Psychology 116 Dictionary
Note: Please note that these terms include more than you are responsible for.  For the practical exam
you need to know the underlined terms in the reader (this includes, when applicable, the structures
function plus afferent and efferent projections), the blood supply, the cranial nerves, the human cortical
structures talked about in lab, and the sensory systems talked about in class.  Finally, this list is
provided as a courtesy and although it is thought to be error-free may contain mistakes.  Therefore it is
your responsibility to double check this information for errors.  In other words, don't blame Janice for
mistakes because she worked hard to produce this list.
This dictionary courtesy of Janice Carlson
aqueduct of Sylvius	see cerebral aqueduct
alveus	the thin white matter that surrounds the hippocampus;  formed by the cells
	of the hippocampus;  becomes the fimbria which in turn becomes the fornix
amygdala	part of the rhinecephalon;  lies in the anterior portion of the hippocampal
	gyrus;  receives projections from the olfactory bulbs (via the lateral
	olfactory stria), the septal nucleus and hypothalamus (via the stria
	terminalis), and projects to the contralateral amygdala (via the
	anterior Commissure)
anterior commissure	anterior fiber bundle that hugs the septal area;  interconnects the
	olfactory bulbs, amygdala, and pyriform areas
anterior medullary velum	forms the floor of the superior cistern
anterior perforated substance	anterior to the optic ciasm
anterior pituitary	aka adrenohypohesis;  stimulated by hormones dumped into the surrounding
	capillary bed by the hypothalamus
aquaduct of sylvius	aka cerebral aquaduct;  connects the 4th ventricle with the 3rd ventricle
basal ganglia	a collection of nuclei involved in motor function and composed of the
	globus pallidus, caudate, and putamen.  It is composed of sub-divisions
	including the lentiform nucleus which is the putamen and globus pallidus
	together, the striatum (neostriatum) which is the caudate and putamen, the
	corpus striatum which is the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus.
	Projections from the substantia nigra to the striatum degenerate in
	Parkinson's disease
brachium conjunctivum	see superior cerebellar peduncle
brachium of the inferior colliculus	relays auditory information from the inferior colliculus to the MGN of
	thalamus
brachium pontis	aka middle cerbellar peduncle and pontis brachium;
	connects the pons with the contralateral cerebellum
brainstem	collection of myelencephalon, metencephalon, mesenecephalon, &
	diencephalon
caudate nucleus	part of the basal ganglia;  with the putamen and globus pallidus is
	referred to as the corporae striata
cerebellum	part of the metencephalon;  involved in motor coordination and balance;
	receives input from contalateral pons via the middle cerebellar peduncle;
	receives vestibular and proprioceptive input and projects to the spinal
	cord via the inferior cerebellar peduncles; and receives input from and
	projects to the pons, thalamus, and cortex via the superior
	cerebellar peduncle
cerebral aqueduct	aka aquaduct of Sylvius;  connects the 4th ventricle with the 3rd ventricle
cerebral peduncles	the part of the cortico-spinal and cortico-pontine tract that lies in
	the mesencephalon; anteriorly it was part of the internal capsule and
	posteriorly it continues as the pyramids
cingulate gyrus	with the hippocampal gyrus forms the limbic lobe;  involved in emotion;
	receives input from the anterior nucleus of thalamus and projects
	to the hippocampus
cisterna magna	the cistern between the ventral surface of the cerebellum and the
	dorsal surface of the myelencephalon;  interconnects the 4th ventricle with
	the subarachnoid space
claustrum	the gray matter that lies lateral to the external capsule and medial to the
	extreme capsule;  its function is unknown
cornona radiata	the white matter that connects cortex with other cortical areas,
	the thalamus with the cortex, and the cortex with the thalamus;
corpora quadrigeminea	see tectum
corpus striatum	part of the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus)
	comprised of the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus
corpus callosum	the large fiber band that interconnects corresponding areas of the two
	cortical hemispheres;  comprised of the rostrum, genu, body, and splenium
cortico-spinal tract	the motor tract that controls voluntary movement;  has the longest axons in
	the body;  starts at the precruciate gyrus (primary motor are) and projects
