Chapter 13

Question 1

What are the four major regions of the brain?

Answer 1

Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Diencephalon, Brainstem

Question 2

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

Gray matter; ‘seat of intelligence’

Example: The cerebral cortex is responsible for processing sensory information and initiating voluntary movements.

Question 3

What are the three layers of the cranial meninges?

Answer 3

Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, Pia mater

Question 4

How many ventricles are within the brain?

Answer 4

Four ventricles

Example: The ventricles of the brain are interconnected cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Question 5

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Answer 5

Cushions delicate neural structures, Supports brain, Transports nutrients, chemical messengers, and waste products

Example: CSF acts as a protective fluid surrounding the central nervous system.

Question 6

What is the main function of the cerebellum?

Answer 6

Monitors muscle contractions and aids in motor coordination

Example: The cerebellum plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and coordinating voluntary movements.

Question 7

What is the role of the thalamus in the diencephalon?

Answer 7

Filters ascending sensory information for primary sensory cortex, Relays information between basal nuclei and cerebral cortex

Example: The thalamus acts as a sensory relay station in the brain.

Question 8

Functions of the Thalamus

Answer 8

Part of limbic system; memory and emotion. Emotional output to prefrontal cortex; awareness of emotions. Somesthetic output to postcentral gyrus; signals from cerebellum and basal nuclei to motor areas of cortex. Somesthetic output to association areas of cortex; contributes to emotional function of limbic system. Relay of visual signals to occipital lobe (via lateral geniculate nucleus) and auditory signals to temporal lobe (via medial geniculate nucleus)

(a) Thalamus. Medial geniculate nucleus. Lateral geniculate nucleus. Thalamic Nuclei. Anterior group. Medial group. Ventral group. Lateral group. Posterior group.

Question 9

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Answer 9

Control of the ANS. Production of hormones. Regulation of emotional and behavioral patterns, eating and drinking, body temperature, and circadian rhythms.

Inferior to the thalamus. Consists of mammillary body, median eminence, infundibulum, and a number of nuclei.

Question 10

Functions of the Epithalamus

Answer 10

Small region superior to the thalamus. Consists of pineal gland which secretes a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin induces sleep. Habenula: visceral and emotional responses to odors

Question 11

Functions of the Brain Stem

Answer 11

Connects cerebrum, diencephalon, and cerebellum to spinal cord. Contains ascending and descending tracts. Contains autonomic nuclei, nuclei of cranial nerves, and reflex centers. Consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Question 12

Structures of the Midbrain

Answer 12

Tectum. Two pairs of sensory nuclei (corpora quadrigemina): superior colliculus (visual) and inferior colliculus (auditory). Tegmentum. Reticular formation. Red nucleus (many blood vessels) - Help control voluntary movements of the limbs. Substantia nigra (pigmented gray matter) - large area with dark pigments. Help control subconscious muscle activities. Loss of neurons here is associated with Parkinson disease. Cerebral peduncles - Carry voluntary motor commands from motor cortex. Superior cerebellar peduncles - Connect cerebellum to midbrain. Medial lemniscus - Carry ascending myelinated axons

Question 13

Functions of the Pons

Answer 13

Bulging region on anterior brainstem. Includes sensory and motor tracts connecting brain to spinal cord. Middle cerebellar peduncles - Transverse axons connecting pons to cerebellum. Pontine respiratory center - Helps regulate skeletal muscles of breathing. Superior olivary nuclei - Help with sound localization. Cranial nerve nuclei (sensory and motor) - Nuclei for CN V to CN VIII: trigeminal, abducens, facial, and vestibulocochlear nerves

Question 14

Functions of the Medulla Oblongata

Answer 14

Connects brain to spinal cord. Relays information. Regulates autonomic functions: heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. Centers for vomiting, swallowing, sneezing, coughing and hiccupping. Houses five pairs of cranial nerves, VIII-XII. Portion of the ventricle found here is the fourth ventricle.

Question 15

Relay Stations of the Medulla Oblongata

Answer 15

Nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus - Pass somatic sensory information to thalamus. Solitary nucleus - Receives visceral sensory information. Inferior Olivary nuclei (olives) - Relay proprioceptive information to cerebellum. Pyramids

Question 16

What is the Reticular Formation?

Answer 16

Loosely organized gray matter of brainstem

Motor component, regulates muscle tone, assists in autonomic functions, sensory component = reticular activating system (RAS)

Question 17

What is the role of the Limbic System?

