Key Cerebral Anatomical Structures/Regions • Cerebral cortex - Outer, cellular gray matter of the brain • Subcortical white matter - Dense core of connection fibers (thicker than the cerebral cortex) • Cerebrospinal fluid - Assists the meninges in nourishing and supporting the nervous system with essential nutrients and metabolites. • Brainstem - Contains cranial nerve nuclei and other essential neuronal populations and fiber tracts • Cerebellum - Fundamental for balance and motor coordination • Cerebral Lobes - Frontal (superior/anterior) - Parietal (superior/posterior) - Temporal (inferior) - Occipital (posterior) - Limbic (medial) • Corpus callosum - Major white matter pathway • Hippocampus - Major memory-processing center • Amygdala - Seat of emotional and behavioral processing • Fissures and Sulci: - Fissures: alter the contour of the cerebral ventricles (Sylvian fissure) - Sulci: indent the outer surface of the brain (central sulcus): extends from the apex of the brain to the Sylvian fissure • Precentral gyrus - Primary motor cortex which lies anterior to the central sulcus: initiates movement • [Postcentral gyrus - Primary sensory cortex which lies posterior to the central sulcus: initial cortical reception site for sensation • Cingulate gyrus - Functions in motivation, attention (anteriorly) and learning and memory (posteriorly) • Parahippocampal gyrus - Shuttles information into and out of the hippocampusCerebrum: Lateral View Lateral Aspect of the Cerebrum • Superior/anterior is the frontal lobe; it comprises a large portion of the brain. - Responsible for cognitive functions, such as language production and organizational skills; motor planning and initiation, and volitional eye movements; thus, the frontal lobe both generates and governs many discrete and important higher level actions. • Superior/posterior is the parietal lobe. - Responsible for sensory processing and spatial orientation; it guides us through our environment. • Inferior is the temporal lobe. - Responsible for language comprehension and visual identification; it stores visual, auditory, olfactory, and other forms of information. • Posterior is the occipital lobe. - Primarily known for visual reception and processing; even a large occipital stroke will mostly only manifest with vision loss because of this area's dedication to vision.Medial Aspect of the Cerebrum - Superior/anterior is the frontal lobe. - Superior/posterior is the parietal lobe. - Inferior is the temporal lobe. - And posterior is the occipital lobe. - Central is the limbic lobe. It is best known for its role in memory, which localizes posteriorly, and emotional processing, which localizes anteriorly.Lateral Aspect of the Cerebrum • Superior/anterior is the frontal lobe; it comprises a large portion of the brain. - Responsible for cognitive functions, such as language production and organizational skills; motor planning and initiation, and volitional eye movements; thus, the frontal lobe both generates and governs many discrete and important higher level actions. • Superior/posterior is the parietal lobe. - Responsible for sensory processing and spatial orientation; it guides us through our environment. • Inferior is the temporal lobe. - Responsible for language comprehension and visual identification; it stores visual, auditory, olfactory, and other forms of information. • Posterior is the occipital lobe. - Primarily known for visual reception and processing; even a large occipital stroke will mostly only manifest with vision loss because of this area's dedication to vision.