Brainstorm Trivia Quiz

Answer:

These are the parts of the brain:

The basal ganglia are clusters of neurons located at the base of the forebrain (the front part of the brain). They help control motor function, eye movements and emotion, amongst other things. Damage or malfunctioning of the basal ganglia can cause disorders such as Tourette's syndrome or epilepsy.

Not to be confused with the cerebrum, the cerebellum is located at the base of the hindbrain (the back part of the brain), next to the brain stem. It helps regulate balance and coordination, as well as cognitive functions. Its cortex, or outer layer, is made up of tightly folded tissue.

The circle of Willis is located at the base of the brain, and is a circular connection that supplies blood to the brain and its surrounding structures. It is named for the English scientist Thomas Willis.

The hippocampus governs memory, and there are two of them in the human brain. They are part of the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain. When a person has Alzheimer's disease, the hippocampus is one of the first parts of the brain to be affected. Its name means 'seahorse', as it is roughly the same shape as a seahorse.

The hypothalamus is located under the thalamus, a big mass of grey matter on the third ventricle. The human hypothalamus is roughly the size of an almond. Along with the pituitary gland, it helps control the body's endocrine system, or hormones.

The medulla oblongata is the lower part of the brainstem. It governs involuntary actions such as sneezing or swallowing. It also connects the brain to the spinal cord

The pallium is a series of layers of grey and white matter that cover the upper surface of the cerebrum.

The pineal gland is located near the middle of the brain and produces melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. It gets its name from being shaped like a pine cone.

The pons is another part of the brainstem that lies above the medulla oblongata. It acts as a sort of bridge - hence the name - that contains nerve tracts that send signals to the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. It is supplied by the pontine arteries.

The tectum is located in the midbrain and is next to the cerebral aqueduct, a little tube that connects the third and fourth ventricles of the brain. It is involved in reflexes caused by auditory or visual stimuli, and its surface features four mounds called the corpora quadrigemina, which act as reflex centres for eye movements and auditory responses.

The other answers can be found elsewhere in the body. The hallux is the official name for the big toe, the loop of Henle can be found in the kidneys, the mitral valve is in the heart and connects the left atrium and left ventricle, the sphincter of Oddi is a muscular valve in the duodenum, and the stapes is a tiny bone in the ear.