?
A: They coordinate movement-related learning.
71
Q: What is the significance of the obex in the medulla?
A: It is where the fourth ventricle narrows to the central canal, containing CSF in the spinal cord.
72
Q: What is the function of the internal capsule in the cerebrum?
A: It contains two-way white matter tracts connecting the cerebrum with other areas of the brain.
73
Q: What is the role of the thalamus?
A: It is part of the diencephalon and has many physiological roles, including sensory and motor signal relay and regulation of consciousness and sleep.
74
Q: What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A: It forms the floor and lower side walls of the third ventricle and is involved in many physiological roles, including temperature regulation, hunger, and hormone release.
75
Q: What is the role of the corpus callosum?
A: It contains white matter tracts that connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
76
Q: What is the function of the insula?
A: It is involved in cognition and emotion, visceral sensory and autonomic functions, and risk and decision making.
77
Q: What is the role of the caudate nucleus?
A: It is involved in motor control, sensory processing, learning and memory, and cognitive and emotional processing.
78
Q: What is the function of the fornix?
A: It is a white matter tract that is part of the limbic system, connecting the hippocampus to other brain areas and involved in memory, emotion, and cognitive functions.
79
Q: What is the role of the putamen?
A: It is involved in learning, memory, and motor control and is part of the basal ganglia.
80
Q: What is the function of the globus pallidus?
A: It is involved in motor control, motivation, and cognition and is part of the basal ganglia.
81
Q: What is the role of the inferior olivary nuclei?
A: They coordinate movement-related learning.
82
Q: What is the significance of the obex in the medulla?
A: It is where the fourth ventricle narrows to the central canal, containing CSF in the spinal cord.
83
Q: What is the function of the ventral spinocerebellar tract?
A: It carries proprioceptive information from the lower trunk and leg, ipsilaterally.
84
Q: What is the role of the lateral corticospinal tract?
A: It is the main motor tract (90%) and mediates trunk movements.
85
Q: What is the function of the nucleus of the spinal accessory nerve (CNXI)?
A: It controls motor functions of the intrinsic larynx, neck, and shoulder muscles (trapezius and sternocleidomastoid).
86
Q: What tracts are associated with the superior cerebellar peduncle?
A: Efferent cerebellothalamic and cerebellorubral tracts; afferent ventral spinocerebellar, ventral trigeminal, and tectocerebellar tracts.
87
Q: What is the function of the choroid plexus?
A: It produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
88
Q: What is the role of the superior colliculus?
A: It processes visual stimuli, integrates with the cerebellum, and helps coordinate head and neck movements.
89
Q: What information does the dorsal cochlear nucleus process?
A: It processes auditory stimuli and sends output to the superior olivary nuclei ipsilaterally or via the trapezoid body contralaterally.
90
Q: What is the function of the cuneate nuclei?
A: The main cuneate nucleus processes fine touch, vibration, and proprioception from the upper body and limbs, while the external cuneate nucleus processes proprioception in the cuneocerebellar tract.
91
Q: What is the role of the dentate nucleus?
A: It is involved in proprioception, nociception, and somatic afferents, and sends motor efferents to the thalamus.
92
Q: What is the function of the medial and lateral geniculate bodies?
A: The medial geniculate body is a thalamic relay between the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex, while the lateral geniculate body is a relay between the optic tract and optic cortex.
93
Q: What is the role of the globose and emboliform nuclei?
A: They are cerebellar deep (interposed) nuclei involved in spinocerebellar afferents and efferent connections to the rubrospinal and thalamic tracts.
94
Q: What is the function of the nucleus ambiguus?
A: It is part of the medullary reticular formation and is involved in swallowing and phonation, with parasympathetic output via CNX for cardiovascular and respiratory regulation.
95
Q: What is the role of the solitary nucleus and tract (CNX vagus)?
A: It receives input from visceral afferents and mediates various reflexes, including the cough, gag, vomit, and carotid sinus reflexes.
