Neuroanatomy and physiology
This lobe is the largest lobe of the brain, and is responsible for executive functions, voluntary motor movement, and houses Broca's area.
What is the frontal lobe?
This is another name for the cell body of a neuron.
What is the soma?
This cranial nerve is responsible for hearing and balance.
What is cranial nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve)?
This artery supplies, most of the lateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere, including Wernicke's area and the motor cortex
What is the middle cerebral artery?
This general medical term refers to any difficulty or impairment in the swallowing process, which can occur in the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal phases.
What is dysphagia?
This thick bundle of nerve fibers connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres, allowing them to communicate with one another.
What is the corpus callosum?
These branch-like structures extend from the soma and receive signals from neighboring neurons.
What are dendrites?
This cranial nerve has three major divisions, including the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular divisions.
What is the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V)?
This artery primarily supplies the medial portions of the frontal and parietal lobes
What is the anterior cerebral artery?
Damage to Broca's area in the left hemisphere often results in this type of non-fluent aphasia, characterized by halting, effortful speech while comprehension remains relatively intact.
What is Broca's aphasia?
Often referred to as the brain's major relay station, this egg-shaped gray matter structure directs incoming sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.
What is the thalamus?
Neurotransmitters are released into this gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes.
What is the synaptic cleft?
This brainstem structure gives rise to the oculomotor and trochlear nerve.
What is the midbrain?
This artery is formed by the union of the two vertebral arteries and the supplies of the brainstem and cerebellum.
What is the basilar artery?
A lesion to this cranial nerve can result in unilateral vocal fold paralysis, causing a breathy voice quality and significantly increasing the risk of aspiration during swallowing.
What is the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)?
Also known as the lateral sulcus, this deep fissure separates the temporal lobe below from the frontal and parietal lobes above, serving as an important landmark for language areas.
What is the Sylvian fissure?
Like oligodendrocytes in the CNS, these cells produce the myelin sheath of neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
What are Schwann cells?
This cranial nerve controls the motor function of the stylopharyngeus muscle.
What is the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX)?
This circular network of the arteries at the base of the brain provides collateral blood flow if one artery becomes blocked.
What is the circle of Willis?
Caused by basal ganglia dysfunction, this motor speech disorder is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. It is characterized by a monotonous speech pattern, reduced loudness, and short rushes of speech.
What is hypokinetic dysarthria?
This network of specialized ependymal cells and capillaries located within the brain's ventricles is responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What is the choroid plexus?
This neurotransmitter binds to receptors on muscle fibers along the neuromuscular junction causing contraction.
What is acetylcholine?
This narrow space between the pons and cerebellum that houses cranial nerves VII and VIII.
What is the cerebellopontine angle?
These paired arteries join to form the basilar artery and supply the posterior part of the brain.
What are the vertebral arteries?
Also known as Wallenberg syndrome, this cerebrovascular accident results from an acute infarct involving the posterior and lateral region of the medulla. It frequently causes severe dysphagia and dysarthria.
What is lateral medullary syndrome?