	its axons down through the corona radiata, through the internal capsule,
	becomes the cerebral peduncles in the he mesencephalon, which becomes
	the pyramids in the myelencephalon;  axons terminate in the ventral root
	ganglia of the spinal cord on alpha motor neurons at the respective
	levels of exit
cruciate fissure	analogous to the central sulcus in humans
cuneatus tubercle	nucleus in which the fasciculus cuneatus terminates
diencephalon	contains the thalamus and hypothalamus, and mammilary bodies; as well as
	the 3rd ventricle
dorsal cochlear nucleus	cressant shaped gray matter around the restiform body;  first synapse of
	CN 8
dorsal column system	formed by the fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis
dorsal medial sulcus	mid-line groove in the dorsal aspect of the myelencephalon;
	bordered laterally by the fasciculus gracilius
external capsule	the fiber bundle that lies lateral to the internal capsule on the lateral side
	of the putamen and the medial side of the claustrum
fasciculus cuneatus	somatosensory pathway delivering epicritic (fine touch) sensory
	information from the ipsilateral upper half of the body; part
	of the dorsal column system
fasciculus gracilus	somatosensory pathway delivering epicritic (fine touch) sensory
	information from the ipsilateral lower half of the body
	part of the of the dorsal column system
fimbria	a fiber bundle formed from the alveus, which becomes the fornix;
	interconnects the dorsal and ventral hippocampi
folia	the folds of the cerebellum
foramen of Lushka	the two foramen that interconnect the 4th ventricle with the subarachnoid
	space;  located at the junction of the cerebellum and mylencephalon
foramen of Magendie	the hole in the tela chorodea that interconnects the cisterna magna
	with the 4th ventricle
foramen of Munro	the aqueduct that links the 3rd ventricle with the lateral ventricles
forebrain	formed by the telencephalon and diencephalon
fornix	a fiber bundle formed from the fimbria;  projects from the hippocampus
	to the mammilary bodies (posterior column) and the septal nuclei with the
	hippocampus which is a reciprocal connection (anterior column)
genu of corpus callosum	the anterior bent part of the corpus callosum
globus pallidus	part of the basal ganglia;  with the putamen is referred to as the
	lentiform nucleus;  with all three is known as the corpus striatum
gracilius tubercle	nucleus in which the fasciculus gracilius terminates
habenula	nucleus on the midline of thalamus bordering the 3rd ventricle;  controls
	brain stem neurotransmitter levels
hippocampus	part of the rhinecephalon;  involved in the formation of new
	declarative memories
hypophesis	see pituitary gland
hypothalamus	the collection of nuclei in the diencephalon that controls much of
	homeostatic functions;  involved in hormone secretion, mineral, food,
	and water balance, temperature control and four F's;  diffuse
	projections, especially with the pituitary gland
inferior cerebellar peduncle	aka restiform body;  interconnects medulla with cerebellum (afferent
	is vestibular and proprioceptive information;  output is motor)
inferior colliculus	auditory relay nucleus that receives input from auditory nuclei and
	projects to the MGN of thalamus via the brachium of the inferior
	colliculus; part of the corpora quadrigeminea
infundibulum	the stalk of the pituitary gland that attaches the gland to the
	hypothalamus;  hypothalamic axons project through this tissue to the
	posterior pituitary
insula	cortical area superior to the rhinal fissure
internal capsule	the fiber bundle that separates the putamen and the caudate;  carries
	fibers from the cornona radiata
interpeduncluar cistern	in the mesencephalon, this cistern (space) normally contains CSF and is
	located between the cerebral peducles
lateral fissue	aka Sylvian fissure.  A deep fissure on the corticle surface which
	separates the temporal lobe with the parietal and occipital lobes
lateral olfactory stria	sends information from the olfactory bulbs to the amygdala
lentiform nucleus	part of the basal ganglia that refers to the putamen and globus pallidus
limbic lobe	the continuous cingulate and hippocampal gyri;  DO NOT CONFUSE
	WITH THE LIMBIC SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!
limbic system	includes hippocampus, amygdala, septal area, cingulate, mammillary bodies,
	dorsal anterior thalamus, and oflactory structures which are
	interconnected by the anterior commissure, diagonal band of broca, etc
	DO NOT CONFUSE WITH THE LIMBIC LOBE!!!!!!!!!!
