01/07 Overview

Question 1

What is myasthenia gravis?

Answer 1

Autoimmune attack of acetylcholine receptors, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue

Question 2

What is the ependyma?

Answer 2

Ciliated cuboidal epithelium that lines the ventricles of the brain

Question 3

What is the telencephalon?

Answer 3

Includes the cerebral hemispheres and basal ganglia

The most advanced part of the brain

Question 4

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 4

Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus

Question 5

What structures are part of the epithalamus?

Answer 5

The pineal gland and the habenula

Question 6

What structures are included in the mesencephalon?

Answer 6

Superior and inferior colliculi
Nuclei of cranial nerves III and IV
Red nucleus and substantia nigra
Cerebral peduncles

Question 7

What structures constitute the extra-pyramidal system?

Answer 7

The red nucleus and the substantia nigra

Question 8

What structures/divisions are present in the brainstem?

Answer 8

Mesencephalon
Pons
Medulla

Question 9

What are the divisions of the cerebellum, and what are their functions?

Answer 9

Archicerebellum - maintains equilibrium
Paleocerebellum - maintains muscle tone
Neocerebellum - controls muscle coordination

Question 10

What structures are housed in the pontine tectum and tegmentum?

Answer 10

Tectum - nuclei of CN V, VI, VII, and VIII

Tegmentum - descending corticospinal tract, pontocerebellar crossing fibers, and the pontine nuclei

Question 11

What is the function of the medulla? What structures does it contain?

Answer 11

The medulla is required to maintain cardiorespiratory function
It houses the descending corticospinal/pyramidal tract, nuclei for CN VIII-XII, and the inferior olivary nuclei

Question 12

Different parts of the spinal cord contain different tracts or fibers - what are they, and where are they?

Answer 12

Ascending proprioceptive fibers - posterior part
Corticospinal tract (descending motor tract) - lateral part
Anterior horn and lower motor neurons - anterior part

Question 13

What and where are Brodmann areas 1, 2, and 3?

Answer 13

They make up the primary sensory cortex, which is in the post-central gyrus

Question 14

Where is the primary motor cortex?

Answer 14

In the precentral gyrus (Brodmann areas 4, 6, and 8)

Question 15

Where is the auditory cortex?

Answer 15

In the superior temporal lobe (Brodmann areas 41 and 42)

Question 16

What and where is Brodmann area 17?

Answer 16

It is the primary visual cortex, in the occipital lobe/calcarine fissure

Question 17

What artery supplies the dura?

Answer 17

Middle meningeal artery

Question 18

What dural layer creates the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 18

The pia mater

Question 19

What is the “artery of stroke?” What areas does it supply?

Answer 19

Middle cerebral artery

Supplies entire lateral side of the brain

Question 20

What areas of the brain does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 20

The occipital lobe and the hippocampus

Question 21

What artery supplies the frontal lobe?

Answer 21

Anterior cerebral artery

Question 22

What arteries supply the basal ganglia and the thalamus?

Answer 22

The “penetrators,” striate arteries that branch from the Circle of Willis

Question 23

Where is CSF produced?

Answer 23

Choroid plexus

Question 24

What structures are responsible for reabsorbing CSF?

Answer 24

Arachnoid granulations

Question 25

What dural layer envelopes the blood vessels that supply the brain?

Answer 25

Arachnoid mater

Question 26

What are the four major types of glia in the CNS, and what do they do?

Answer 26

Astrocytes - support neurons and form the blood-brain barrier Oligodendrocytes - produce myelin in the brain Ependyma - line the ventricles Microglia - resident immunocompetent cells

Question 27

What structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 27

Corpus callosum

Question 28

Where is the lateral/Sylvian fissure positioned?

Answer 28

It separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes

Question 29

What structures make up the basal ganglia?

Answer 29

Caudate, putamen and globus pallidus

Question 30

What is the vascular origin of an epidural hematoma, and what does this mean for the clinical presentation?

Answer 30

Arterial origin | Expand rapidly, and also deteriorate rapidly (fatal if not treated quickly)

Question 31

What is the vascular origin of a subdural hematoma, and what does this mean for the clinical presentation?

Answer 31

Venous origin | Expand slowly, and often presents as confusion or dementia

Question 32

What is the foramen of Monroe?

Answer 32

Opening that connects the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle

Question 33

What is the aqueduct of Sylvius?

Answer 33

Connects the third and fourth ventricles

Question 34

Through what openings do the ventricles empty into the subarachnoid space?

Answer 34

Via the foramina of Luschka (lateral) and the foramen of Magendie (medial)

Question 35

What is Wenicke's aphasia/sensory aphasia?

Answer 35

Damage to the auditory cortex that results in an inability to understand spoken language

Question 36

What is Broca's aphasia/motor aphasia?

Answer 36

Damage to the inferior motor cortex (speech motor cortex) that results in an inability to produce spoken or written language

Question 37

What is Brodmann area 44?

Answer 37

Inferior part of the primary motor cortex, responsible for producing speech

Question 38

What is the thalamus? What structures are included within it?

Answer 38

The major sensory and motor relay nucleus | Includes the medial and lateral geniculate bodies

Question 39

List the cerebellar nuclei

Answer 39

Dentate Embolliform Globose Fastigial

Question 40

How many spinal nerves are there? What are their divisions?

Answer 40

``` 31 Cervical (8) Thoracic (12) Lumbar (5) Sacral (5) Coccygeal (1) ```

Question 41

By what age do the cranial fissures permanently fuse?

Answer 41

Two years old

Question 42

What areas of the brain are supplied by the anterior cerebral artery?

Answer 42

Frontal lobes | Medial aspects of the parietal and occipital lobes

Question 43

Where is the transverse sinus located?

Answer 43

Within the dura of the caudal tentorium

Question 44

What is the Vein of Galen?

Answer 44

A medial and rostral extension of the transverse sinus in the tentorium

Question 45

What arteries supply the pons?

Answer 45

Penetrators branching from the basilar artery

Question 46

What is hydrocephalus?

Answer 46

Abnormal accumulation of CSF in the ventricles, often caused by obstruction of the aqueduct of Sylvius