Brain

Question 1

What joins the spinal cord and the brain?

Answer 1

Brain stem

Question 2

What are the three parts of the brain stem?

Answer 2

Medulla Oblongata
Pons
Midbrain

Question 3

What is the Medulla Oblongata?

Answer 3

The medulla forms the inferior part of the brain stem. Contains white matter with sensory and motor neurons.

Question 4

What is the Pons?

Answer 4

Above the Medulla, anterior to the cerebellum. Acts as a bridge/ junction point connecting several parts of brain to others.

Question 5

What is the Midbrain?

Answer 5

Midbrain connects the Pons to the Diencephalon. Contains tracts and is a site for synapse.

Question 6

Above the brainstem is the Diencephalon. What is the Diencephalon?

Answer 6

Contains the Thalamus and the Hypothalamus.

Question 7

Above the Diencephalon is the…

Answer 7

Cerebrum - the largest part of the brain.

Question 8

At the back of the brain, posterior to the brain stem is the…

Answer 8

Cerebellum

Question 9

What is the function of the brain stem?

Answer 9

• All sensory and motor pathways pass through here
• Vital for cardiac and respiratory control
• Site of the cranial nerves (PNS)

Question 10

What is the Thalamus?

Answer 10

The ‘relay centre’ as it is a key area for spinal cord pathways and receives input from other brain areas. Involved in:

• Visual, auditory, motor info
• temp and touch
• learn, concentrate, memory, speech

Question 11

What is the Hypothalamus?

Answer 11

Controls temperature and hormone levels as well as thirst.

Question 12

What does the Cerebellum do?

Answer 12

Coordinate movement and make fine adjustments for smooth movement, balance and coordination

Question 13

What are the two divisions of the Cerebrum?

Answer 13

Right and Left Hemisphere

Question 14

What links the right and left hemisphere?

Answer 14

Corpus Callosum

Question 15

Which hemisphere controls which side of the body?

Answer 15

Right hemisphere - Left Side

Let Hemisphere - Right side

Question 16

What is the Right hemisphere specialised in?

Answer 16

Complex visual patterns

Question 17

What is the left hemisphere specialised in?

Answer 17

Language

Question 18

The Cerebrum has two important parts, what are they?

Answer 18

Basal Ganglia

Cerebral Cortex

Question 19

What is the Basal Ganglia?

Answer 19

Found deep within cerebrum. Key for planning and initiating movement.

Question 20

What is the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 20

The highly folded outer surface of the Cerebrum.

Question 21

What are the four divisions of the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 21

Frontal Cortex (front extending to mid point)
Parietal Cortex (Top towards the back)
Temporal Cortex (Middle towards bottom)
Occipital Cortex (Back, lower down)

Question 22

Anatomically the cortex’s can be further divided. These divisions are called?

Answer 22

Broadman’s Areas

Question 23

The Cortex can be divided into functional areas, both sensory and motor areas. What are some examples of sensory and motor areas?

Answer 23

Sensory
-auditory cortex
-visual cortex
-Somatosensory Cortex
-Taste Cortex
Motor
-Motor Cortex
-pre-motor Cortex

Question 24

What does the Somatosensory Cortex do?

Answer 24

Allows you to pinpoint skin sensations

Question 25

Where is the Somatosensory Cortex found?

Answer 25

Behind the primary motor cortex (which is the origin of of the cortico spinal pathway)

Question 26

What dictates how much space any cortex requires?

Answer 26

Not the size of the body part it relates to but rather the precision the body part needs to operate at. So the hands for example have a disproportionately large area of cortex due to the precision they need to function

Question 27

What are the two fluids found in the brain?

Answer 27

``` Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Blood ```

Question 28

The amounts of these fluids in the brain must be kept consistent because...

Answer 28

- Limited Space - brain intolerant to lack of oxygen - chemical environment of brain needs to be constant

Question 29

Where is CSF found in the brain?

Answer 29

The ventricles, outer brain surface and spinal cord central canal

Question 30

What is the function of CSF?

Answer 30

Brain protection | Constant chemical environment

Question 31

The brain receives a disproportionately large degree of cardiac output - how much?

Answer 31

20%

Question 32

What is the blood brain barrier?

Answer 32

The fact that the blood capillaries in the brain and not very leaky. This stops pathogens and harmful substances entering the brain via the blood. Most lipid-solvable substances can pass the BBB.

Question 33

Where do arteries supplying the brain arise from?

Answer 33

The circle of Willis at base of brain

Question 34

Name two arteries that supply the brain?

Answer 34

The right carotid and vertebral arteries