Divisions of the adult human brain

Question 1

Myelencephalon

Answer 1

• most posterior division of the brain
• also called to medulla
• Reticular formation: a network of nuclei that play a role in attention, sleep, arousal, movement

Question 2

Metencephalon

Answer 2

• consists of pons and cerebellum
• ascending and descending tracts and part of the reticular formation
• Cerebellum: large, convoluted structure controls sensorimotor activity and some cognitive functions (eg language and decision making)

Question 3

Mesencephalon

Answer 3

• midbrain
• two division: tectum and tegmentum
  -Tectum: dorsal surface of midbrain, inferior (auditory function) and superior colliculi (visual-motor function)
• Tegmentum: ventral to the tectum, includes grey matter situated around the cerebral aqueduct, red nucleus

Question 4

Diencephalon

Answer 4

• thalamus and hypothalamus
• Thalamus: large, two lobed structure at the top of the brain stem
• Sensory relay nuclei: nuclei that receive signals from sensory receptors and transmits them to areas of sensory cortex
• Hypothalamus: below the anterior thalamus, motivated behaviours (eg eating, sleeping), regulated the release of hormones for the pituitary gland

Question 5

Telencephalon

Answer 5

• Largest divison
• controls complex cognitive functions
• cerebral cortex: layer of tissue covering the hemisphere
• White matter: layer beneath cortex
• Gryi: ridges between fissures
• Cerebral commissures: hemisphere connecting tracts

Question 6

Divisions of the adult human brain:

Answer 6

1. myelencephalon
2. metencephalon
3. mesencephalon
4. diencephalon
5. telencephalon