| Term | Definition |
|---|
| medulla oblongata | region of the hindbrain that joins the spinal cord to cerebellum. Important site of autonomic nerve control |
| meninges | protective membranes that surround the brain & spinal cord |
| cerebellum | part of hindbrain that controls limb movements, balance & muscle tone |
| thalamus | coordinates & interprets sensory info. & directs it to the cerebrum |
| hypothalamus | main control center for the autonomic nervous system & endocrine hormone system |
| gyri | elevated ridges of tissue that cover the cerebral surface |
| sulci | shallow grooves that separate gyri |
| spinal cord | column of nervous tissue from the brainstem through the vertebrae, responsible for nerve conduction to and from the brain and the body |
| cerebrum | anterior portion of the brain consisting of two hemispheres. Intergrate sensory information and coordinate the creature's response to that information. |
| olfactory bulb | One of two enlargements at the terminus of the olfactory nerve at the base of the brain just above the nasal cavities. They interpret info. on smell. |
| optic chiasm | the crossing of the optic nerves from the two eyes at the base of the brain |
| pons | a band of nerve fibers linking the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum with the midbrain. Regulates sleep/wake cycle. |
| corpus callosum | The large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them. |
| pituitary gland | A small oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the vertebrate brain and consisting of an anterior and a posterior lobe, the secretions of which control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism, and maturation. |
| frontal lobe | involved in the control of muscles & the integration of info. from other parts of the brain (help us reason) |
| parietal lobe | receives sensory info. from skin & skeletal muscles - also involved in taste |
| occipital lobe | portion posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes, responsible for vision |
| temporal lobe | portion that lies below the frontal lobe, responsible for sense of hearing, smell and meaningful speech |
| grey matter | contains mostly unmyelinated fibers and cell bodies |
| white matter | composed of myelinated axons. |
| ventricles | series of interconnected cavities within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem filled with cerebrospinal fluid |
| lateral fissure | the prominent horizontal groove separating the frontal and temporal lobes in each hemisphere |
| pineal gland | small mass of tissue near the center of the brain. It secretes the hormones such as melatonin (regulates sleep patterns) & serotonin(emotion, sleep, appetite) |
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