Gross Anatomy of The Brain Pt. I

Question 1

What do the cerebral hemispheres do?

Answer 1

Involved in basic functions such as receiving and analysing sensory impulses, storing memories and controlling the skeletal muscles on opposing sides of the body

Question 2

What is the dominant cerebral hemisphere involved in?

Answer 2

Complex functions such as language, reading, writing and speech

Question 3

What is the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere involved in?

Answer 3

Non-verbal functions such as orientation of the body in relation to its environment, visual experiences and interpreting musical patterns

Question 4

How are the cerebral hemispheres connected?

Answer 4

Through the corpus callosum

Question 5

What separates the brain into quarters superiorly?

Answer 5

The longitudinal cerebral fissure and the central sulcus

Question 6

What makes up the cerebral cortex?

Answer 6

Six layers of neuronal cell bodies which constitute gray matter
More inferiorly the axons of these cells are myelinated which gives them a white appearance - white matter

Question 7

How is white and gray matter arranged in the brain and spinal cord?

Answer 7

Brain - gray matter surrounds white matter
Spinal cord - white matter surrounds gray matter

Question 8

What characterised the cerebral cortex superficially?

Answer 8

Gyri (folds)
Sulci (grooves)
Fissures (clefts)
They increase surface area of the brain and are very variable between individuals

Question 9

How are the cerebral hemispheres divided?

Answer 9

Each into 4 lobes which are named after the overlying bone
The insula (fifth lobe) is deep to the other 3 doesn’t correspond to a bone so is named for its appearance

Question 10

Where is the cerebellum found?

Answer 10

Inferior to the posterior part of the cerebrum and posterior to the pons and medulla, beneath the tentorium cerebella in the posterior cranial fossa

Question 11

What makes up the cerebellum?

Answer 11

2 lateral hemispheres that are united by a narrow middle part called the vermis

Question 12

What characterises the vermis?

Answer 12

Surface has ridges called folia and grooves

Question 13

What is the tree like appearance of the cerebellum called?

Answer 13

Arbor vitae

Question 14

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 14

Control of balance ipsilaterally

Question 15

What is the function of the brainstem?

Answer 15

Connects the brain and spinal cord

Question 16

What are the different parts of the brainstem?

Answer 16

The midbrain
The pons
The medulla oblongata

Question 17

Where is the midbrain found and which CNs are associated with it?

Answer 17

The junction of the middle and posterior cranial fossa
CN III - occulomotor, CN IV - the trochlear

Question 18

Where is the pons found and which CNs are associated with it?

Answer 18

Bulging area in the anterior part of the posterior cranial fossa and is associated with CN V - the trigeminal

Question 19

Where is the medulla found and which CNs are associated with it?

Answer 19

Continuous with the spinal cord and lies in the posterior cranial fossa
Associated with CN IX, X and XII, the glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal nerves
CN VI-VIII, abducens, facial and vestibulocochlear, emerge at the junction of the pons and medulla

Question 20

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 20

The epithalamus, thalamus and hypothalamus
Forms the core of the brain

Question 21

What are the different lobes of the cerebrum?

Answer 21

Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
Limbic lobe

Question 22

What does the frontal lobe occupy?

Answer 22

The anterior cranial fossa

Question 23

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

Answer 23

The central sulcus

Question 24

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe?

Answer 24

The lateral sulcus

Question 25

What does the temporal lobe occupy?

Answer 25

The lateral part of the middle cranial fossa

Question 26

What separates the parietal and occipital lobes?

Answer 26

No obvious separation but on the medial side the parieto-occipital sulcus

Question 27

What is the opercula?

Answer 27

The lines at which the lateral sulcus can be pulled apart at Sometimes called the lips

Question 28

How is the insula found?

Answer 28

By pulling apart the lateral sulcus at the opercula

Question 29

What are the other names for the opercula?

Answer 29

Island of Reil Limbic cortex

Question 30

Which is the largest lobe of the brain?

Answer 30

The frontal lobe

Question 31

What are the different parts of the frontal lobe?

Answer 31

Prefrontal cortex Motor cortex Broca’s area

Question 32

What is the prefrontal cortex important for?

Answer 32

Problem solving Complex planning and decision making Personality Depth of feeling

Question 33

What is the motor cortex important for?

Answer 33

Planning Control Execution of voluntary movement

Question 34

What are the different areas of the motor cortex?

Answer 34

Pre motor cortex Supplementary motor area Primary motor cortex (found in precentral gyrus)

Question 35

What is the premotor cortex responsible for?

Answer 35

Learned movements

Question 36

What is the supplementary motor area responsible for?

Answer 36

Can be stimulated to instigate movement of contralateral limbs

Question 37

What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?

Answer 37

Specific areas correspond to specific areas of the body for voluntary motor function and movements

Question 38

Where is Broca’s area found and what is it responsible for?

Answer 38

Located near the motor cortex in the dominant hemisphere and utilised in speech production

Question 39

How does Broca’s area function?

Answer 39

Regulates breathing patterns while speaking and vocalisations required for normal speech, and coordinates the activities of the muscles of respiration, the larynx, pharynx, cheeks, lips, jaws and tongue to bring about the formation of words.

Question 40

What happens if there is damage to Broca’s area?

Answer 40

Broca’s Aphasia - sounds can be made but words cannot be formed

Question 41

What is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 41

Processing of sensory information

Question 42

What are the different areas of the parietal lobe?

Answer 42

Primary somatosensory cortex Posterior parietal cortex

Question 43

Where is the primary somatosensory cortex found and what is it responsible for?

Answer 43

Located in the post central gyrus Responsible for tactile sensation, conscious perception of pain, pressure, taste, temperature and touch

Question 44

What is the posterior parietal cortex responsible for?

Answer 44

Integration of sensory information from other areas Spatial perception Spatial attention Cognitive function

Question 45

What is somatotropin localisation?

Answer 45

The concept that specific areas of the body correspond to a specific point on the central nervous system

Question 46

Where is somatotopic localisation evident in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 46

The somatosensory and motor cortex

Question 47

What is the occipital lobe responsible for?

Answer 47

Visual processing

Question 48

What is found within the occipital lobe?

Answer 48

The primary visual cortex - located around the calcarine sulcus Surrounded by the secondary visual area

Question 49

What happens in the primary visual cortex?

Answer 49

Receives visual information relayed via the thalamus and it allows for conscious perception of visual stimuli.

Question 50

What is the temporal lobe responsible for?

Answer 50

Processing sensory information, especially the conscious perception of hearing and the sense of smell

Question 51

What is found within the temporal lobe?

Answer 51

Auditory cortex Wernicke’s area

Question 52

What is the auditory cortex responsible for?

Answer 52

Hearing Speech Words Pitch Tone

Question 53

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

Answer 53

Language comprehension

Question 54

What is Wernicke’s Aphasia?

Answer 54

Leads to someone being able to speak words easily, but often with meaningless word pieces or vocalisation of phonemes

Question 55

Where is the insula found?

Answer 55

Deep to the lateral sulcus

Question 56

What is the insula responsible for?

Answer 56

Planning and coordinating articulatory movements necessary for speech Also has connections with the olfactory cortex

Question 57

What are the anterior and posterior insula responsible for?

Answer 57

Anterior - language Posterior - integrating information relating to touch, vision and hearing