96
Q: What is the function of the inferior olivary nuclei?
A: They coordinate movement-related learning.
97
Q: What is the significance of the obex in the medulla?
A: It is where the fourth ventricle narrows to the central canal, containing CSF in the spinal cord.
98
Q: What is the function of the internal capsule in the cerebrum?
A: It contains two-way white matter tracts connecting the cerebrum with other areas of the brain.
99
Q: What is the role of the thalamus?
A: It is part of the diencephalon and has many physiological roles, including sensory and motor signal relay and regulation of consciousness and sleep.
100
Q: What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A: It forms the floor and lower side walls of the third ventricle and is involved in many physiological roles, including temperature regulation, hunger, and hormone release.
101
Q: What is the role of the corpus callosum?
A: It contains white matter tracts that connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
102
Q: What is the function of the insula?
A: It is involved in cognition and emotion, visceral sensory and autonomic functions, and risk and decision making.
103
Q: What is the function of the preoptic area in temperature regulation?
A: It decreases SNS skeletal muscle tone, decreases SNS skin tone, and dilates capillaries, and contains prostaglandin receptors involved in inflammation.
104
Q: What is the role of the arcuate nucleus?
A: It is involved in energy regulation and produces various hormones such as POMC, CART, NPY, AgRP, GNRH, GHRH, TRH, CRH, MSH, somatostatin, NKB, and GABA.
105
Q: What is the function of the lamina terminalis?
A: It controls body osmolality and includes the median preoptic area and two circumventricular organs (subfornical organ and organum vasculosum).
106
Q: What is the role of the central tegmental tract?
A: It connects the nucleus solitarus to the thalamus and the red nucleus to the inferior olive.
107
Q: What is the function of the medial lemniscus?
A: It carries second-order neurons in the DCML pathway.
108
Q: What is the role of the periaqueductal grey?
A: It is involved in pain modulation (autonomic and behavioral) and communicates with micturition centers in the pons.
109
Q: What is the function of the ventral tegmental area?
A: It is involved in reward pathways and memory through dopamine production.
110
Q: What is the role of the parabrachial nuclei?
A: The medial parabrachial nucleus processes taste information from the solitary nucleus to the thalamus, while the lateral parabrachial nucleus processes fluid, electrolyte, and cardiovascular information from the solitary nucleus to the hypothalamus.
111
Q: What is the function of the trapezoid body?
A: It is the decussation point of fibers from the cochlear nucleus to the contralateral superior olivary nucleus.
112
Q: What is the role of the superior olivary nucleus?
A: It processes auditory information, with the medial part locating sounds and the lateral part connecting to the inferior colliculus.
113
Q: What is the function of the inferior olivary nuclei?
A: They coordinate movement-related learning.
114
Q: What is the significance of the obex in the medulla?
A: It is where the fourth ventricle narrows to the central canal, containing CSF in the spinal cord.
115
Q: What is the function of the internal capsule in the cerebrum?
A: It contains two-way white matter tracts connecting the cerebrum with other areas of the brain.
116
Q: What is the role of the thalamus?
A: It is part of the diencephalon and has many physiological roles, including sensory and motor signal relay and regulation of consciousness and sleep.
117
Q: What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A: It forms the floor and lower side walls of the third ventricle and is involved in many physiological roles, including temperature regulation, hunger, and hormone release.
118
Q: What is the role of the corpus callosum?
A: It contains white matter tracts that connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
119
Q: What is the function of the insula?
A: It is involved in cognition and emotion, visceral sensory and autonomic functions, and risk and decision making.
120
Q: What is the role of the caudate nucleus?
A: It is involved in motor control, sensory processing, learning and memory, and cognitive and emotional processing.
121
Q: What is the function of the fornix?
A: It is a white matter tract that is part of the limbic system, connecting the hippocampus to other brain areas and involved in memory, emotion, and cognitive functions.
122
Q: What is the role of the putamen?
A: It is involved in learning, memory, and motor control and is part of the basal ganglia.
