Additional Brain Structures/Anatomical Landmark Fxn

What is the function of the longitudinal fissure?

deep groove that separates the two cerebral hemispheres

What is the function of the transverse cerebral fissure?

deep groove that separates cerebrum and cerebellum

What is the function of the central sulcus?

groove that separates frontal and parietal lobe

What is the function of the precentral gyrus?

ridge of tissue directly anterior to central sulcus

What is the function of the postcentral gyrus?

ridge of tissue directly posterior to central sulcus

What is the function of the lateral sulcus?

groove that separates temporal lobe from frontal lobe and parietal lobe

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

sensory perception and integration (e.g. taste, smell, touch, etc)

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

motor control and conscious thought

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

auditory perception

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

visual perception

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

endocrine organ that releases, stores, and produces several important hormones to regulate growth, metabolism, blood pressure, and reproduction; it controls the function of many other endocrine glands

What is the function of the cerebral cortex (gray matter)?

outer region of cerebrum responsible for higher level processes such as consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, language, and memory

What is the function of the cerebral medulla (white matter)?

inner region of cerebrum consisting of tracts that connect areas of cerebral cortex to other areas of CNS

What is the function of the spinal cord?

relays sensory, motor, and autonomic information between the brain and rest of the body; coordinates reflexes

What is the function of the lateral and fourth ventricle?

houses and provides passage for circulation of CSF

What is the function of the cerebral aqueduct?

connects the third and fourth ventricles

What is the function of the optic chiasm?

structure located along ventral surface of brain where two optic nerves cross over

What is the function of the pia, arachnoid, and dura mater?

protective covering for the brain and spinal cord