Advanced Neural Trasmission

Question 1

Give an example of a part of the brain that can be more easily seen in a particular slice?

Answer 1

• Basal ganglia

- Best seen in coronal slices

Question 2

What is meant a ‘Dorsal region’?

Answer 2

The top of a brain region

e.g. Dorsal Anterior Cingulate

Question 3

What is meant by a ‘Ventral region’?

Answer 3

The bottom of a brain region

Question 4

What is meant by the term ‘Superior’ when describing brain regions?

Answer 4

Superior = above

e.g. superior temporal lobe is on the top of the temporal lobe - it’s superior to other parts of the lobe

Question 5

What is meant by the term ‘Inferior’ when describing brain regions?

Answer 5

Inferior = below

Question 6

What is meant when the term ‘anterior’ is used describing a region of the brain?

Answer 6

Anterior = towards the front of the brain or that region

Question 7

What is meant when the term ‘posterior’ is used when describing a region of the brain?

Answer 7

Posterior = towards the back of the brain or that region

Question 8

What is meant when the term ‘proximal’ is used when describing a region of the brain?

Answer 8

Proximal = close to

e.g. close to another region

Question 9

What is meant when the term ‘distal’ is used when describing a region of the brain?

Answer 9

Distal = far from

e.g. far from another region

Question 10

What is meant when the term ‘ipsilateral’ is used when describing a region of the brain, in relation to another part/region?

Answer 10

Ipsilateral = same hemisphere

Question 11

What is meant when the term ‘contralateral’ is used when describing a region of the brain, in relation to another part/region?

Answer 11

Contralateral = opposite hemisphere

Question 12

What is meant when the term ‘gyrus’ is used when describing the brain?

Answer 12

Describing the texture/folds of the brain
Gyrus = protuberance on surface of the brain
Gyri = the plural

Question 13

What is meant when the term ‘sulcus’ is used when describing the brain?

Answer 13

Describing the texture/folds of the brain
Sulcus = fold or groove separating gyri
Sulci = plural

Question 14

What is meant when the term ‘fissure’ is used when describing the brain?

Answer 14

Describes texture/folds of brain

Fissure = long, deep sulcus

Question 15

What makes up the Central Nervous system?

Answer 15

Brain and Spinal Cord

Question 16

What makes up the Peripheral Nervous system?

Answer 16

Somatic Nervous System
- Voluntary Muscles and Sense
Autonomic Nervous System
- Involuntary Muscles (sympathetic = ‘fight or flight’) (parasympathetic = ‘rest and digest’)

Question 17

What are Neurons?

Answer 17

They receive and transmit information

Question 18

What are the three types of Glial cells and what do they do?

Answer 18

1. Astrocytes
   - star shaped
   - involved in response to injury of the CNS
   - regulate blood flow to some neurons
2. Oligodendrocytes
   - form myelin in the CNS
   - schwann cells form myelin in PNS
   - form myelin by wrapping up to 150 layers of tightly compressed cell membrane around axons
3. Microglia
   - Involved in immune response in CNS

Question 19

What are the three major divisions of the brain?

Answer 19

1. Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)
2. Midbrain (mesencephalon)
3. Forebrain (prosencephalon)

Question 20

What makes up the Hindbrain?

Answer 20

1. Medulla (oblongata)
2. Pons
3. Cerebellum

Question 21

What is the Medulla, what does it do and what part of the brain is it a part of?

Answer 21

An enlarged extension of the spinal cord into the skull
It controls vital reflexes (breathing, heart rate, vomiting, salivating, coughing, sneezing) - through the cranial nerves
Part of the Hindbrain

Question 22

What is the Hindbrain?

Answer 22

The posterior part of the brain

Question 23

What is the Pons, what does it do and what part of the brain is it a part of?

Answer 23

Lies anterior to the Medulla
Axons from each half of the brain cross to opposite side of the spinal cord, so that the left hemisphere controls the muscles on the right side of the body and vice versa
Part of the Hindbrain

Question 24

What is the Cerebellum, what does it do and what part of the brain is it a part of?

Answer 24

Large hindbrain structure with many deep folds
Is mainly known for its role in movement and coordination, but also has cognitive functions
Part of the Hindbrain

Question 25

What do Cranial Nerves do? | What part of the brain are they part of?

Answer 25

- Control sensations from the head, muscle movements of the head and most parasympathetic output to the organs - The receptors and muscles of the head are connected to the brain via 12 pairs of cranial nerves - Each one originates in a nucleus that integrates sensory information, and/or regulates the motor output - The nuclei for cranial nerves V and XII are located in the medulla and pons; those for cranial nerves I to IV are in the midbrain and forebrain Part of the Hindbrain

Question 26

What makes up the Midbrain?

Answer 26

1. Tectum 2. Superior colliculus 3. Inferior colliculus

Question 27

What is the Superior colliculus (part of the Midbrain) important for?

Answer 27

Vision

Question 28

What is the Inferior colliculus (part of the Midbrain) important for?

Answer 28

Hearing

Question 29

What makes up the Forebrain?

Answer 29

Consists of two cerebral hemispheres (left & right) 1. Limbic system 2. Diencephalon 3. Basal Ganglia 4. Cerebral Cortex

Question 30

What do the two Cerebral Hemispheres, that make up the Forebrain, do?

Answer 30

Receive sensory input, and control muscles on the opposite side of the body

Question 31

What does the Limbic System do? | What part of the brain is it in?

Answer 31

Forms a border around the midbrain. Limbic structures carry out a very wide variety of functions, including emotion, motivation, and cognition Part of Midbrain

Question 32

What does the Limbic system consist of?

Answer 32

- Cingulate Gyrus - Thalamus - Hypothalamus - Mamillary body - Hippocampus - Amygdala - Olfactory bulb

Question 33

What makes up the Diencephalon? | What part of the brain is it part of?

Answer 33

Thalamus and Hypothalamus | Midbrain

Question 34

What does the Thalamus do?

Answer 34

Has many important functions, key one being sensory relay. - Info. from all sensory receptors (except olfactory) goes into specific nuclei of the thalamus for processing before travelling on to specific areas of the cerebral cortex

Question 35

What does the Hypothalamus do?

Answer 35

Vital for homeostatic functions - regulation of the autonomic nervous system

Question 36

What is the Basal Ganglia?

Answer 36

``` Functions include movement and memory A group of subcortical structures lateral to the Thalamus, including the: - Caudate nucleus - Putamen - Globus Pallidus ```

Question 37

What is the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 37

- Outer layer of the brain | - Is folded (creating gyri and sulci)

Question 38

What are the lobes of the cortex and what function are they responsible for?

Answer 38

``` Frontal - Primary motor cortex Parietal - Primary somatosensory Occipital - Primary visual cortex Temporal - Primary auditory cortex ```

Question 39

How many neurons are in the cortex?

Answer 39

Approx. 1,000,000,000,000 | a trillion

Question 40

What is the White Matter of the brain composed of?

Answer 40

Bundles of axons connecting different areas of brain

Question 41

What is White Matter important for?

Answer 41

Important to brain function, as it allows for neural communication

Question 42

What are the major White Matter tracts (regions), and what do they do?

Answer 42

Corpus Callosum - connects left&right hemispheres (located at back of brain above anterior commissure) Anterior commissue - connects left&right hemisphere (located at back of brain below corpus callosum) Fronto-Occiptal Fassiculus - connects frontal&occipital lobes, located at front of brain)