Brain and Central Nervous System - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

Receptors in the hypothalamus regulate temperature by sending nerve signals to muscles and sweat glands in the body. The hypothalamus is located deep within the center of the brain, at the very top of the brain stem. The other answers are different sections of the brain responsible for other tasks. For instance, the cerebrum is the largest section of the brain responsible for memory, consciousness, language and intellect.

The cerebral cortex is also referred to as the "higher brain." It acts to process thoughts and store memories. More basic, vital activities such as heart beat and breathing are controlled by other, less developed regions of the brain. Note that the hippocampus plays a role in creating memories, but most memories are stored in the cerebrum; this is the link between long term and short term memory storage.

The hypothalamus is responsible for cooling and heating mechanisms in the body, and thus is the correct answer.

The cerebrum is responsible for higher brain functions, like conscious thought. The cerebellum is essential for balance and coordination. The thalamus is primarily responsible for integrating and coordinating sensory input to the brain.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance. Injury to the cerebellum can result in a loss of motor coordination.

The medulla oblongata controls autonomic activities, such as regulating heart and respiration rates. The hypothalamus regulates the fight-or-flight response, sex drive, thirst, and hunger. The midbrain is the center for auditory and visual signal relay to the cortex. The hippocampus functions in the retention of memories.

The medulla oblongata is responsible for autonomic functions, such as breathing rate and heart rate regulation. Dysfunction of the medulla oblongata could result in problems with breathing rhythm.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance. The hypothalamus regulates the fight-or-flight response, sex drive, thirst, and hunger. The midbrain is the center for auditory and visual signal relay to the cortex. The hippocampus functions in the retention of memories.

The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of movement between the motor and sensory cortices. It helps account for movements and correct the magnitude of stimulation of skeletal muscle. The cerebellum is essential for fine-tuning functions like balance and hand-eye coordination.

The medulla, or medulla oblongata, is mainly responsible for the modulation of involuntary vital functions like ventilation rate and heart rate. The hypothalamus plays a key role in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and also plays a key role in hunger, sexual reproduction, and endocrine function. The temporal lobe is a region of the cerebrum, and is associated with auditory and speech function as well as memory formation.

During the knee-jerk reflex, the neural signal is initiated by the stretching of the patella tendon, which is transmitted via sensory neuron to the spinal cord. In turn, the signal is transmitted to the motor neuron, resulting in the contraction of quadriceps. Most importantly, the reflex bypasses the brain, allowing a speedy reaction of the body to the stimulus.

The hindbrain consists of the pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum.

The cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus are part of the forebrain. Broca's area is a specific region of the cerebrum dedicated to understanding language.

White matter refers to the white-colored myelin that surrounds the axons of neurons in the central nervous system. These axons are grouped together, creating distinct regions of white matter. In contrast, grey matter refers to the cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system. The cell bodies are packed together into dense regions to create grey matter.

In a cross-section of the spinal cord, gray matter is located in the center and is surrounded by white matter.

As described in the passage, the innermost layer is the pia mater, then the arachnoid space, arachnoid mater and finally the dura mater. The dura mater is the outermost layer prior to the skull/vertebral column. Therefore, during a lumbar puncture, the needle will have to pass through the dura mater first then through the arachnoid mater to get to the sub-arachnoid space.

Fine touch, vibration, proprioception and 2 points discrimination all utilizes the dorsal column pathway. The upper region utilizes the cuneate fasciculus in the spinal cord while the lower region depends on the gracile fasciculus. According to the passage, these sensations are of the rapid pathway whereas other sensations such as pain is not as fast. The dorsal column pathway is heavily myelinated while the pain pathway is not as myelinated.

Patient A is unable to feel fine touch below the waist. A tumor in the gracile fasciculus region will prevent the signal from below the waist to reach the brain.

Patient A is unable to feel fine touch above the waist. A tumor in the cuneate fasciculus region will prevent the signal to travel from above the waist to reach the brain.

The hypothalamus is responsible for cooling and heating mechanisms in the body, and thus is the correct answer.

The cerebrum is responsible for higher brain functions, like conscious thought. The cerebellum is essential for balance and coordination. The thalamus is primarily responsible for integrating and coordinating sensory input to the brain.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance. Injury to the cerebellum can result in a loss of motor coordination.

The medulla oblongata controls autonomic activities, such as regulating heart and respiration rates. The hypothalamus regulates the fight-or-flight response, sex drive, thirst, and hunger. The midbrain is the center for auditory and visual signal relay to the cortex. The hippocampus functions in the retention of memories.

The MCAT contains minimal questions regarding brain anatomy, however, you should have an understanding of a select few structures, one of which is the corpus collosum. The corpus collosum is a bundle of neurons connecting the left and right brain, allowing communication between the left and right hemispheres. If these neurons were damaged somehow, the result would be split-brain syndrome, a condition in which the two halves of the brain do not communicate with one another.

Receptors in the hypothalamus regulate temperature by sending nerve signals to muscles and sweat glands in the body. The hypothalamus is located deep within the center of the brain, at the very top of the brain stem. The other answers are different sections of the brain responsible for other tasks. For instance, the cerebrum is the largest section of the brain responsible for memory, consciousness, language and intellect.

The cerebral cortex is also referred to as the "higher brain." It acts to process thoughts and store memories. More basic, vital activities such as heart beat and breathing are controlled by other, less developed regions of the brain. Note that the hippocampus plays a role in creating memories, but most memories are stored in the cerebrum; this is the link between long term and short term memory storage.

The medulla oblongata is responsible for autonomic functions, such as breathing rate and heart rate regulation. Dysfunction of the medulla oblongata could result in problems with breathing rhythm.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance. The hypothalamus regulates the fight-or-flight response, sex drive, thirst, and hunger. The midbrain is the center for auditory and visual signal relay to the cortex. The hippocampus functions in the retention of memories.