Parts and Functions of the Brain

Question 1

three major brain regions

Answer 1

hindbrain
midbrain
forebrain

Question 2

hindbrain

Answer 2

• rear base of the skull
• responsible for the basic biological needs for life
• vital functions (heart rate, breathing

Question 3

structures of the hindbrain

Answer 3

medulla
pons
cerebellum

Question 4

medulla

Answer 4

• controls breathing, heart rate, swallowing, and digestions

- where the spinal cord connects to the skull

Question 5

pons

Answer 5

• sleep and arousal (alertness/attention)

- connects cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Question 6

cerebellum

Answer 6

• regulates and coordinates body movements
• rear of the head and behind brain stem
• “little brain” that deals with learning

Question 7

midbrain

Answer 7

• above the hindbrain

- attention and stimulation

Question 8

reticular formation

Answer 8

• inside the midbrain
• regulation of maintenance of consciousness and sleep
• bundle of nerves
• filters incoming stimuli and relays important info to the brain

Question 9

forebrain

Answer 9

• most forward in skull

- controls complex emotions, thoughts, and movements

Question 10

structures in the forebrain

Answer 10

thalamus
hypothalamus
limbic

Question 11

thalamus

Answer 11

• brain’s sensory relay station
• sorts and sends messages from the eyes, ears, tongue, and skin to the brain (except smell)
• “inner chamber”
• top of brain stem

Question 12

hypothalamus

Answer 12

• regulates homeostasis
• below thalamus
• regulates eating, drinking, sexual behavior, motivation, emotion, and aggression

Question 13

two structures of the limbic system

Answer 13

amygdala

hippocampus

Question 14

amygdala

Answer 14

fear and aggression

Question 15

hippocampus

Answer 15

memory formation

Question 16

cerebrum

Answer 16

• largest part of the brain (80%)
• controls voluntary movement and complex mental activity
• memory, reasoning, emotions, speech, etc.
• divided in hemispheres

Question 17

cerebral cortex

Answer 17

• thinking center of the brain
• memory, languages, motor functions
• upper portion of the forebrain
• outermost layer of the brain

Question 18

why is the cerebral cortex important

Answer 18

• makes us human
• tightly packed neurons
• coordinates the brain to make it a functioning unit

Question 19

how is the cerebral cortex divided

Answer 19

into two rounded hemispheres

Question 20

corpus callosum

Answer 20

• a band of 200 million white nerve fibers

- transmits info between two hemispheres/connects them

Question 21

“cross-wired” brain

Answer 21

right hemisphere controls the left side of the body

left hemisphere controls the right side of the body

Question 22

occipital lobe

Answer 22

back of cerebral hemispheres

-allows you to experience shapes, color, and motion

Question 23

parietal lobe

Answer 23

front of the occipital lobe

-touch sensation

Question 24

temporal lobe

Answer 24

below the parietal lobe

-hearing and language

Question 25

frontal lobe

Answer 25

front of the cerebral hemispheres | -coordination of movement and higher mental processes