Brain Functions Flashcards

Meninges and Protective Structures

• Arachnoid Mater: A web-like structure between the dura mater and pia mater, filled with subarachnoid space; surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
• Pia Mater: Delicate membrane covering the brain's surface; protects the central nervous system (CNS) by containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which cushions the brain and spine.
• Dura Mater: Tough outer layer that envelops the arachnoid mater; supports dural sinuses and helps transport blood from the brain towards the heart.

Brain Structures and Functions

• Mamillary Bodies: Reflex centers associated with the sense of smell and memory; part of the limbic system.
• Infundibulum: Funnel-shaped stalk connecting the pituitary gland to the brain, facilitating hormone delivery.
• Hypothalamus: Regulates essential behaviors such as hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Thalamus and Pineal Gland

• Thalamus: Processes sensory information; acts as a relay station for sensations and is involved in consciousness and sleep regulation.
• Pineal Body/Gland: Secretes melatonin, regulating circadian rhythms and reproductive hormones.

Memory and Limbic System

• Fornix: C-shaped structure linking the hippocampus with mammillary bodies, crucial for memory formation and recall.

Diencephalon Composition

• Diencephalon: Comprises hypothalamus, thalamus, epithalamus, pineal gland, and subthalamus; relays sensory information and manages autonomic functions of the peripheral nervous system.

Cerebrum and Its Lobes

• Corpus Callosum: Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating communication and neural message transmission.
• Cerebrum: The largest brain part, responsible for higher functions like thought and action, divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.

Lobe Functions

• Occipital Lobe: Processes visual information received from the eyes.
• Temporal Lobe: Responsible for auditory processing, particularly sounds from the ears.
• Parietal Lobe: Handles sensory processing related to taste, temperature, and touch.
• Frontal Lobe: Responsible for motor functions, problem-solving, memory, language, judgement, and social behaviors.

Cerebrospinal Fluid and Ventricles

• Cerebrospinal Fluid: Clear fluid between the arachnoid and pia mater; cushions and protects the brain while providing mechanical and immunological safeguards.
• Lateral Ventricles: Right and left structures containing CSF that cushions the brain and aids in nutrient circulation and waste removal.
• Third Ventricle: Narrow cavity filled with CSF, located between the brain's hemispheres; involved in nutrient transport and injury protection.
• Cerebral Aqueduct: Connects the third and fourth ventricles of the brain; contains CSF and serves as a passage for fluid flow.
• Fourth Ventricle: Protects the brain from trauma through cushioning; contributes to forming the central canal of the spinal cord.
• Central Canal: Houses the spinal cord within the vertebral column, providing a protective structure for nerve bundles.
• Choroid Plexus: Specialized barrier producing CSF within the cerebral ventricles, forming the blood-CSF barrier critical for homeostasis.

Explore the essential structures of the central nervous system with this brain functions quiz, focusing on the meninges: Arachnoid Mater, Pia Mater, and Dura Mater. Gain a better understanding of their roles in protecting and supporting the brain and spinal cord.