ANATOMY - Brain

Question 1

What are the three main anatomical divisions of the brain?

Answer 1

Prosencephalon (Forebrain)
Mesencephalon (Midbrain)
Rhombencephalon (Hindbrain)

Question 2

What are the two anatomical subdivisions of the prosencephalon (forebrain)?

Answer 2

Telencephalon
Diencephalon

Question 3

Which structures are found within the telencephalon?

Answer 3

Cerebrum
Limbic system
Basal ganglia

Question 4

Which structures are found within the diencephalon?

Answer 4

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland

Question 5

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 5

The thalamus is composed of different nuclei that are each involved in relaying sensory and motor signals

Question 6

Which structure forms the roof of the diencephalon?

Answer 6

Epithalamus

Question 7

Which gland is contained within the epithalamus?

Answer 7

Pineal gland

Question 8

Which structures are found within the mesencephalon (midbrain)?

Answer 8

Cerebral peduncles
Rostral colliculus
Caudal colliculus

Question 9

What is the function of the rostral colliculus?

Answer 9

Rostral colliculus relays visual information

Question 10

What is the function of the caudal colliculus?

Answer 10

Caudal colliculus relays auditory information

Question 11

What are the two anatomical subdivisions of the rhombencephalon (hindbrain)?

Answer 11

Metencephalon
Myelencephalon

Question 12

Which structures are found within the metencephalon?

Answer 12

Pons
Cerebellum

Question 13

Which structure is found within the myelencephalon?

Answer 13

Medulla oblongata

Question 14

What are the functions of the cerebrum?

Answer 14

Cognition and thought processing

Question 15

How does the cerebrum vary between species?

Answer 15

Higher mammals have a cerebrum with more gyri and sulci which enhances the surface area and increases the potential for neural networks

Question 16

Which structure divides the cerebrum into left and right cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 16

Longitudinal fissure

Question 17

What are the five cerebral lobes that divide each cerebral hemisphere?

Answer 17

Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe
Olfactory lobe (in some species)

Question 18

Which structure seperates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe?

Answer 18

Cruciate sulcus

Question 19

Which structure seperates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe?

Answer 19

Lateral sulcus

Question 20

What are the functions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 20

Behaviour
Speech
Movement
Problem solving

Question 21

What are the functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 21

Associated with movement and orientation
Involved in perceiving sensory input

Question 22

What are the functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 22

Processes sound, vestibular sensations and olfaction

Question 23

What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 23

Processes visual information

Question 24

What is the main function of the olfactory lobe?

Answer 24

Processing olfactory information

Question 25

Which structure connects the two lobes of the thalamus?

Answer 25

Interthalamic adhesion

Question 26

What are the four main white matter regions of the brain?

Answer 26

Corpus callosum Internal capsule Cerebellar peduncles Corona radiata

Question 27

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

Answer 27

Corpus callosum is white matter connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres

Question 28

What is the function of the internal capsule?

Answer 28

Internal capsule is white matter connecting the cerebral hemispheres to the brainstem

Question 29

What is the function of the peduncles of the cerebellum?

Answer 29

Peduncles of the cerebellum are white matter connecting the cerebellum to the pons and medulla oblongata of the brainstem

Question 30

What is the function of the corona radiata?

Answer 30

Corona radiata is a continuation of the internal capsule which relays information to and from the cerebrum

Question 31

What are deep nuclei?

Answer 31

Deep nuclei are central masses of grey matter

Question 32

List two deep nuclei structures

Answer 32

Basal ganglia Hippocampus

Question 33

What is the meninges?

Answer 33

Meninges is a protective membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord

Question 34

What are the three meningeal layers?

Answer 34

Dura mater Arachnoid mater Pia mater

Question 35

What is contained within the sub-arachnoid space?

Answer 35

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 36

What are the two layers of the dura in the cranium?

Answer 36

Outer periosteal dura attached to the internal surface of the skull bones and the inner meningeal dura

Question 37

In which regions are the outer periosteal and inner meningeal layers of the dura mater not fused?

Answer 37

The outer periosteal and inner meningeal layers of the dura mater are not fused at the venous sinuses

Question 38

What are dural folds?

Answer 38

Dural folds are invaginations of the inner meningeal dura which separate the cranium into compartments

Question 39

What is the falx cerebri?

Answer 39

Falx cerebri is a dural fold which projects towards the longitudinal fissure and separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres

Question 40

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 40

Tentorium cerebelli is a dural fold which separates the cerebrum and cerebellum

Question 41

What is the diaphragma sellae?

Answer 41

Diaphragma sellae is a dural fold which wraps around the stalk of the pituitary gland

Question 42

What is the cisterna magna?

Answer 42

Cisterna magna is an enlargement of the sub-arachnoid space filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 43

What is the clinical significance of the cisterna magna?

Answer 43

The cisterna magna is used for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection

Question 44

Why is the brain divided into rostral and caudal fossae?

Answer 44

Rostral and caudal fossae are clinical divisions used to localise anatomy, diagnostic imaging and pathology

Question 45

Which structures are contained within the rostral fossa?

Answer 45

Prosencephalon (Forebrain) Part of the mesencephalon (Midbrain) Cranial nerves I and II Lateral ventricle Third ventricle

Question 46

What is the caudal border of the rostral fossa?

Answer 46

Tentorium cerebelli

Question 47

Which structures are contained within the caudal fossa?

Answer 47

Part of the mesencephalon (Midbrain) Rhombencephalon (Hindbrain) Fourth ventricle

Question 48

What is the caudal border of the caudal fossa?

Answer 48

Foramen magnum

Question 49

Identify these structures on the dorsal surface of the brain

Answer 49

Question 50

Identify the following structures on this dissected dorsal surface of the brain

Answer 50

Question 51

Identify the following structures on this sagittal section of the brain

Answer 51