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- Glossary
Ammon's horn
Part of the cerebrum, specifically the front end of the hippocampus. The Cornu Ammonis is divided into fields CA1 to CA4. It owes its name to its shape, which resembles the horn of an ammon sheep.
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- Glossary
Cortex
Cortex refers to a collection of neurons, typically in the form of a thin surface. However, it usually refers to the cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of the cerebrum. It is 2.5 mm to 5 mm thick and rich in nerve cells. The cerebral cortex is heavily folded, comparable to a handkerchief in a cup. This creates numerous convolutions (gyri), fissures (fissurae), and sulci. Unfolded, the surface area of the cortex is approximately 1,800cm².
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- Glossary
Diencephalon
The diencephalon (midbrain) includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, among other structures. Together with the cerebrum, it forms the forebrain. The diencephalon contains centers for sensory perception, emotion, and the control of vital functions such as hunger and thirst.
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- Glossary
Angular gyrus
The angular gyrus is part of the cerebrum and is considered part of the parietal lobe. Anatomically, however, it is located at the intersection of the temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes. Functionally, visual and auditory impressions are integrated here, and it is also involved in writing, reading, and arithmetic.
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- Glossary
Brain stem
The "trunk" of the brain, to which all other brain structures are "attached," so to speak. From bottom to top, it comprises the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the mesencephalon. It transitions into the spinal cord below. It is a center for vital functions such as breathing and heartbeat and contains ascending and descending pathways between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord.
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- Glossary
Cerebellar hemispheres
Like the cerebrum, the cerebellum also has two hemispheres. The hemispheres are primarily responsible for finely tuned, purposeful movement control.
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- Glossary
Limbic system
The limbic system is a functional unit in the brain. It consists of interconnected structures, primarily in the cerebrum and diencephalon. The structures assigned to the system vary depending on the source, but the most important components are the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus, septum, and mammillary bodies. The limbic system is involved in autonomic and visceral processes as well as in mechanisms of emotion, memory, and learning. Some authors mistakenly reduce the limbic system to the emotional world by referring to it as the "emotional brain."
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- Glossary
Olfactory cortex
The olfactory cortex comprises the structures of the cerebrum that are responsible for processing olfactory information. The primary olfactory cortex is the prepiriform cortex, an evolutionarily ancient part of the cortex (paleocortex) with a three-layer structure.
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- Glossary
Olivary bodies
The olivary bodies are two oval structures in the lower part of the brain stem that contain clusters of nerve cell bodies. The lower olive connects the cerebrum to the cerebellum and plays an important role in controlling motor function. The upper olive is part of the auditory pathway. Its neurons can evaluate differences in transit time and level between the right and left ears, thus helping to determine the direction of sound sources.
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- Glossary
Postcentral gyrus
The postcentral gyrus is the fold on the surface of the cerebrum located immediately behind the central sulcus. It contains the primary somatosensory cortex, where touch, pressure, temperature, and proprioceptive stimuli are processed.
