A210 Sheep’s Brain Dissection Questions
Sheep’s Brain Dissection Assignment (60 points)
Answer all questions thoroughly and include with Pictures of the labels parts of the brain.
Upload onto Canvas.
Questions:
1. How does the sheep brain compare to the human brain? Name at least two differences.
a. The sheep brain and the human brain are similar in that they both have two brain
stems, two optic nerves and two hemispheres.
b. They differ in size, functions, and the human brain is more round in shape whereas the
sheep brain has a more elongated shape.
2. What two lobes does the central sulcus separate?
a. The central sulcus separates the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe and the
primary motor cortex from the primary sensory cortex.
3. How does the size of the olfactory bulb in sheep relate to the size in humans? What might this
tell you about the sense of smell in the sheep’s survival, in particular about how it
acquires food?
a. The olfactory bulb is larger in a sheep brain than in a human brain. This allows sheep to
have a stronger sense of smell. This helps the sheep find food, which is essential
to survival.
4. What circulates through the ventricles? What is the function?
a. The ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid and its function is absorb shocks to
the brain, it provides a stable environment, and distributes nutritious materials to the
brain and also removes wastes from nervous tissues.
5. Describe the function of each region of the cerebral cortex:
a. The frontal lobe is associated with reasoning, speech, movement, emotions &
problem solving.
b. The occipital lobe is associated with visual processing.
c. The temporal lobe is associated with perception & recognition along with
memory, speech and auditory stimuli.
d. The parietal lobe is associated with movement, orientation, perception of stimuli and
recognition.
6. Describe the thalamus and hypothalamus functions
a. The thalamus functions are to relay sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex
and regulate consciousness, alertness and sleep.
b. Whereas the hypothalamus is responsible for the production of the body’s hormones
and different chemical compounds that help to govern the physiological functions like
temperature, hunger, sleep, thirst and sex drive.
