Brain structure and function

Question 1

what are the meninges

Answer 1

a series of membranes covering the brain, including the dura mater and Pia mater

Question 2

what is the blood brain barrier

Answer 2

a semipermeable membrane that allows nutrients into the brain and blocks pathogens

Question 3

what is CSF and where is it produced

Answer 3

cerebrospinal fluid, produced in the ventricles, acts as a mechanical and immune buffer for the brain

Question 4

how many neurons and synapses are in the human brain

Answer 4

86 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses

Question 5

what percentage of body mass and energy does the brain use

Answer 5

2% of body mass, 20% of energy

Question 6

how many connections can a single neuron have

Answer 6

between 1,000 and 10,000

Question 7

what does dorsal mean in brain anatomy

Answer 7

towards the top

Question 8

what does ventral mean in brain anatomy

Answer 8

towards the bottom

Question 9

what does anterior or rostral mean

Answer 9

towards the front

Question 10

what does posterior or caudal mean

Answer 10

towards the back

Question 11

what are the three main planes of the brain

Answer 11

• sagittal (left/right)
• axial/horizontal (top/bottom)
• coronal (front/back)

Question 12

what does the hindbrain include

Answer 12

medulla, pons, cerebellum

Question 13

what does the medulla oblongata control

Answer 13

life functions such as breathing, HR, and detecting toxins (vomiting)

Question 14

function of cerebellum

Answer 14

coordinates fine motor control and voluntary movements

Question 15

role of the pons

Answer 15

connects brainstem to cortex; relays signals between brain and spinal cord

Question 16

what is the midbrain and why is it important

Answer 16

a small but essential link between the hindbrain and forebrain

Question 17

what does the tectum include and what are their functions

Answer 17

• superior colliculus (vision)
• inferior colliculus (audition)

Question 18

functions of tegmentum

Answer 18

coordinates movement, suppresses pain, and contributes to alertness

Question 19

what are cerebral peduncles

Answer 19

bundles of nerve fibres that transport signals from the cortex to the CNS

Question 20

what is the largest brain region

Answer 20

the largest brain region is the forebrain

Question 21

what does the forebrain include

Answer 21

1. cerebrum/cerebral cortex
2. thalumus
3. hypothalamus

Question 22

what does cerebrum/cerebral cortex do

Answer 22

responsible for thinking, planning, and processing input (85% of brain volume)

Question 23

what is the role of the thalamus

Answer 23

processes sensory information and regulates sleep

Question 24

what does hypothalamus regulate

Answer 24

homeostasis, including temperature and blood pressure

Question 25

what is cerebral cortex

Answer 25

the highly folded outer layer of the brain

Question 26

thickness of cerebral cortex

Answer 26

1.5mm to 5mm thick

Question 27

what are gyri and sulcus

Answer 27

- gyri = ridges in cerebral cortex - sulci = grooves in cerebral cortex

Question 28

why is cortical folding important

Answer 28

increases surface area of the brain and linked to higher cognitive ability

Question 29

how is sensory input and motor control usually organised in the brain

Answer 29

contralaterally - e.g. left brain controls right body

Question 30

what is the longitudinal fissure

Answer 30

a deep groove that separates the two brain hemispheres

Question 31

what is corpus callosum

Answer 31

a thick band of 200 million axons that connects and allows communication between hemispheres

Question 32

is brain lateralisation real?

Answer 32

partially - some functions such as language and visuospatial processing are lateralised

Question 33

what does the central sulcus separate

Answer 33

the frontal and parietal lobes

Question 34

what does the lateral sulcus separate

Answer 34

the frontal/parietal lobes from the temporal lobe

Question 35

what question does the frontal lobe answer

Answer 35

"what should I do about it?"

Question 36

what question does the parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes answer?

Answer 36

"what's happening"

Question 37

what percentage of the cortex is the frontal lobe

Answer 37

around 30%

Question 38

what are the main regions of the frontal lobe

Answer 38

1. PFC 2. Premotor MC 3. Primary MC

Question 39

function of PFC

Answer 39

executive function

Question 40

function of Premotor MC

Answer 40

plans movement

Question 41

function of Primary MC

Answer 41

executes movement

Question 42

where is parietal lobe located

Answer 42

behind the frontal lobe

Question 43

what does parietal lobe do

Answer 43

integrates sensory information and supports spatial orientation

Question 44

what is somatosensory cortex responsible for

Answer 44

processing touch, pain, and temperature information

Question 45

what is the homunculus

Answer 45

a map showing how much cortical area is devoted to different body parts - more sensitive areas have more space

Question 46

where is the temporal lobe

Answer 46

below the parietal and behind the frontal lobe

Question 47

what does the temporal lobe do

Answer 47

processes auditory information, language, faces, and memory

Question 48

which brain area is responsible for vision

Answer 48

the occipital lobe

Question 49

A person with a severed corpus callosum cannot:

Answer 49

name objects presented to the left of their visual field

Question 50

The crevices in the surface of the cortex are called:

Answer 50

sulci

Question 51

One example of asymmetry in the brain is that the left side of the body is controlled by the ______ side of the brain.

Answer 51

right

Question 52

Planning and decision making involve the ______.

Answer 52

PFC

Question 53

The ______ lobe is located anterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral fissure.

Answer 53

frontal