Tag: central nervous system

The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain, accounting for about 85 percent of the brain's weight. It is responsible for higher-order functions like thought, memory, and voluntary movement.

The pallium is the term used to describe the outer layer or roof of the cerebrum in vertebrates. In mammals, this structure develops into the cerebral cortex.

Arachnoid, duramater, and piamater are the three layers of the meninges that protect the brain. The choroid plexus is a structure within the ventricles that produces cerebrospinal fluid, making it the odd one out.

The piamater is the innermost layer of the meninges and is in direct contact with the surface of the brain (cerebrum). The arachnoid and duramater are further away from the brain tissue.

Cerebral peduncles are structures located in the midbrain that connect the cerebrum to the cerebellum and other lower brain regions. They act as pathways for nerve impulses.

The iter (or cerebral aqueduct) is a narrow channel that connects the third ventricle (in the diencephalon) to the fourth ventricle (located near the medulla and cerebellum).

The medulla oblongata controls vital autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. While it is part of the brain stem, the specific response to a needle prick (a spinal reflex) is primarily mediated by the spinal cord, though the medulla is essential for overall life support.

The medulla oblongata contains the cardiovascular center, which regulates heart rate and blood vessel diameter. It is the primary control center for autonomic cardiac regulation.

The medulla oblongata is the control center for many autonomic functions, including respiration, cardiovascular reflexes, and various digestive processes like gastric secretion.

The brain stem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The cerebrum is part of the forebrain, not the brain stem.