4. Match the terms in the left column (1-6) to the suitable definition (a-f) on the right.
1. lobe ☐
2. storage ☐
3. thermostat ☐
4. gland ☐
5. hormone ☐
6. puberty ☐
a. organ in the human or animal body which secretes particular chemical substances for use in the body or for discharge into the surroundings
b. period during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction
c. regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids, such as blood, to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action
d. device that automatically regulates temperature, or that activates a device when the temperature reaches a certain point
e. the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future
f. any part of an organ that seems to be separate in some way from the rest
5. Look back at the text and the pictures again, then close the book and take turns in describing the location and function of the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, the hippocampus and the amygdala.
Start like this:
The pituitary gland is located … its function is to …
6. There are lots of idioms that use the word brain in the English language.
In the table below match each of the idioms on the left (1-10) with a suitable definition (a-j) on the right.
1. to pick somebody’s brain ☐
2. to have a brainwave ☐
3. to rack one’s brain about something ☐
4. to have somebody/something on the brain ☐
5. to be the brains behind/of something ☐
6. to beat your brains out ☐
7. to be a birdbrain ☐
8. to be a brain box ☐
9. to be brain dead ☐
10. to be all brawn and no brain ☐
a. to think about something very hard and for a long time
b. to think hard to remember something or to find a solution
c. to think repeatedly about someone or something
d. to be physically strong, but at the same time not very intelligent
e. to have suddenly a good idea
f. to find out what somebody knows/thinks by asking questions
g. to be mentally exhausted
h. to be very stupid
i. to be the person who thought of something
j. to be very intelligent
7. Now listen and check your answers.
ANATOMICAL TERMS OF GREEK ORIGIN
Most of the terms used in anatomy come from ancient Greek. The word ‘hypothalamus’, for example, means lower chamber (in fact, the hypothalamus rests below the thalamus, between the two hemispheres of the brain). The word ‘amygdala’ comes from the Latin amygdalum, which in turn derives from the Greek amygdale, both meaning almond (because of the shape of this brain part).
GLOSSARY
almond-shaped: a forma di mandorla
bony: osseo/a
horseshoe: ferro di cavallo
inner: interno
limbic: limbico
pea: pisello
to release: rilasciare
to shiver: rabbrividire
to sweat: sudare