Module 2: Nervous System Part 2 - The Brain

Question 1

List the four parts of the human brain.

Answer 1

the cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum.

Question 2

Describe the number, location and function of the brain ventricles.

Answer 2

There are 4 ventricles in the brain; 2 lateral ventricles, one 3rd ventricle, and the 4th (which drains into the spinal cord). These chambers produce and are filled with CSF.

Question 3

What is consciousness?

Answer 3

the state of being awake and aware of a person’s surroundings.

Question 4

Describe the brain meninges and the layers.

Answer 4

3 layers of connective tissue membranes that cover/protect CNS organs and enclose the CSF. dura mater - Outer meninx double-layered, leathery. the subdural space separates it from the arachnoid meninx - loose middle layer, beneath it is the subarachnoid space which contains blood vessels and is filled with CSF. The inner pia mater meninx is a thin connective tissue tightly attached to the brain.

Question 5

What is the function of the choroid plexus?

Answer 5

The choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid.

Question 6

What is the blood-brain barrier and how is it maintained?

Answer 6

The blood-brain barrier is a diffusion barrier which prevents most particles from entering the central nervous system tissue, keeping the brain and spinal cord separate from general blood circulation. The blood-brain barrier is formed by the relatively impermeable brain capillaries, due to the glial cells astrocytes. Maintenance of the blood-brain-barrier is important to provide a stable chemical environment for the nervous system.

Question 7

Describe the cerebrum. What does it control?

Answer 7

The cerebrum, the foremost part of the brain, is the largest part of the brain in humans comprising about 83% of total brain mass. Controls consciousness, intelligence, reasoning, and higher-level thinking.

Question 8

What is the median longitudinal fissure?

Answer 8

It separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres from one another.

Question 9

Raised ridges on the cerebrum are called____.

Answer 9

Gyri

Question 10

The _______ separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

Answer 10

the transverse fissure

Question 11

The outer portion of the cerebral hemispheres is called the ______ and is highly convoluted and gray in color.

Answer 11

cerebral cortex

Question 12

Describe the functions of the lobes of the cerebrum.

Answer 12

frontal lobe controls higher level executive functions (e.i. reasoning and decision making), motor functions and permits control over voluntary muscle actions. The parietal lobe receives sensory information from receptors located in the mouth for taste and in the skin for touch, pressure, and pain. The occipital lobe interprets visual input. The temporal lobe has sensory areas for hearing and smelling.

Question 13

What is the difference between a primary area and an association area in the brain?

Answer 13

Primary areas in each lobe receive information for one type of sensory information. Association areas act mainly to integrate more than one type of sensory information for purposeful action.

Question 14

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 14

a bridge of white nerve fibers connecting the 2 cerebral hemispheres.

Question 15

List the three major parts of the brain stem.

Answer 15

the mid-brain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Question 16

How is the medulla oblongata involved with the heart and lungs?

Answer 16

regulates heartbeat, breathing.

Question 17

How is the pons involved with the eyes and ears?

Answer 17

it has reflex centers that regulate head movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli.

Question 18

The superior and inferior colliculi are located on the posterior portion of the _____.

Answer 18

Midbrain

Question 19

How is the hypothalamus involved with the entire internal environment of the body and the endocrine system in particular?

Answer 19

it maintains homeostasis and controls the pituitary gland which serves as a link between the nervous and endocrine systems.

Question 20

All except what sensory impulses are channeled through the thalamus?

Answer 20

all sensory impulses (except those associated with the sense of smell) are channeled through the thalamus.

Question 21

What is the function of the pineal body?

Answer 21

secretes melatonin to control the wake-sleep cycle.

Question 22

Describe the location and structure of the cerebellum.

Answer 22

inferior/posterior of the brain, it is divided into 2 hemispheres with deep fissures subdividing it into 3 lobes. Has an outer gray cortex and an inner white cortex.

Question 23

What are the major functions of the cerebellum and how does it work?

