PSY/IPN1023 Body and Behavior
TASK 1 – NEUROANATOMY (+ EXTRA ANATOMY FOR PRACTICAL!)
The anatomical locations of the brain are described within three reference frames; with
respect to other body parts, with respect to relative location, and with respect to a viewer’s
perspective. Part A of the figure describes structures oriented in the head relative to other
body parts. Dorsal (superior) refers to the upper side, while ventral (inferior) refers to the
lower side of an organism.
-Part B of the figure illustrates how human brain parts are described in relation to one another
from the frame of reference of the fase. Anterior (frontal) is in front, posterior structures are
located behind, lateral structures are at the side, and medial structures are located at the
centre or between.
-Part C of the figure illustrates terms that describe the direction of a section through the brain
from a viewer’s perspective. A coronal section reveals a frontal view, and is cut in a vertical
plane from the crown of the head down. A horizontal section produces a dorsal view, looking
down on the brain from above. A sagittal section reveals a medial view and is cut
lengthways, front to back.
The nervous system is also symmetrical. Structures that lie on the
same side are ipsilateral, and if they lie on the opposite sides, they are
contralateral to each other. If one lies in each hemisphere, the
structures are bilateral.
Structures close to one another are proximal; those far from another
are distal. Any movement toward a brain structure is afferent,
whereas movement away from is efferent. So, motor pathways leading
to the body from the brain are efferent.
, PSY/IPN1023 Body and Behavior
The frontal lobe is located at the
front of each cerebral hemisphere
and positioned in front of the
parietal lobe and above and in
front of the temporal lobe. It is
separated from the parietal lobe by
the central sulcus, and from the
temporal lobe by the lateral sulcus
(Sylvian fissure). The precentral
gyrus contains the primary motor
cortex, which controls voluntary
movements of specific body parts.
The parietal lobe is positioned
above the occipital lobe and
behind the frontal lobe and central
sulcus. The parietal lobe integrates
sensory information; the major
sensory inputs from the skin relay
through the thalamus to the
parietal lobe. Several areas are also
important in language processing.
The occipital lobe located at the posterior side of the brain and is the visual processing center,
containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex. The temporal lobe is located
beneath the lateral fissure on both cerebral hemispheres. It is involved in processing sensory
input into derived meanings for the appropriate retention of visual memories, language
comprehension and emotion association.
Locations of inputs and outputs to the cortex can be represented by maps. Because of the
specialized regions, each cortical lobe is associated with a specific sense or with movement.
(1) Primary areas receive projections from the
major sensory system or send motor projections to
the muscles. The lateral view in the figure does not
represent their entire extent, because they also
extent down into cortical gyri and fissures.
(2) Secondary areas adjacent to primary areas and
interconnected with them are involved in
elaborating information received from primary
areas, or, sending commands to it.
(3) Tertiary areas encompass all cortex not
specialized for sensory or motor functions. Rather,
the associated areas mediate complex activities
such as language, planning, memory and attention.
TASK 1 – NEUROANATOMY (+ EXTRA ANATOMY FOR PRACTICAL!)
The anatomical locations of the brain are described within three reference frames; with
respect to other body parts, with respect to relative location, and with respect to a viewer’s
perspective. Part A of the figure describes structures oriented in the head relative to other
body parts. Dorsal (superior) refers to the upper side, while ventral (inferior) refers to the
lower side of an organism.
-Part B of the figure illustrates how human brain parts are described in relation to one another
from the frame of reference of the fase. Anterior (frontal) is in front, posterior structures are
located behind, lateral structures are at the side, and medial structures are located at the
centre or between.
-Part C of the figure illustrates terms that describe the direction of a section through the brain
from a viewer’s perspective. A coronal section reveals a frontal view, and is cut in a vertical
plane from the crown of the head down. A horizontal section produces a dorsal view, looking
down on the brain from above. A sagittal section reveals a medial view and is cut
lengthways, front to back.
The nervous system is also symmetrical. Structures that lie on the
same side are ipsilateral, and if they lie on the opposite sides, they are
contralateral to each other. If one lies in each hemisphere, the
structures are bilateral.
Structures close to one another are proximal; those far from another
are distal. Any movement toward a brain structure is afferent,
whereas movement away from is efferent. So, motor pathways leading
to the body from the brain are efferent.
, PSY/IPN1023 Body and Behavior
The frontal lobe is located at the
front of each cerebral hemisphere
and positioned in front of the
parietal lobe and above and in
front of the temporal lobe. It is
separated from the parietal lobe by
the central sulcus, and from the
temporal lobe by the lateral sulcus
(Sylvian fissure). The precentral
gyrus contains the primary motor
cortex, which controls voluntary
movements of specific body parts.
The parietal lobe is positioned
above the occipital lobe and
behind the frontal lobe and central
sulcus. The parietal lobe integrates
sensory information; the major
sensory inputs from the skin relay
through the thalamus to the
parietal lobe. Several areas are also
important in language processing.
The occipital lobe located at the posterior side of the brain and is the visual processing center,
containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex. The temporal lobe is located
beneath the lateral fissure on both cerebral hemispheres. It is involved in processing sensory
input into derived meanings for the appropriate retention of visual memories, language
comprehension and emotion association.
Locations of inputs and outputs to the cortex can be represented by maps. Because of the
specialized regions, each cortical lobe is associated with a specific sense or with movement.
(1) Primary areas receive projections from the
major sensory system or send motor projections to
the muscles. The lateral view in the figure does not
represent their entire extent, because they also
extent down into cortical gyri and fissures.
(2) Secondary areas adjacent to primary areas and
interconnected with them are involved in
elaborating information received from primary
areas, or, sending commands to it.
(3) Tertiary areas encompass all cortex not
specialized for sensory or motor functions. Rather,
the associated areas mediate complex activities
such as language, planning, memory and attention.
