OCB03-2004 Flashcards

1
Q

Define a PNS neuron.

A

A neuron with any part outside the brain or spinal cord

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2
Q

Define a CNS neuron.

A

A neuron entirely contained within the brain and/or spinal cord

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3
Q

What are the two divisions of the autonomic NS?

A

Parasympathetic

Sympathetic

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4
Q

What two structures make up the CNS?

A

Brain

Spinal cord

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5
Q

What is contained in grey matter?

A

Cell bodies of neurons

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6
Q

What is contained in white matter?

A

Myelinated axons

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7
Q

What is the distribution of grey and white matter in the brain?

A

Cortex = grey matter

White matter on the inside

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8
Q

What is the distribution of grey and white matter in the spinal cord?

A

White matter peripherally

Grey matter forms characteristic H shape

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9
Q

Where does the parasympathetic system originate?

A

Cranial nerves

Sacral nerves

(Cranio-sacral)

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10
Q

Where does the sympathetic system originate?

A

T1-L2

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11
Q

What are the functions of the cranial part of the parasympathetic system?

A

Constrict pupils (miosis)

Stimulate salivation

Slow heartbeat

Constrict airways

Stimulate stomach and intestinal activity

Stimulate gall bladder

Inhibit glucose release

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12
Q

What are the functions of the sacral part of the parasympathetic system?

A

Contract bladder

Promote erection of genitals

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13
Q

What are the functions of the thoracic part of the sympathetic system?

A

Dilate pupils (mydriasis)

Inhibit salivation

Increase heartbeat

Relax airways

Inhibit stomach and intestinal activity

Inhibit gall bladder

Stimulate glucose release

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14
Q

What are the functions of the lumbar part of the sympathetic system?

A

Relax bladder

Promote ejaculation and vaginal contraction

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15
Q

What forms the hindbrain?

A

Pons

Medulla

Cerebellum

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16
Q

What is another term for forebrain?

A

Endbrain

Telencephalon

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17
Q

What are the three main anatomical compartments of the brain?

A

Forebrain

Midbrain

Hindbrain

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18
Q

Which surface of the brain is ventral?

A

Underside

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19
Q

Which side of the brain is dorsal?

A

Upper side

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20
Q

What is a sagittal plane?

A

Plane that runs through the midline

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21
Q

Why is the coronal plane considered to be a transverse plane?

A

Flexion of brain during development

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22
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there normally?

A

31

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23
Q

How many spinal nerves are in each vertebral area (ie cervical, thoracic…)?

A

8 cervical

12 thoracic

5 lumbar

5 sacral

1 coccygeal

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24
Q

At what level does the spinal cord end?

A

L1/L2

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25
Q

Through what structure do spinal nerves leave the vertebral column?

A

Intervertebral foramen

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26
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

Region of spinal nerves with no spinal cord in the vertebral column

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27
Q

What is the clinical significance of the cauda equina?

A

Able to perform a lumbar puncture to sample CSF safely/without damaging spinal cord

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28
Q

Describe the location of lower motor neurons.

A

Soma in ventral horns

Axons project through ventral root to join with dorsal roots

Terminate at neuromuscular junction

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29
Q

Describe the location of sensory neurons in the spinal cord.

A

Soma in dorsal root ganglion

Axon comes in from a sensory-specific receptor

Axon travels via dorsal root into dorsal horn

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30
Q

How do nerves enter/leave the spinal cord?

A

As rootlets

31
Q

How to the rootlets change as you progress down the spinal cord and why?

A

Become more oblique in angle

Due to difference in lengths of spinal cord and vertebral column

32
Q

What are the main lobes of the cerebrum?

A

Frontal lobe

Parietal lobe

Occipital lobe

Temporal lobe

33
Q

What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

A

Executive functions

Thinking, planning, organising, problem solving

Emotions, behavioural control, personality

Motor cortex = movement

34
Q

In which lobe is the motor cortex found?

