Brain Structure and Function Guided Notes
Name:____________________________________
The brain is divided into four main regions:

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________
Cerebrum




Largest region
Responsible for _______________________________________________:
◦ speech
◦ memory
◦ reasoning
◦ emotion
◦ consciousness
◦ interpretation of sensation
◦ voluntary movement
Divided into left and right hemispheres
Wrinkled texture
◦ Raised areas called ___________________
◦ Shallow grooves called ____________________
◦ Deep groves called _______________________
The outer part of the cerebrum – called the
_________________________________________-is composed of gray matter


Gray matter = ________________________
____________________________________

This is where thought, sensation, etc. occur

The inner part of the cerebrum is mostly
white matter

White matter = ______________________
____________________________________

This is the connection between different
regions of the brain
The _________________________________________ is one especially important area of white
matter – it’s the connection between the two cerebral hemispheres
Diencephalon structure
The diencephalon consists of three parts:

__________________________

__________________________ (completely enclosed by thalamus)

__________________________

Regulation of autonomic functions, including
◦ __________________________________
◦
__________________________________
◦
__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________– emotional / visceral brain (sex, food, thirst, pain, pleasure)
Circle the parts that are diencephalon. Square the parts that are brain stem.
Brain Stem
The brain stem consists of three parts

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________________________
Controls many autonomic functions, including:

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________
Also allows passage of nerves fibers between brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum


Back of the brain, beneath cerebrum
Like cerebrum, it has
◦
◦
◦
Two hemispheres
Wrinkled surface
Outer cortex made of gray matter outside and inner region of white matter
Functions

_______________________________________
•
_______________________________________
You Do
Using 4 different colors, label the four major regions of the brain.
List the major functions of each section here:
Cerebrum:
Diencephalon:
Brain stem:
Cerebellum:
Label: gyrus, sulcus, cortex (gray matter), white matter, fissure
List three differences between gray matter
and white matter.
Label the parts: cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord, medulla oblongata, mammilary body, thalamus,
pineal body, pons, hypothalamus, corpus callosum, midbrain, optic chiasma
Questions
Following a stroke, a person develops the symptoms listed below. Which part of the brain was
damaged?

ataxia (an inability to coordinate muscular movement)

Drooping left side of face
Cerebrospinal Fluid

Fluid that surrounds and protects brain and spinal cord

Produced by the _________________________ from blood plasma, and drains back into the
blood

Some diseases can be diagnosed by examining CSF collected during a spinal tap
Which glial cells are involved with CSF? What do they do?
Blood brain barrier

Protects the brain from toxins, most drugs, and fluctuations in other chemicals such as ions

Two major barriers
◦
___________________________________________
◦
___________________________ which control flow ofmaterials from blood vessels to
neurons
Why is the blood brain barrier necessary?
Does the blood brain barrier block the passage of alcohol?