Introduction to Neuroanatomy: general organisation and functional anatomy

Question 1

Brain orientation teminology
- superior:
- inferior:
- anterior:
- posterior:

Answer 1

• superior: dorsal
• inferior: ventral
• anterior: rostral towards nostril
• posterior: caudal

Question 2

What are the parts of the forebrain?

Answer 2

• Cerebrum
• Diencephalon: thalamus + hypothalamus

Question 3

What are the parts of the diencephalon?

Answer 3

Thalamus
Hypothalamus

Question 4

What are the parts of the brainstem?

Answer 4

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

Question 5

Composition of grey and white matter in the brain

Answer 5

• grey matter (cortex) on the surface
• white matter internal

Question 6

Why is white matter lighter than grey matter?

Answer 6

White matter: myelinated axons (fatty+white)
Grey matter: collections of neurones

Question 7

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

Answer 7

Central sulcus

Question 8

What is the corpus collosum?
Function

Answer 8

• Large bundle of myelinated axons (white matter)
• Allows for communication between hemispheres

Question 9

What separates the left and right ventricles of the brain?

Answer 9

Septum pellucidum

Question 10

What separates the parietal and occipital lobes?

Answer 10

Parieto-occipital sulcus

Question 11

Function of the frontal lobe

Answer 11

• voluntary motor control
• speech
• social behaviour
• impulse control
• higher cognition (planning, thinking)

Question 12

Function of parietal lobe

Answer 12

• somatosensory perception
• spatial awareness

Question 13

What is somatosensory perception?

Answer 13

Any sense that isn’t a ‘special sense’

Question 14

Function of occipital lobe

Answer 14

Visual perception

Question 15

Function of temporal lobe

Answer 15

• language
• emotion
• long term memory
• sense of smell
• hearing
• taste

Question 16

Function of cerebellum

Answer 16

• balance
• motor function
• co-ordination

Question 17

Where is the primary motor cortex?

Answer 17

Pre-central gyrus
(frontal lobe)

Question 18

Where is the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer 18

Post-central gyrus
(parietal lobe)

Question 19

Where are cranial nerve nuceli located?

Answer 19

In the brainstem

Question 20

Functions of midbrain

Answer 20

Involved in pathways for:
- eye movement coordination
- pupillary response to light

Question 21

Functions of pons

Answer 21

Involved in pathways for:
- feeding
- sleep + consciousness

Question 22

Function of medulla of brainstem

Answer 22

Involved in pathways for
- CVS + respiratory function

Question 23

Explain why the control of voluntary motor action in the limbs is contralateral

Answer 23

• upper motor neurones connect primary motor cortex to spinal nerves (on opposite side)
• upper motor neurones decussate to opposite side at lower medulla

Question 24

Explain why the control of voluntary motor action in the limbs is contralateral

Answer 24

• upper motor neurones connect primary motor cortex to cranial nerves (on opposite side)
• upper motor neurones decussate to opposite side at level their nuclei communicate + arise from

Question 25

What is the uncus?

Answer 25

The relationship between where the edge of the tentorium cerebelli is found + part of the temporal lobe

Question 26

What separates the frontal + parietal from the temporal bone?

Answer 26

Lateral fissure

Question 27

How are the face, limbs + body represented in their somatosensory perception + voluntary motor control?

Answer 27

Homunculus
- genitals, toes + feet medially
- face, tongue + pharynx laterally

Question 28

What makes up the hindbrain?

Answer 28

Pons
Medulla
Cerebellum

Question 29

What are the layers of the scalp?

Answer 29

SCALP
- Skin
- Connective tissue (dense)
- Aponeurosis of occipitofrontalis
- Loose connective tissue
- Periosteum

Question 30

Compare bleeding in the dense and loose connective tissue of the scalp

Answer 30

• bleeding in DCT is localised
• bleeding in LCT is less confined and can spread e.g. to orbit

Question 31

What is in the dense connective tissue of the scalp

Answer 31

Vessels supplying the scalp
Cutaneous nerves

Question 32

Blood supply to the scalp

Answer 32

• External carotid artery via occipital, post auricular + superficial temporal
• Internal carotid artery via ophthalmic, supratrochlear + supraorbital