10 - Gross anatomy of the brain II Flashcards

1
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

Myelinated axons that form a horizontal pathway between the two cerebral hemispheres

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2
Q

What are the corona radiata?

A

Vertical fibres that run from the cerebral cortex to the inner brain, through the internal capsule

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3
Q

What is the lentiform?

A
  • putamen
  • globus paladium
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4
Q

Describe the internal capsule.

A
  • made up of the anterior limb, genu (knee) and posterior limb
  • forms V shape around the lentiform
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5
Q

What are the basal nuclei?

A
  • corpus striatum
  • substantia nigra
  • subthalamic nucleus
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6
Q

Describe the role of basal nuclei.

A
  • primarily involved in motor control
  • filter out incorrect responses and pass the best option to the cortex (ie prevent tremor)
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7
Q

What is a pathology that can affect the basal nuclei?

A
  • Parkinsons, tremor, movements are shaky due to responses not being filtered out correctly
  • Huntingtons, jerky movements due to a lack of fine tuning by basal nuclei
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8
Q

Describe the hypothalamus.

A
  • neuro-endocrine organ
  • sits anterior and inferior to thalamus (hypo = under)
  • involved in homeostasis (ie need for food, reproduction, growth etc)
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9
Q

Describe the function of the hypothalamus.

A
  • monitors internal environment (ie blood glucose or temperature)
  • controls autonomic systems
  • controls release of hormones from pituitary via releasing hormones in the pituitary stalk
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10
Q

Describe the pituitary gland.

A
  • continuous inferiorly with the hypothalamus via the pituitary stalk
  • regulates hormone release by releasing or inhibiting hormones
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11
Q

Give examples of hormones released by the pituitary gland.

A
  • growth hormone
  • thyroid stimulating hormone
  • follicle stimulating hormone
  • adrenocorticotrophic hormone
  • lutenisng hormone
  • prolactin
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12
Q

What is the cause of acromegaly?

A
  • over production of GH
  • often caused by a pituitary tumour
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13
Q

What are some signs and symptoms of acromegaly?

A
  • growth of hands and feet
  • lips, nose and tongue become larger
  • voice becomes deeper
  • jaw becomes larger, leads to spacing in teeth
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14
Q

What can acromegaly cause if untreated?

A
  • hypertension
  • diabetes
  • sleep apnoea
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15
Q

What is the ventricular system?

A
  • ventricles in the brain, filled with CSF that provide protection of the brain
  • produce and circulate CSF
  • 4 ventricles in total
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16
Q

How is CSF produced?

A

Chorodial epithelial cells located in each ventricle produce 400-500ml of CSF per day.

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17
Q

What is the role of CSF?

A
  • protect the brain
  • prevents the weight of the brain from crushing vessels and nerves in the subarachnoid space
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18
Q

What are the ventricles?

A
  • 2 lateral ventricles (separated by the septum pellucidum)
  • 2 midline ventricles (3rd and 4th)
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19
Q

What is the choroid plexus?

A

Produces CSF

20
Q

What is the cerebral aqueduct?

A

Connects 3rd and 4th ventricles

21
Q

What is the septum pelluicidum?

A

Separates the lateral ventricles

22
Q

What is the inter ventricular foramen?

A
  • aka Foramen of Munro
  • connects lateral ventricles with 3rd ventricle
23
Q

What is the cistema magna?

A

Subarachnoid space found at the base of the cerebellum, caused by differences in the size of the arachnoid and pia.

24
Q

Describe the circulation of the CSF.

A
  • secreted by chorodial cells
  • lateral ventricles to 3rd to 4th
  • CSF leaves 4th ventricle via lateral apertures to circulate through the subarachnoid spaces
  • reabsorbed into venous sinuses
25
Q

What makes up the brainstem?

A
  • midbrain
  • pons
  • medulla
26
Q

What is the function of the brainstem?

A
  • connection between cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord
  • contains many nuclei and neuronal tracts
  • where the cranial nerves exit the brain
  • houses nuclei of CN 3-10 and 12
  • reflex centres for respiration, CV and regulates consciousness
27
Q

What is the decussation of pyramids?

A

Where the neuronal tracts cross from one side to the other

28
Q

Describe the spinal cord.

A
  • begins at medulla, ends at L1/L2 vertebrae
  • cylindrical except for enlargements
29
Q

What is the conus medullaris?

A

Inferior end of the spinal cord

30
Q

Describe the filum terminale.

A
  • pia mater
  • anchors spinal cord
  • inferior continuation of conus medullaris
  • silver fibre
31
Q

Describe the cervical enlargement.

A
  • C4-T1
  • contributes to the brachial plexus
  • supports upper limbs
32
Q

Describe the lumbosacral enlargement.

A
  • T11- S1
  • contributes to lumbosacral plexus
  • supports lower limbs
33
Q

Describe the lumbar cistern.

A
  • subarachnoid space
  • extends from L1/L2 to end of dural sheath at S2
34
Q

Describe the cauda equina.

A

Long nerve fibres suspended in CSF at the level of L2-S1

35
Q

Define dorsal.

A

Posterior

36
Q

Define ventral.

A

Anterior

37
Q

Describe the ventral horn.

A

Efferent motor

38
Q

Describe the dorsal horn.

A

Afferent sensory

39
Q

Describe the structure of spinal nerves.

A
  • rootlets emerge from the dorsal and ventral horns
  • rootlets converge laterally to become roots
  • the motor and sensory root converge to form a spinal nerve
  • after exiting the vertebral column the spinal nerve splits into anterior and posterior rami
40
Q

How are spinal nerves named?

A
  • numbered according to the vertebra above
  • except for the cervical nerves (due to there being 8 cervical nerves, named as the vertebra below)
41
Q

What are the layers involved in protection of the spinal cord?

A
  • pia mater
  • arachnoid mater
  • dura mater
42
Q

Describe the denticulate ligament.

A
  • formed by pia mater
  • travels through arachnoid mater to attach to dura
  • provides horizontal stability
43
Q

Describe the dura mater in the spinal cord.

A
  • epidural space is normal in the spinal cord (unlike brain - this pathology)
  • epidural space filled with fat to protect cord from the vertebra
44
Q

Define a myotome.

A

Muscle supplied by a specific, spinal nerve

45
Q

Define a dermatome.

A

Skin supplied by a specific, spinal nerve

46
Q

Which spinal nerve does not have a dermatome?

A

C1 (lacks afferent fibres)