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Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System
Hoehn - Marieb Human Anatomy & Physiology, 12th edition
Hoehn, Haynes, Abbott12th EditionMarieb Human Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138242732Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 12, Problem 16

a. Make a rough drawing of the lateral aspect of the left cerebral hemisphere.
b. You may be thinking, 'But I just can't draw!' So, name the hemisphere involved with most people's ability to draw.
c. On your drawing, locate the following areas and provide the major function of each: primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, somatosensory association cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, visual and auditory areas, prefrontal cortex, Wernicke's and Broca's areas.

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Step 1: For part (a), start by sketching the outline of the left cerebral hemisphere from a lateral (side) view. Include major landmarks such as the frontal lobe at the front, parietal lobe on top and toward the back, temporal lobe below the parietal lobe, and occipital lobe at the rear. This will help you place the functional areas accurately.
Step 2: For part (b), understand that the hemisphere most involved with drawing and artistic abilities is typically the right cerebral hemisphere. This is because the right hemisphere is generally associated with creativity, spatial ability, and visual imagery, which are important for drawing.
Step 3: For part (c), on your drawing, locate the primary motor cortex along the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe. Its major function is to control voluntary muscle movements.
Step 4: Next, identify the premotor cortex just anterior to the primary motor cortex; it is involved in planning and coordinating complex movements. Then, locate the primary somatosensory cortex on the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe, which processes tactile information from the body.
Step 5: Also mark the somatosensory association cortex posterior to the primary somatosensory cortex, responsible for integrating sensory input to understand object size, shape, and texture. Place the visual areas in the occipital lobe (processing visual information) and auditory areas in the superior temporal lobe (processing sound). Finally, locate the prefrontal cortex in the anterior frontal lobe (involved in decision making and personality), Wernicke's area in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus (language comprehension), and Broca's area in the inferior frontal gyrus (speech production).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Anatomy of the Cerebral Hemisphere

Understanding the lateral aspect of the cerebral hemisphere involves recognizing major gyri, sulci, and lobes visible from the side. This includes the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, which house various functional areas essential for motor, sensory, and cognitive tasks.
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Cerebral White Matter

Functional Localization in the Cerebral Cortex

Different cortical areas have specialized functions, such as the primary motor cortex controlling voluntary movement, the somatosensory cortex processing touch, and association areas integrating sensory information. Knowing these helps in identifying the role of each labeled region on the drawing.
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Functional Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

Hemispheric Specialization and Dominance

Most people have a dominant hemisphere (usually the left) responsible for language and analytical tasks, while the non-dominant hemisphere (usually the right) is linked to spatial abilities and creativity, including drawing. This concept explains why one hemisphere is more involved in artistic skills.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Explain how the cerebellum is physically connected to the brain stem.

Textbook Question

a. How is cerebrospinal fluid formed and drained? Describe its pathway within and around the brain.

b What happens if CSF does not drain properly? Why is this consequence more harmful in adults?

Textbook Question

Describe the stages of sleep and outline the order in which we progress through these stages during a typical night's sleep

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Textbook Question

All of the following descriptions refer to dorsal column–medial lemniscal ascending pathways except one:

a. They include the fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus.

b. They include a chain of three neurons.

c. Their connections are diffuse and poorly localized.

d. They are concerned with precise transmission of one or a few related types of sensory input.

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Textbook Question

A number of brain structures are listed below. If an area is primarily gray matter, write a in the answer blank; if mostly white matter, respond with b

________  (1) cerebral cortex 

________   (2) corpus callosum and corona radiata 

________   (3) red nucleus 

________   (4) medial and lateral nuclear groups 

________   (5) medial lemniscus 

________   (6) cranial nerve nuclei 

________   (7) spinothalamic tract 

________   (8) fornix 

________  (9) cingulate and precentral gyri

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Textbook Question

a. What is the advantage of having a cerebrum that is highly convoluted?

b. What term is used to indicate its grooves? Its outward folds?

c. Which groove divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres?

d. What divides the parietal from the frontal lobe? The parietal from the temporal lobe?

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