A

Frontal lobe

35
Q

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

A

Central sulcus/fissure

36
Q

What separates the motor and sensory cortices?

A

Central sulcus/fissure

37
Q

What is the temporal lobe responsible for?

A

Memory

Understanding

Language

38
Q

What is the parietal lobe responsible for?

A

Perception/sensation = sensory cortex

Arithmetic and spelling

39
Q

In which lobe is the sensory cortex found?

A

Parietal lobe

40
Q

What is the occipital lobe responsible for?

A

Vision

41
Q

What separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes?

A

Lateral sulcus/fissure (Sylvian fissure)

42
Q

What are gyri?

A

Ridges of the cerebral cortex

43
Q

What are sulci?

A

Grooves of the cerebral cortex

44
Q

What are fissures?

A

Deeper grooves in the brain

45
Q

What is the purpose of gyri and sulci?

A

Increase surface area to allow more neuronal material to fit into the cranial vault

46
Q

What is the ventricular system?

A

Interconnected chambers important in the production and transit of CSF

47
Q

What is the spinal canal?

A

Central canal of spinal cord containing CSF

48
Q

Describe the structure of the ventricular system.

A

One lateral ventricle in each hemisphere

Each connected to the third ventricle by the interventricular foramen

Third ventricle connected to fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct

49
Q

What forms the walls of the third ventricle?

A

Diencephalon on each side

50
Q

What shape are the lateral ventricles?

A

C-shaped with posterior horns

51
Q

Which ventricles sit in the midline?

A

Third and fourth

52
Q

Describe the position of the fourth ventricle.

A

Posterior to pons

Anterior to cerebellum

53
Q

How does CSF escape the ventricular system?

A

Foramina in the fourth ventricle

54
Q

What are the foramina leaving the fourth ventricle?

A

Central canal of medulla

Median foramen of Magendie

Lateral foramina of Luschka

55
Q

What synthesises CSF?

A

Choroid plexus

56
Q

How does the choroid plexus look?

A

Bubbly

Cauliflower-like

57
Q

What type of cells make up the choroid plexus?

A

Specialised ependymal cells

58
Q

What are the functions of CSF?

A

Buoyancy - reduces weight of brain from 1.3kg to 30g to prevent ventral neurons being squashed

Protection - hydrostatic buffer against cranium

Removal of waste products - eventually returns to venous bloodstream

59
Q

How much CSF is produced per day?

A

~500ml

60
Q

What can failure of CSF reabsorption cause?

A

Hydrocephalus - CSF pushes brain cortex outwards which pushes against unfused skull plates

61
Q

How could you treat hydrocephalus?

A

Stent to remove excess CSF

Surgically

62
Q

What are the meninges?

A

Outer protective layers of CNS

63
Q

What are names of the meninges?

A

Pia mater

Arachnoid mater

Dura mater

64
Q

Which layer of the meninges cannot be seen with the naked eye?

A

Pia mater

65
Q

Describe the pia mater.

A

Innermost layer of meninges

Fine, delicate, about 2 cells thick

66
Q

Describe the arachnoid mater.

A

Silky, web-like

Closely associated with dura mater

67
Q

What is the glia limitans?

A

Outer layer of brain/cortex made up of glial cells (esp. astrocytes)

68
Q

Describe the dura mater.

A

Tough, hardy

Closely associated with arachnoid mater and the periosteum (in the cranial region)

2 layers in skull which separate to form venous sinuses

69
Q

What are the two layers of the dura mater?

A

Periosteal

Meningeal

70
Q

Why is the dura mater not closely attached to the periosteum of the vertebral column?

A

Allows spine to bend easily

71
Q

What is the subarachnoid space?

A

Space between pia mater and arachnoid mater

Contains CSF

72
Q

How is CSF reabsorbed?

A

Moves from subarachnoid space into venous sinuses (mainly superior sagittal sinus) via arachnoid granulations/villi

73
Q

Where are the arachnoid granulations particularly abundant?

A

Along the superior sagittal sinus