Exam 1: Important Structures

Question 1

Nuclei

Answer 1

Nerves or clusters of brain cells with the same job or connecting to the same places.

Question 2

Ganglia

Answer 2

Groups of nerves or brain cells that are closely related.

Question 3

Nerves

Answer 3

A bundle of axons in the PNS
-Protected by a connective tissue matrix

Question 4

Tracts

Answer 4

Bundle of axons in the CNS
-Protected by the skull and vertebral column

Question 5

Gyrus

Answer 5

A ridge on the brain’s surface

Question 6

Sulcus

Answer 6

A groove in the brain’s surface

Question 7

Gray vs. White Matter

Answer 7

Gray: Made up of neuronal cell bodies, made of dendrites and soma.
White: Primarily consists of myelinated axons, made up of axons that send information.

Question 8

Medulla (Brainstem)

Answer 8

Involuntary functions; esp. breathing, and blood flow.

Question 9

Pons (Brainstem)

Answer 9

-Sleep/wake system
-Relay of signals between cerebellum & cerebrum

Question 9

Cerebellum (Brainstem)

Answer 9

-Coordinated movement & balance
- Some associative learning
-“Little Brain”

Question 10

Dorsal vs. Ventral PAG

Answer 10

PAG: propagation and modulation of pain.
Dorsal: acutely elevated blood pressure.
Ventral: Decreases blood pressure and increases heart rate variability.

Question 10

Superior & inferior colliculus

Answer 10

S: Processes visual information
I: Processes auditory information

Question 10

Substantia Nigra & Dopamine

Answer 10

-Midbrain
-Part of basal ganglia
-Helps control movements
-Plays a part in the chemical signaling of your brain

Question 11

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 11

-Gray matter of the brain
-Breaks into 4 lobes

Question 11

Corpus Callosum

Answer 11

Connects both hemispheres of the brain and allows for communication between both sides.

Question 12

Frontal Lobe

Answer 12

-Motor Tasks
-Regulating emotions, social interactions, and personality
-Difficult decisions
-Concentration, judgement, orientation

Question 13

Temporal Lobe

Answer 13

-Processes sensory input
-Emotions, visual memory, language comprehension
-Processing sound

Question 14

Parietal Lobe

Answer 14

-Perception, sensation, and integrating sensory input with the visual system.
-Receives contralateral sensory information

Question 15

Occipital Lobe

Answer 15

-Processing of visual input in humans

Question 16

Hypothalamus

Answer 16

-Helps manage body temperature
-Hunger, thirst, mood, sex drive, sleep, & blood pressure

Question 16

Pituitary Gland

Answer 16

-Major endocrine gland
-Produces and releases hormones that regulate many bodily functions

Question 17

Thalamus

Answer 17

-Relays motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex

Question 18

Basal Ganglia

Answer 18

Group of subcortical nuclei responsible primarily for motor control
-Motor learning
-Executive functions
-Behaviors
-Emotions

Question 19

Amygdala

Answer 19

Rapid evaluation of sensory input
-emotional responses to external stimuli

Question 20

Hippocampus

Answer 20

Spatial navigation & episodic memory