The Hindbrain Flashcards
The brain is located in the
Cranial cavity
The brain is continuous with the
spinal cord through the foramen magnum
The brain is surrounded by meninges
- Dura mater (outermost layer)
Has an outer periosteal layer and an inner
meningeal layer
[Spinal dura mater consists only of a single
layer] - Arachnoid mater (middle layer)
- Pia mater (innermost layer)
Cranial and spinal meninges are continuous with one another
The brain is divided into 3 major divisions
- Hindbrain
- Midbrain
- Forebrain
The brainstem is a collective term for the:
Medulla oblongata
Pons
Midbrain
THE HINDBRAIN
Consists of
Medulla oblangata
Conical in shape
Connects the pons superiorly to the spinal cord inferiorly Contain collections of neurons = nuclei
Serve as a conduit for ascending and descending nerve fibres
Pons – serves as a bridge
Located on the anterior surface of the cerebellum, inferior to the midbrain and superior to the medulla oblongata
Contain a large number of transverse fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Contain:
Many nuclei
Ascending and descending nerve fibres
Cerebellum
Lies in the posterior cranial fossa
Located posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata
Two laterally placed hemispheres connected by vermis
Connected to:
- Midbrain via superior cerebellar peduncles
- Medulla oblongata via inferior cerebellar
peduncles
[Peduncles = large bundles of nerve fibres]
Surface layer = cortex
- Gray matter
- Highly folded (folia)
- Folia separated by closely set transverse
fissures
White matter located deep to gray matter
- Contain masses of gray matter (nuclei)
- Largest of the nuclei = the dentate nucleus
4th Ventricle is a
CSF filled cavity
The 4th ventricle is surrounded by the
medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum
The 4th ventricle is connected superiorly
to the 3rd ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct
The 4th ventricle is continuous inferiorly with the
central canal of the spinal cord
