Week 24

• What are the primary functions of the spinal cord?

  Transmitting signals, coordinating reflexes, and serving as a pathway for sensory and motor information.
• How does the spinal cord process sensory input and send out motor instructions?

  Neurons
• Identify the components of the brain stem.

  Midbrain

  Pons

  Medulla Oblongata
• The medulla oblongata, located at the base of the brain stem, is involved in regulating basic life functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
• The pons, situated above the medulla, serves as a bridge that connects different regions of the brain.
• The midbrain, located above the pons, is involved in various functions, including visual and auditory processing.
• Differentiate between the thalamus and hypothalamus in the diencephalon: Thalamus is the relay centre of the brain, hypothalamus regulates homeostasis
• What is the function of the thalamus, and how does it contribute to sensory processing?

  the thalamus acts as a central hub for sensory information, filtering, integrating, and relaying signals to the cerebral cortex
• The cerebral hemispheres, comprising the left and right sides of the brain, are integral to a wide range of higher cognitive functions. These functions contribute to complex mental processes, including thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, language, and emotional regulation
• What is the significance of the cerebrum in processing information and decision-making? Higher-level thinking and decision-making occur in the cerebrum, which is responsible for processing sensory information, memory, and conscious thought.
• What functions are associated with the temporal lobe? processing sensory input, memory, language, and emotion.
• The temporal lobe processes auditory information, including pitch and sound location. It is essential for language comprehension, memory formation, emotional processing, and object recognition. The temporal lobe integrates information across different sensory modalities, contributing to a unified perception of the environment.
• Explain the primary function of the occipital lobe: Process visual information from the eye and sends it to the brain.
• The visual cortex, located in the occipital lobe, processes visual information received from the eyes, playing a central role in visual perception, object recognition, and the interpretation of the surrounding environment.
• Discuss the functions of the parietal lobe: integrates sensory information including touch, spatial awareness, and navigation
• How does the parietal lobe contribute to spatial awareness and navigation?

  This region helps individuals understand their position in space and interact effectively with their surroundings.
• The parietal lobe also plays a role in tasks such as hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and the creation of mental maps, enabling effective navigation and spatial awareness.
• Identify the functions associated with the frontal lobe.

  attention, reward, short-term memory, motivation, and planning
• The frontal lobe helps filter and prioritize information, allowing individuals to concentrate on specific stimuli while ignoring distractions
• Differentiate between axons and dendrites in neuronal structure: Axons carry impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, glands while dendrites receive messages from other cells
• Axons transmit signals away from the neuron's cell body, carrying information in the form of action potentials. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons, facilitating communication through synapses where neurotransmitters are released and bind to receptors, allowing electrical signals to be transmitted between neurons.
• Describe the process of chemical communication at synapses. Neurotransmitters are released from the presynaptic neuron and diffuse across the synaptic cleft
• What are action potentials, and how do they facilitate rapid signaling within neurons? Electrical impulses that allow neurons to communicate; they propagate along the neuron's membrane, allowing for rapid transmission of information.
• Explain the differences in ion concentrations across nerve cell membranes: Ion concentrations are higher in the cytosol than in the plasma membrane