Brain Anatomy & Functions
This lobe of the cerebral cortex controls written and motor speech as well as higher-level mental functions.
What is the Frontal Lobe?
These are the basic structural and functional units of the nervous system.
What are Neurons?
Designated as Cranial Nerve I, this nerve is responsible for the sense of smell.
What is the Olfactory Nerve?
The medulla oblongata passes through this large opening in the skull to attach to the spinal cord.
What is the Foramen Magnum?
This division of the autonomic nervous system triggers the body's "fight-or-flight" emergency response.
What is the Sympathetic Division?
Located in the left frontal lobe, this specialized motor speech area controls the ability to articulate words.
What is Broca's Area?
This single axon extension carries electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.
What is an Axon?
Cranial Nerve II is dedicated entirely to this special sense.
What is Vision (Optic Nerve)?
This tough, fibrous outer layer of the meninges adheres directly to the inner surface of the skull bone.
What is the Dura Mater?
This principle states that a nerve impulse is either conducted completely down an axon or not at all.
What is the All-or-None Law?
This region of the brain serves as the major functional link between the nervous system and the endocrine system.
What is the Hypothalamus?
These CNS neuroglia act as phagocytes to ingest and destroy waste, debris, and microorganisms.
What are Microglia?
Cranial Nerve V, responsible for head and face sensations as well as chewing, goes by this name.
What is the Trigeminal Nerve?
The spinal cord extends from the medulla down to the approximate level of these lumbar vertebrae.
What are L1 or L2 (1st or 2nd Lumbar Vertebrae)?
Receptors that monitor body position, balance, and the location of limbs in space are called this.
What are Proprioceptors?
This part of the limbic system is critical for processing learning and storing long-term memories.
What is the Hippocampus?
These star-shaped glial cells supply nutrients to neurons and help form the blood–brain barrier.
What are Astrocytes?
This wide-ranging cranial nerve (CN X) governs speech, swallowing, gag reflex, and parasympathetic visceral functions.
What is the Vagus Nerve?
Testing drainage from the nose or ears for this substance confirms a life-threatening leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What is Glucose?
This term describes the brief time period during which a neuron's membrane cannot be stimulated to fire another impulse.
What is the Refractory Period?
This system within the brainstem governs wakefulness and sleep by filtering light and sound stimuli.
What is the Reticular Activating System (RAS)?
These specialized cells produce the insulating myelin sheath around nerve fibers located specifically in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
What are Schwann Cells?
Cranial Nerve XII controls the voluntary movement of this organ.
What is the Tongue (Hypoglossal Nerve)?
An injury to the medulla oblongata can be instantly fatal because it houses centers for these vital functions.
What are Cardiac, Vasomotor, and Respiratory centers (or vital reflex functions)?
Infants have slower reflex responses than adults primarily due to this physiological reason.
What is the Immaturity of the nervous system / incomplete myelin sheath formation?