Neuroscience - Neuroanatomy & Brain Function Flashcards

Question 1

Frontal Lobe

Accepted Answer

Located at the anterior portion of the cerebral cortex. Responsible for higher executive functions (decision-making, planning, problem-solving), voluntary motor control (**primary motor cortex**), and expressive language production (**Broca's area**).

Question 2

Parietal Lobe

Accepted Answer

Located posterior to the frontal lobe. Houses the **primary somatosensory cortex**, processing tactile sensation (touch, pressure, pain, temperature) and integrating spatial awareness and proprioception.

Question 3

Temporal Lobe

Accepted Answer

Located inferior to the lateral fissure. Primary site for processing auditory information (**primary auditory cortex**), receptive language comprehension (**Wernicke's area**), and memory processing via underlying limbic structures.

Question 4

Occipital Lobe

Accepted Answer

Located at the posterior region of the cerebral hemisphere. Contains the **primary visual cortex (V1)**, specialized for receiving, processing, and interpreting visual stimuli (shape, color, motion, spatial processing).

Question 5

Cerebellum

Accepted Answer

Located inferior to the occipital lobe and posterior to the brainstem. Coordinates fine motor control, timing, posture, and balance, and is essential for motor skill learning without directly initiating movement.

Question 6

Brainstem (Midbrain, Pons, Medulla Oblongata)

Accepted Answer

Connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. Regulates critical involuntary functions such as heart rate, respiration, digestion, and sleep-wake cycles, and contains nuclei for cranial nerves III–XII.

Question 7

Thalamus

Accepted Answer

A paired diencephalic structure acting as the brain's chief **sensory relay station**. Relays all sensory inputs (except olfaction) to corresponding cortical regions and regulates alertness and consciousness.

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

Located inferior to the thalamus. Maintains internal body **homeostasis** by regulating temperature, hunger, thirst, circadian rhythms, and controlling the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Question 9

Basal Ganglia

Accepted Answer

A group of subcortical nuclei (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus) that modulate motor control, movement initiation, procedural learning, and habit formation.

Question 10

Hippocampus

Accepted Answer

A seahorse-shaped structure inside the temporal lobe critical for consolidating **short-term memory into long-term declarative memory** and spatial navigation. Early site of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Question 11

Amygdala

Accepted Answer

An almond-shaped structure in the temporal lobe responsible for processing emotional responses, particularly **fear, aggression, and anxiety**, as well as emotional memory consolidation.

Question 12

Broca's Area vs. Wernicke's Area

Accepted Answer

**Broca's Area** (inferior frontal gyrus): Governs motor speech production. Damage results in *expressive (non-fluent) aphasia*.
**Wernicke's Area** (posterior temporal gyrus): Governs language comprehension. Damage results in *receptive (fluent) aphasia*.

Question 13

Cranial Nerves Overview

Accepted Answer

12 pairs of peripheral nerves originating from the brain/brainstem:
- **Sensory only**: CN I (Olfactory), II (Optic), VIII (Vestibulocochlear)
- **Motor only**: CN III, IV, VI (eye movement), XI (accessory), XII (tongue)
- **Mixed**: CN V, VII, IX, X (Vagus—primary parasympathetic innervation).

Question 14

Resting Membrane Potential & Nernst Equation

Accepted Answer

The baseline electrical charge across a neuron's membrane ($\approx -70\	ext{ mV}$), maintained by the $\	ext{Na}^+/\	ext{K}^+$ ATPase pump. The equilibrium potential ($E$) for a single ion is calculated via the Nernst Equation:
$E_i = \frac{RT}{zF} \ln \frac{[i]_{\	ext{outside}}}{[i]_{\	ext{inside}}}$

Question 15

Action Potential Phases

Accepted Answer

1. **Depolarization**: Threshold ($\approx -55\	ext{ mV}$) reached; voltage-gated $\	ext{Na}^+$ channels open, causing $\	ext{Na}^+$ influx.
2. **Repolarization**: $\	ext{Na}^+$ channels inactivate; voltage-gated $\	ext{K}^+$ channels open, causing $\	ext{K}^+$ efflux.
3. **Hyperpolarization**: Slow closing of $\	ext{K}^+$ channels drops potential below resting state.

Question 16

Glutamate vs. GABA

Accepted Answer

**Glutamate**: Primary **excitatory** neurotransmitter in the CNS; causes depolarization (EPSPs) mainly via AMPA and NMDA ionotropic receptors.
**GABA**: Primary **inhibitory** neurotransmitter in the CNS; causes hyperpolarization (IPSPs) via $\	ext{Cl}^-$ channel opening ($	ext{GABA}_A$) or $\	ext{K}^+$ exit ($	ext{GABA}_B$).

Question 17

Monoamine Neurotransmitters

Accepted Answer

- **Dopamine**: Reward, motivation, and motor control (loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra causes Parkinson's disease).
- **Serotonin (5-HT)**: Regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and emotional state.
- **Norepinephrine**: Key mediator of sympathetic arousal, focus, and fight-or-flight responses.

Question 18

Corticospinal Tract (Pyramidal Tract)

Accepted Answer

Major descending motor pathway transmitting voluntary motor commands from the primary motor cortex down to spinal lower motor neurons. Approximately 85–90% of fibers decussate (cross over) in the **medullary pyramids**.

Question 19

Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscal Pathway (DCML)

Accepted Answer

Ascending sensory tract responsible for transmitting **fine touch, two-point discrimination, vibration, and conscious proprioception**. Decussates in the medulla oblongata before projecting through the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex.

Question 20

Spinothalamic Tract (Anterolateral System)

Accepted Answer

Ascending sensory pathway responsible for transmitting **pain, temperature, and crude touch**. Axons decussate almost immediately at the spinal cord entry level before ascending to the contralateral thalamus.

Question 21

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

Accepted Answer

A highly selective semipermeable border consisting of non-fenestrated brain endothelial cells connected by **tight junctions**, wrapped in astrocyte end-feet. Restricts passage of pathogens and large hydrophilic molecules while permitting lipid-soluble molecules, $\	ext{O}_2$, $\	ext{CO}_2$, and glucose.

Neuroscience - Neuroanatomy & Brain Function

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