Answer 23

planning movements, maintaining balance, controlling certain eye movements, maintaining normal muscle tone and maintaining posture.
It acts to coordinate body movements by relaying info to the cerebral motor cortex

Question 24

What portion of the cerebellum coordinates limb movements?

Answer 24

vermis (intermediate lobe).

Question 25

What areas of the brain does the limbic system connect?

Answer 25

the frontal lobes, the temporal lobes, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.

Question 26

What is the amygdala?

Answer 26

it is a small portion of the limbic system that is involved in emotions such as rage and anger.

Question 27

Why is the limbic system called our 'feeling brain'?

Answer 27

stimulation of different areas of the limbic system causes rage, pain, pleasure, or sorrow.

Question 28

Explain why emotional memories tend to be vivid.

Answer 28

involvement of the limbic system, because it communicates with all the sensory areas, so sensory stimulus awaken complex memories.

Question 29

True or False: Memories are stored in one specific location in the brain.

Answer 29

False.

Question 30

The putamen, the caudate nucleus, the Globus pallidus (medial and lateral) are all parts of the ______.

Answer 30

The basal ganglia aka basal nuclei.

Question 31

What is the basal nuclei?

Answer 31

aka the basal ganglia. masses of gray matter deep in cerebrum.

Question 32

How does the basal nuclei work?

Answer 32

work with cerebellum to control motor planning and motor learning. Works to slow and control precise movements. Has inhibitory effect on cerebral cortex.

Question 33

What is Parkinson's disease?

Answer 33

disorder of the basal ganglia. Causing apraxia which is rigid movements from difficulty executing a motor plan.

Question 34

Where is the thalamus located?

Answer 34

the roof of the 3rd ventricle.

Question 35

The hypothalamus has centers to control what bodily functions? Where is it located?

Answer 35

hunger, sleep, thirst, body temperature, water balance, and blood pressure. The floor of the 3rd ventricle.

Question 36

What is the location and function of primary motor cortex? What are its other names?

Answer 36

It is located in the frontal lobe and controls voluntary muscle movement for the entire body. Other names are precentral gyrus and somatomotor cortex.

Question 37

What is the location and function of primary sensory cortex? What are its other names?

Answer 37

it is located in the parietal lobe and receives information from activated area of body. Its other names are the postcentral gyrus and the somatosensory cortex.

Question 38

What is the location and primary function Broca's Area?

Answer 38

located in the frontal lobe and responsible for speech production.

Question 39

What is the location and primary function of Wernicke's Area?

Answer 39

located in the temporal lobe and responsible for speech comprehension.

Question 40

How does the medulla oblongata control blood pressure?

Answer 40

vasoconstriction.

Question 41

What reflexes does the medulla oblongata control?

Answer 41

vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping, and swallowing.

Question 42

How does the pons connect the body? How does it work with another part of the spinal cord?

Answer 42

contains bundles of axons between the cerebellum and the rest of the CNS. It functions with the medulla to regulate the breathing rate.

Question 43

The diencephalon consists of what 3 parts?

Answer 43

epithalamus, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

Question 44

Where is the epithalamus and what does it contain?

Answer 44

the roof of the 3rd ventricle. The pineal gland.

Question 45

From where do the anterior and posterior lobes of the cerebellum receive info and what do they influence?

Answer 45

Info received from body's trunk. Influence motor activities of the trunk, shoulder, and pectoral girdle muscles.

Question 46

What specific structure connects the cerebellum to the other parts of the brain?

Answer 46

cerebellar peduncles.

Question 47

What is the cingulate gyrus and its function?

Answer 47

aka the limbic lobe, it connects the lobes of the cerebrum.

Question 48

What is the hippocampus?

Answer 48

part of limbic system involved in storage and retrieval of memories.

Question 49

What is the fornix?

Answer 49

bundle of nerve fibers that connects hippocampus into limbic system.

Question 50

What are the mamillary bodies?

Answer 50

fibers that connect into the thalamus and assist with the memory of smell.