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Anatomy & Physiology: Brain Structure and Function

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  • Size and weight of the adult brain
    Approximately 1200 mL in volume and 1.4 kg in weight.
  • Percentage of body's neural tissue in the brain
    The brain contains about 97% of the body's neural tissue.
  • Does brain size relate to intelligence?
    No, brain size does not correlate with intelligence.
  • Six regions of the brain
    Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Diencephalon, Midbrain, Pons, Medulla oblongata.
  • Largest part of the brain
    The cerebrum, making up about 85% of brain mass.
  • Functions of the cerebrum
    Controls conscious thought, memory, and voluntary movement.
  • Divisions of the cerebrum
    Divided into two hemispheres: left and right.
  • What is the cerebral cortex?
    A thin layer (1–4.5 mm) of gray matter covering the cerebrum.
  • Gyri, sulci, and fissures
    Gyri are ridges, sulci are shallow grooves, and fissures are deep grooves on the brain surface.
  • Types of white matter fibers
    Association fibers connect within the same hemisphere, commissural fibers connect hemispheres, and projection fibers connect to lower CNS.
  • Function of basal nuclei
    Control subconscious motor movements and are involved in movement regulation.
  • Effect of basal nuclei disruption
    Disruption can cause diseases like Parkinson’s due to dopamine imbalance.
  • Location and function of primary motor cortex
    Located in the frontal lobe, it controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement.
  • Sensory functions of parietal, occipital, temporal, and frontal lobes
    Parietal: somatosensory (touch, pain, temperature); Occipital: vision; Temporal: hearing and smell; Frontal: taste (gustatory cortex).
  • Role of association areas
    Interpret sensory information and connect it to appropriate responses.
  • Functions of premotor cortex
    Coordinates learned, skilled movements.
  • Functions of Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas
    Wernicke’s area: language comprehension; Broca’s area: speech production.
  • Functions of the prefrontal cortex
    Controls planning, decision making, and personality.
  • Left vs. right hemisphere functions
    Left controls math, speech, and logic; right controls sensory perception and recognition.
  • Definition of aphasia and dyslexia
    Aphasia: difficulty speaking or understanding language; Dyslexia: difficulty reading or writing.
  • Brain waves and their states
    Alpha: relaxed awake; Beta: active thinking; Theta: children/light sleep; Delta: deep sleep.
  • What is a seizure?
    Uncontrolled, abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
  • Size and function of the cerebellum
    Second largest brain part (~11%), responsible for balance, coordination, and refining learned movements.
  • What are folia and arbor vitae?
    Folia: folds of the cerebellum; Arbor vitae: tree-like white matter inside the cerebellum.
  • Symptoms of cerebellum damage
    Ataxia, which is loss of coordination.
  • Parts and functions of the diencephalon
    Includes epithalamus (pineal gland, melatonin), thalamus (sensory relay), and hypothalamus (homeostasis control).
  • Functions of the hypothalamus
    Controls autonomic functions (HR, BP, digestion), regulates the endocrine system, produces ADH and oxytocin, and manages hunger, thirst, emotions, temperature, and circadian rhythm.
  • Brainstem parts and their functions
    Includes midbrain (visual/auditory reflexes), pons (connects cerebellum, controls breathing rhythm), and medulla (vital functions like heart rate, BP, breathing).
  • Role of the limbic system
    Involved in emotions and memory, includes hippocampus (memory), amygdala (emotions), and fornix (connects limbic structures).
  • What are ventricles and their connections?
    Fluid-filled spaces in the brain: lateral, third, and fourth ventricles; connected by the cerebral aqueduct.
  • Functions and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
    CSF protects and cushions the brain, is produced by the choroid plexus, and circulates through ventricles to the subarachnoid space.
  • Layers of the meninges
    Three layers: dura mater (outer), arachnoid mater (middle), and pia mater (inner).
  • What is the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?
    A protective barrier with tight junctions that blocks most harmful substances from entering the brain.
  • Differences between epidural and subdural hemorrhages
    Epidural hemorrhage: bleeding outside the dura mater; Subdural hemorrhage: bleeding beneath the dura mater.
  • What is a stroke (CVA)?
    Loss of blood flow to brain tissue causing neuron death.
  • High-yield brain function summary
    Cerebrum: thinking; Cerebellum: coordination; Thalamus: sensory relay; Hypothalamus: homeostasis; Medulla: vital life functions.