Answer 17

Ring of structures on inner border of cerebrum and floor of diencephalon

Includes centers for gratification and aversion, involved in olfaction and memory

Question 18

What are the functions of the Limbic System?

Answer 18

Role in food intake, sexual behavior, attention to novel stimuli, influence on motor systems, control of emotions

Ability to express love, control anger, overcome fear, behavior shaped by learned associations

Question 19

What is the Cerebrum?

Answer 19

Largest part of the brain, controls conscious thoughts, intellectual functions, processes sensory and motor information

Center of intelligence, reasoning, thought, memory, judgement

Question 20

What are the functions of the Basal Ganglia?

Answer 20

Adjust muscle tone, control subconscious movements, produce walking pattern and rhythm

Three nuclei: globus pallidus, putamen, caudate

Question 21

What is Hemispheric Specialization?

Answer 21

Differences in higher-order functions between two sides of cerebrum

Categorical hemisphere for language abilities, representational hemisphere for visuospatial relationships

Question 22

What is the Wernicke area responsible for?

Answer 22

Recognition of spoken and written language, creating speech plan

Formulates phrases, fluent (Wernicke) aphasia

Question 23

What is fluent (Wernicke) aphasia?

Answer 23

Speech normal and excessive, but uses senseless jargon; Cannot comprehend written and spoken words

Example: The patient spoke rapidly but what they said made no sense.

Question 24

What is nonfluent (Broca) aphasia?

Answer 24

Slow speech, difficulty in choosing words, using words that only approximate the correct word

Question 25

What is the primary function of the Olfactory Nerves (I)?

Answer 25

Special sensory (smell) ## Footnote Origin: Receptors of olfactory epithelium Pathway: Olfactory foramina in cribriform plate of ethmoid Destination: Olfactory bulbs

Question 26

What is the primary function of the Optic Nerves (II)?

Answer 26

Special sensory (vision) ## Footnote Origin: Retina of eye Pathway: Optic canals of sphenoid Destination: Diencephalon via optic chiasm

Question 27

What is the primary function of the Oculomotor Nerves (III)?

Answer 27

Motor (eye movements) ## Footnote Origin: Mesencephalon Pathway: Superior orbital fissures of sphenoid Destination: Somatic motor: superior, inferior, and medial rectus muscles, inferior oblique muscle, levator palpebrae superioris muscle; Visceral motor: intrinsic eye muscles

Question 28

What is the primary function of the Trochlear Nerves (IV)?

Answer 28

Motor (eye movements) ## Footnote Origin: Mesencephalon Pathway: Superior orbital fissure of sphenoid Destination: Superior oblique muscle

Question 29

What is the primary function of the Abducens Nerve (VI)?

Answer 29

Motor (eye movements) ## Footnote Origin: Pons Pathway: Superior orbital fissures of sphenoid Destination: Lateral rectus muscle

Question 30

What is the primary function of the Facial Nerves (VII)?

Answer 30

Mixed (sensory and motor) to face ## Footnote Origin: Sensory - taste receptors on anterior 2/3 of tongue; Motor - major motor nerve of facial muscles: facial expressions; salivary glands and tear, nasal, and palatine glands

Question 31

Damage results in inability to rotate eye laterally and at rest eye rotates medially

Answer 31

Damage to the Abducens Nerve (VI) ## Footnote Example sentence: The patient's inability to look to the side indicated damage to the Abducens Nerve.

Question 32

Primary function of the Facial Nerve (VII)

Answer 32

Mixed (sensory and motor) to face ## Footnote Damage produces sagging facial muscles and disturbed sense of taste (no sweet and salty)

Question 33

Primary function of the Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

Answer 33

Special sensory ## Footnote Damage produces deafness, dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, and nystagmus

Question 34

Primary function of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

Answer 34

Mixed (sensory and motor) to head and neck ## Footnote Origins include posterior 1/3 of tongue, part of pharynx and palate, and carotid arteries

Question 35

Primary function of the Vagus Nerve (X)

Answer 35

Mixed (sensory and motor) ## Footnote Damage causes hoarseness or loss of voice, impaired swallowing, and can be fatal if both are cut

Question 36

Primary function of the Accessory Nerve (XI)

Answer 36

Motor to muscles of neck and upper back ## Footnote Damage causes impaired head, neck, shoulder movement; head turns toward injured side

Question 37

Primary function of the Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

Answer 37

Motor; tongue movements for speech, food manipulation, and swallowing ## Footnote Origin is motor nuclei of medulla oblongata