Biology 2121 – Pre-Lecture Questions – Brain and Cranial Nerves

I. Complete the table concerning cerebral hemispheres and lobes

1. Name the 5 lobes of the brain
2. Name the fissure that separates the two hemispheres.
3. Which fissure separates the cerebral hemispheres from the cerebellum?
4. What does the central sulcus separate?
5. What does the lateral sulcus separate?

II. Complete the tables concerning the brain ventricles.

Ventricle / Location
1. Lateral Ventricles / Deep in the cerebral hemispheres, separated by the septum pellucidum (membrane)
2. Third Ventricles
3. Fourth Ventricle
4. What structure allows the lateral ventricles to communicate with the third ventricle?
5. The third and fourth ventricles are connected by this structure.
6. What are the functions of the apertures?

III. Complete the table concerning the brain protection- Meninges

Structure / Location / Characteristics
1. Dura Mater / Outer meninges layer / Two-layers of connective tissue: superficial called periosteal layer and meningeal layer
2. Dural Sinuses
3. Arachnoid Mater
4. Pia Mater

IV. Complete the following table concerning cerebrospinal fluid (production and circulation)

1. State several characteristics/functions of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) / Cushions the brain; makes brain buoyant; reduces brain weight by 97%; protects brain from blows; provides nourishment for the brain.
2. Describe the contents of the CSF.
3. What is the function of the choroid plexus? Where are they located?
4. How much CFS is produced per day?

V. Complete the following table concerning the blood-brain barrier.

1. List several functions of the blood brain barrier.
2. Explain why the blood brain barrier is considered to be selective. Give examples.
3. What substances is the blood brain barrier ineffective against?
4. Explain why the hypothalamus dependent on the blood brain barrier?

VI. Complete the table concerning the Diencephalon

Part / Structure / Function(s) / Other Characteristics
1. Thalamus / Consist of many nuclei; each has a specific function; / From the nuclei in the thalamus fibers run to and from the cerebral cortex; Afferent impulses from all senses from all parts of the body are directed to the thalamus; Sorts out information ; gives us a crude understanding of sensations; mediates sensation, motor activities, learning and memory. / Intermediate mass connects thalamic nuclei from each hemisphere.
2. Hypothalamus
3. Epithalamus

VII. Brain Stem- complete the table below

Parts / Structure / Function(s) / Other Characteristics
1. Midbrain
2. Pons
3. Medulla Oblongata

VIII. Answer the questions concerning the Basal Nuclei below

1. Where is the basal nuclei located?
2. Summarize the basic structures of the basal nuclei
3. Summarize the function(s) of the basal nuclei.

IX. Complete the table below concerning the cerebellum.

1. How much of the total brain mass does the cerebellum account for?
2. Describe the location of the cerebellum.
3. Briefly summarize the basic functions of the cerebellum.
4. How many hemispheres does the cerebellum have? What separates them?
5. What are the Purkinje Fibers? What is their function(s)?
6. What are the arbor vitae?

X. Answer the questions concerning the cerebral cortex below.

1. What % of the total brain mass does the cerebral cortex account for?
2. Name the three functional areas of the cortex.
3. How thick is the cortex?
4. Are the hemispheres equal in function? Explain
5. Contralateral refers to what concerning the cerebral hemispheres.
6. Where is the primary or somatic motor cortex located?
7. What are the pyramidal cells and tracts? What is their function?
8. What is the function of the primary motor cortex?
9. Briefly summarize the most important aspects of the premotor cortex
10. Do the same for Broca’s area.
11. Do the same for the frontal eye field.
12. What is the general function(s) of the Sensory Cortex?
13. State where the Primary Sensory Cortex is located.
14. What lobes are the sensory cortex located in?

XI. Answer the following questions concerning the Sensory Cortex.

1. Neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex area receive information from the ______.

2. The neurons then identify the body region being stimulated and this is called ______.

3. The major function of the somatosensory associatin cortex is ______.

4. State the function(s) of each sensory cortex area and the function(s) of the association areas.

Primary Visual Cortex: ______

Visual Association Cortex: ______

Primary Auditory Cortex: ______

Olfactory Cortex: ______

Gustatory Cortex: ______

Visceral Sensory Area: ______

Vestibular Cortex: ______

XII. Answer the following questions concerning the White Matter of the Brain.

1. These white fibers connect gray areas of each hemisphere: ______The largest of these commisures is the ______.

2. The Association Fibers ______

3. ______Fibers connect the rest of the nervous system (receptors, effectors) to the cortex.

4. The outside part of the brain is ______mater and the internal part of the brain is composed of ______matter.

XIII. Answer the following questions concerning the Cranial Nerves (begins on page 500)

1. There are ______pairs of cranial nerves.

2. Complete the table below concerning cranial nerves

Nerve / Number / Function
Olfactory / I / Sensory only; afferent impulses carried to CNS for sense of smell
Optic / II / Sensory only; carries afferent impulses back to the CNS for vision
Oculomotor / III / Mostly motor (efferent); somatic motor nerves to the 6 extrinsic skeletal muscles of the eye; Parasympathetic autonomic motor fibers to the sphincter pupillae (muscles of iris) controls lens shape; and sensory afferent fibers called proprioceptors of the eye, that send information back to the CNS.
Trochlear Nerves / IV / Mostly motor nerves that supply somatic motor fibers to the superior oblique muscle of the eye.
Trigeminal / V / V1 division:
V2 division:
V3 division:
Abducens / VI
Facial / VII
Vestibulocochlear / VIII
Glossopharyngeal / IX
Vagus / X
Accessory Nerve / XI
Hypoglossal / XII

3. What is a mixed nerve? ______

4. List the cranial nerves that are mixed: ______