BPK 105 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Pineal Gland, Cerebral Cortex, Epithalamus
27 Apr 2018
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Module 4 - Objectives - Part 5
● List the parts of the brain and the brainstem along with their functions.
major regions of the brain are the brainstem, the cerebellum, the diencephalon, and the
cerebrum
Cerebellum:
- attached to the brainstem by several large connections called cerebellar peduncles
- The connections provide routes of communication between the cerebellum and other
parts of the CNS.
- involved in maintaining balance and muscle tone and in coordinating fine motor
movement.
- If the cerebellum is damaged, muscle tone decreases, and fine motor movements
become very clumsy.
- Action potentials from the cerebral motor cortex descend into the spinal cord to initiate
voluntary movements.
- Collateral branches are sent from the motor cortex to the cerebellum, giving information
representing the intended movement.
- simultaneously, reaching the cerebellum are action potentials from proprioceptive
neurons, which innervate joints, tendons, and muscles and provide information about
the position of body parts.
- cerebellum compares information about the intended movement from the motor cortex to
sensory information from the moving structures.
- If a difference is detected, the cerebellum sends action potentials to motor neurons in
the motor cortex and the spinal cord to correct the discrepancy. The result is smooth and
coordinated movements.
- participating with the cerebrum in learning motor skills, such as playing the piano.
Diencephalon main components: thalamus, the epithalamus, and the hypothalamus.
Thalamus
- largest part of the diencephalon.
- Most sensory input that ascends through the spinal cord and brainstem projects to the
thalamus, where ascending neurons synapse with thalamic neurons.
- Thalamic neurons send their axons to the cerebral cortex.
- influences mood and registers an unlocalized, uncomfortable perception of pain.
Epithalamus
- consists of a few small nuclei, which are involved in the emotional + visceral response
to odors, and the pineal gland.
- The pineal gland = an endocrine gland that may influence the onset of puberty + may
play a role in controlling some long-term cycles that are influenced by the light-dark
cycle.
Document Summary
List the parts of the brain and the brainstem along with their functions. major regions of the brain are the brainstem, the cerebellum, the diencephalon, and the cerebrum. Cerebellum: attached to the brainstem by several large connections called cerebellar peduncles. The connections provide routes of communication between the cerebellum and other parts of the cns. involved in maintaining balance and muscle tone and in coordinating fine motor movement . If the cerebellum is damaged, muscle tone decreases, and fine motor movements become very clumsy. Action potentials from the cerebral motor cortex descend into the spinal cord to initiate voluntary movements. If a difference is detected, the cerebellum sends action potentials to motor neurons in the motor cortex and the spinal cord to correct the discrepancy. The result is smooth and coordinated movements. participating with the cerebrum in learning motor skills, such as playing the piano. Diencephalon main components: thalamus, the epithalamus, and the hypothalamus.
