Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the largest and uppermost part of the human brain, accounting for about how much of the brain's total weight?
two-thirds
The cerebellum has the nickname “_?_”.
“little brain”
The brainstem is made up of 3 structures, name them.
Midbrain, Pons, and Medulla Oblongata
The diameter of the spinal cord is about the thickness of what?
The diameter of the spinal cord is about the thickness of your finger.
Explain where Grey Matter is found in the Spinal Cord?
Grey Matter in the Spinal Cord: Found on the inside, forming a distinctive H-shaped or butterfly-shaped core.
What bone, (or group of bones), encloses and shields the brain from direct physical impacts?
The Cranium
A thick band of nerve fibers called the _?_ connects the two hemispheres, allowing them to communicate and share information.
corpus callosum
The _?_ is an almond-sized brain structure located below the thalamus and above the pituitary gland that acts as the body's primary control center for maintaining homeostasis.
The hypothalamus
The brainstem connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the _?_.
Spinal cord
Jerking the hand away from the hot burner is an example of what?
Reflex arc or spinal reflex
What is the composition of grey matter?
Grey matter is made up neuron cell bodies (somas), dendrites, synapses, and glial cells.
What do we call the three layers of specialized connective tissue membranes that wrap tightly around the brain and spinal cord?
Meninges
The cerebrum has many folds called _?_.
Gyri
What structure acts as a primary relay and control center connecting the cerebrum to the rest of the nervous system and the endocrine system?
The Dienchephalon
What is the name of the top section of the brainstem; handles visual and auditory reflexes (like tracking moving objects or reacting to sudden sounds)?
Midbrain (Mesencephalon)
What is the foramen magnum?
The foramen magnum is the largest opening in the base of the skull, located within the occipital bone.
What is white matter made up of?
White matter is composed of nerve fibers (axons) wrapped in a fatty, protective coating called myelin sheath.
Which "Mater" is the middle layer with a loose, web-like appearance?
The Arachnoid Matter
Which of the four cerebral lobes deals with visual perception and processing?
Occipital Lobe
The _?_ is a pair of egg-shaped gray matter structures near the center of the brain that acts as a central relay station for sensory, motor, and cognitive signals.
The thalamus
What is the name of the middle bridge-like section of the brainstem that connects the cerebrum to the cerebellum and helps manage facial movements, balance, hearing, and sleep cycles?
The Pons
What do we call fast, automatic neural pathways that control involuntary responses to a stimulus without requiring conscious thought from the brain?
Reflex arcs also called spinal reflexes
_?_ Matter acts as the brain and spinal cord's communication network, speeding up and routing electrical signals.
White matter
What is the function of BBB (Blood-Brain Barrier)?
The BBB (Blood-Brain Barrier) shields delicate brain tissue from blood-borne toxins, bacteria, and viruses.
List the 4 lobes.
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and the Temporal
The diencephalon is made up of 4 different parts, name them.
The diencephalon is made up of 4 different parts: the thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, and the epithalamus.
Name the lowest section of the brainatem that connects directly to the spinal cord and regulates fundamental survival processes including breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, coughing, and vomiting?
The Medulla Oblongata
Below the spinal cord's termination point, a bundle of individual nerve roots extends downward through the spinal canal, resembling a horse's tail. What is the name of this structure?
Cauda Equina
Explain how white mater improves the speed of impulses.
Processing Speed: The myelin insulation allows electrical impulses to jump rapidly along the axon, from node of Ranvier to node of Ranvier and so on.
What is CSF, where is it found and what does it do?
CSF is cerebral spinal fluid that is a clear liquid. It fills the subarachnoid spaces (between the arachnoid and pia layers) and internal brain ventricles, acting as a fluid cushion to absorb impact.