BIOL 237
Study Guide
1. Recognize and describe the significance of the following developmental structures of the brain
to the functional structures in a mature brain: neural folds and neural tube, primary brain
vesicles, secondary brain vesicles. Terms: forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, telencephalon,
diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencephalon, myelencephalon.
2. Identify the location and function of the following structures associated with the brain: lateral
ventricles, third ventricle, fourth ventricle, lateral and medial apertures, interventricular
foramen (foramen of Monro), septum pellucidum, cerebral aqueduct, meninges, falx
cerebri, falx cerebelli, tentorium, cerebrospinal fluid.
3. Describe the role and general pathway and cycling of the cerebrospinal fluid of the brain
and spinal cord. Terms: choroid plexus, arachnoid villi (granulations).
4. Identify the locations and functions of the following structures associated with the cerebral
hemispheres: gyri, sulci, fissures, longitudinal fissure, transverse fissure, central sulcus,
parieto-occipital sulcus, post-central gyrus, pre-central gyrus, frontal lobe, parietal lobe,
temporal lobe, occipital lobe, insula, cerebral cortex.
5. Describe the basic plan of the cerebral cortex and identify the functions of its components.
Include: projection areas, association areas, primary motor area (somato-motor cortex),
premotor cortex, Broca's area, frontal eye field, primary somatosensory cortex,
somatosensory association area, primary visual cortex, visual association area, primary
auditory area, auditory association area, olfactory bulbs and tracts, olfactory cortex,
gustatory cortex, prefrontal cortex, general interpretation area, Wernicke's area.
6. Explain what is meant by lateralization and cerebral dominance.
7. Identify the components and functions of white matter of the cerebrum. Include: corpus
callosum, anterior commissure, association fibers, projection fibers, internal capsule,
corona radiata.
8. Identify the components and functions of the basal nuclei. Include: caudate nucleus,
lentiform nucleus (putamen, globus pallidus), corpus striatum, amygdaloid nucleus.
9. Identify the components and functions of the diencephalon. Include: thalamus,
hypothalamus, epithalamus (pineal gland, choroid plexus). Term: intermediate mass,
mammillary bodies, infundibulum, pituitary gland.
10. Identify the components and functions of the brainstem. Include: midbrain (cerebral
aqueduct, corpora quadrigemina, superior colliculi, inferior colliculi, cerebral peduncles,
substantia nigra), pons, medulla oblongata (pyramids, vestibulocochlear nuclei, nucleus
cuneatus, nucleus gracilis), cerebellum (Purkinje cells, arbor vitae).
11. Identify the components and functions of the limbic system. Include: amygdala,
hippocampus.
12. Identify the components and functions of the reticular formation. Term: reticular
activating system.
13. Identify the names, numbers, and functions of the twelve cranial nerves.
14. Identify the characteristics, causes, parts of the brain
involved, and treatments discussed of the following conditions: Schizophrenia,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, dyslexia, Parkinson's disease,
Alzheimer's disease. Include: tau protein, neurofibrillar
tangles, role of pre-frontal lobes, amygdala, Wernicke's area, hippocampus,
substantia nigra, beta amyloid plaque, dopamine, l-dopa.