Student Name____Xinqi Zhong_________________________________

Lab Title____Lab 7: Nervous System Laboratory ll -Brain and

CNS______________________________________

LAB 7 ANSWER SHEET - This page will be submitted for grading

Write or type your answers to the questions below in the space provided.
Remember, I must be able to read your answers.

1. (a) Explain why it is advantageous have a highly convoluted cerebrum. (b) What term is
used to indicate its grooves? Its outward fold? (c) Which groove divides the cerebrum into
two hemispheres? (d) What divides the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe? What divides
the parietal lobe from the temporal lobe?

a) Initially, the cerebral surface is smooth. But the brain grows much faster than the
membranous skull. So, it folds up starting in month 6, and convolutions become obvious as
the brain continue developing. The advantageous of having a highly convoluted cerebrum
is that the convolutions would increase the cortical surface area and allows more neurons
to occupy the limited/available space.

b) The term is used to indicate its grooves is Sulci and deeper grooves called fissures; its
outward fold is called Gyri.

c) The median longitudinal fissure separates the cerebral hemispheres.

d) The central sulcus separates the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe. The deep lateral
sulcus separates the temporal lobe and parietal lobe.

2. Robert, a brilliant computer analyst suffered a blow to his anterior skull from a falling
rock while mountain climbing. Shortly thereafter, it was obvious to his coworkers that his
behavior had undergone a dramatic change. Previously a smart dresser, he was now
unkempt. One morning, he was observed defecating into the wastebasket. Which region
of Robert’s brain was affected by the cranial blow? Explain your answer.

-Robert probably damaged his frontal lobe. It states Robert suffered a blow to his anterior
skull from a falling rock. So, I believe the damage involves the frontal lobe since the frontal
lobe is located in the anterior of the brain. Also, it says Robert’s behavior changes
dramatically, and he was observed defecating into the wastebasket. Frontal lobe is
associated with the personality and social behavior. Therefore, frontal lobe of Robert’s
brain was affected by the cranial blow.
3. Hydrocephalus (water on the brain) is condition where something (tumor) obstructs the
circulation or drainage of cerebrospinal fluid causing it to accumulate within the brain. The
build-up of cerebrospinal fluid puts pressure on the brain. The condition, at least initially,
is not fatal in newborn infants. Explain why the condition is not fatal to a newborn infant
but would be in adult.

-Adults’ skull is not flexible and the head cannot enlarge. When there is an increase in
pressure on the brain, but the head cannot enlarge, it can be fatal in adult. In infants, their
cranial sutures have not yet fused, their brain are still developing and growing. So, the
increase in pressure on the brain would enlarge the child’s head. It is not fatal to a
newborn infant.

4. You are visiting a lower level anatomy and physiology class where they are discussing
the brain. You write down the following notes on what was said by the students.

Student 1: Projection fibers allow neurons within the same hemisphere to communicate.

- False. Projection fibers allow neurons within the same cerebral hemisphere to
communicate but not within just one specific hemisphere. Projection fibers run within
the cerebrum and allow neurons of the cerebrum and lower CNS centers to
communicate.

Student 2: CSF acts as a diffusion medium for nutrients, wastes, gasses, and
hormones.

-True.

Student 3: The medulla is the region of the brain where most descending tracks cross
over to the other side.

-True

Student 4: Normally about 1000 ml of CSF is produced daily and it is circulates through
the central canal of the spinal cord, ventricles of the brain, and the epidural
space.

-False. In adults, there is a total CSF volume of about 150 ml is replaced every 8 hours.
So, it would be about 500 ml of CSF is formed daily. CSF only flows through
the ventricles and into the subarachnoid space via the median and lateral
apertures. Normally about 500 ml of CSF is produced daily and it is circulates
through the ventricles, subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord and
the central of the spinal cord.
Student 5: All sensory input is relayed through the hypothalamus to get to the cerebral
cortex.

-True

Identify each of the above statements as True or False. For all False statements, explain
why the statement is false and correct the statement to make it true.

5. Farah began working from home shortly after the COVID pandemic began. Before
working from home, she spend 50% of her time in meetings and 50% on the computer.
Most of the meetings she had pre-COVID were face to face. Since moving online and
working from home, she spends approximately 90-95% of her work day online (now most
of her meetings are online). Approximately 6 months ago, she began having headaches.
The pain is dull and usually localized in her forehead or at the base of her neck (occipital
area). It is much worse at the end of the day and she doesn’t usually have headaches on
the weekend. Farah schedules an appointment with her doctor, she is worried there is
something wrong with her brain and it is causing the headaches.

Use the information provided to access the likely cause of Farah’s headaches and next
steps. Do you think Farah’s headaches are caused by a brain dysfunction/disease or
something else. Explain your answer.

Note: this answer is not in the lab, you need to think about what you’ve learned from
chapter 11, 12 as well as what you learned in previous chapters (8,9 and 10). You can also
use the internet to review common causes of headaches.

-Heavy use of computer would cause to overuse of eyes strain. Farah spends too much
time staring at a screen while working at home, it would then cause headaches as a result
of digital eye strain. Also, because Farah spends a lot of time sitting in front of the
computer, her neck would hurt if she were in a poor posture all day long for few months.
She spends approximately 90-95% of her workday online for more than 6 months, and she
felt even worse at the end of the day. I believe her headaches are not caused by a brain
dysfunction/disease. The reason is that she doesn’t usually have headaches on the
weekend. That means, her headaches are from working online at home. I believe her
headaches and neck pain are come from excess use of computer, stress from work and
poor posture while working at home.