mammothalamic tract	tract connecting the mammillary bodies with the anterior thalamus;
	part of the Papez circuit;  in coronal sections, it is always dorsal to the
	fornix;  in horizontal sections, it is always caudal to the fornix
massa intermedia	the fiber mass that interconnects the two thalami;  the 3rd ventricle
	wraps around it like a donut
median eminance	the point of attachment of the infundibulum to the hypothalamus that
	creates the bump on the ventral surface of the hypothalamus
mesencephalon	aka midbrain;  contains the tectum and tegmentum, as well as the
	cerebral aqueduct
metencephalon	includes the pons and cerebellum, as well as the anterior portion of the
	4th ventricle
middle cerebellar peduncle	see brachium pontis
myelencephalon	medulla oblongata;  contains the caudal portion of the 4th ventricle
olfactory bulbs	the second order neurons in the olfactory pathway formed by CN I
optic chiasm	the point of transition from the optic nerve to the optic tract and the
	point where approximately 50% of the optic fibers cross, thereafter
	the information in the tract is bilateral
PAG	gray matter surrounding the cerebral aquaduct;  involved in pain
	suppression
pineal gland	non-neural tissue above the superior colliculus;  receives input from the
	hypothalamus, optic tract, and other areas and projects to the
	hypothalamus;  secretes melatonin to guide day/night cues
	(circadian in function)
pituitary gland	composed of anterior and posterior portions;  involved in hormone
	release;  controlled by a innervation (posterior) or a group of releasing by
	hormones (anterior) dumped by the hypothalamus;  mastergland of the
	endocrine system
pons	part of the metencephalon that contains many nuclei and decussating,
	ascending, and descending fibers
pontis brachium	see brachium pontis
posterior pituitary	aka neurohypophesis;  receives input from the hypothalamus and in
	response, secretes hormones (such as) into the blood stream
pulvinar	visual rely nucleus of the thalamus;  afferent and efferent information
	to and from the visual cortical areas, part of the tectofugal system
putamen	part of the basal ganglia;  with the caudate and globus pallidus is
	referred to as the corpus striatum;  with the globus pallidus is referred
	to as the lentiform nucleus
pyramids	the part of the cortico-spinal tract that lies along the ventral surface
	of the medulla; the caudal continuation of the cerebral peduncles; the
	fibers within cross at the decussation of the pyramids
restiform body	see inferior cerebellar peduncle
reticular formation	the mass of nuclei and fibers in the pons involved in arousal
rhinecephalon	"smell brain;"  paleocortex;  contains most olfactory-related structures,
	as well as the hippocampus, amygdala, and septal area
rostrum of the corpus callosum	the "beak" in the anterior corpus callosum ventral to the genu
septal nuclei	part of the limbic system involved in emotion; it is sent reciprocal con-
	nections from the hippocampus
septum pellicidum	the thin band of tissue that separates the two lateral ventricles;  has
	diffuse connections with septal and olfactory areas
splenium of the corpus callosum	the most caudal portion of the corpus callosum
stria terminalis	a tiny fiber bundle which lies parallel to the caudate at the junction of
	the hippocampal gyrus and internal capsule
	connects the septal nucleus to the amygdala
superior cerebellar peduncle	aka brachium conjunctivum;  sends information into and out of the
	cerebellum, interconnecting it with midbrain regions;  medial to the
	middle cerebellar peduncle and ventral to the inferior colliculus
superior cistern	between the anterior dorsal cerebellum and the telencephalon;  the floor
	is formed by the anterior medullary velum
superior colliculus	visual relay area that receives input from the optic tract plus, and
	projects to brains stem nuclei to control eye movements (via CN III,
	IV, and VI); part of the corpora quadrigeminea
superior frontal sulcus	the sulcus parallel to the longititudinal fissure, which forms a "T"
	with the cruciate fissure;  divides the frontal poles into approximately
	equal right and left halves
tectum	aka corpora quadrigeminea;  the superior and inferior colliculus;
	part of the mesencephalon
tegmentum	part of the mesenceplahon
tela chorodea	"tent";  the membrane that forms the anterior floor of the cisterna
	magna;  contains the foramen of Magendie
telencephalon	the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, lateral ventricles, and limbic system
thalamus	the collection of nuclei in the diencephalon that acts as a filter for
	cortex;  all incoming sensory information (except olfaction) must
	first pass through the cortex, includes the MGN, LGN, VPL, and pulvinar
trapezoid body	decussation of auditory fibers on their way from auditory nuclei in
	the brain stem to the inferior colliculus;  marks the anterior
	border of the medulla