Basic Topography

Question 1

Where is the hippocampus found?

Answer 1

Temporal lobe

Question 2

Which cranial N emerges ventrally from the ponto-medullary junction?

Answer 2

Abducens

Question 3

The superior colliculus is part of which structure?

Answer 3

Midbrain

Question 4

Outline the motor homunculus

Answer 4

Medial - lower limbs

Intermediate - hands

Lateral - face

Question 5

Which part of the brainstem lies at the level of the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 5

Midbrain

Question 6

Bridging veins transverse which space?

Answer 6

Subdural space

Question 7

What does the CNS encompass?

Answer 7

Cerebral hemispheres

Brainstem and cerebellum

Spinal cord

Question 8

What does the PNS encompass?

Answer 8

Dorsal and ventral roots

Spinal nerves

Peripheral nerves

Ganglion

Question 9

What is grey matter?

Answer 9

Composed of cell bodies and dendrites and synapses

Highly vascular (reflects its ‘computational’ role)

Cerebral cortex

Question 10

What is white matter?

Answer 10

Composed of axons (supporting cells)

White due to fatty myelin

Corpus callosum

Question 11

Define basal ganglia

Answer 11

A group of subcortical structures known to be involved in motor function

Question 12

What is the PNS equivalent of grey matter?

Answer 12

Ganglion

Question 13

What is the PNS equivalent of white matter?

Answer 13

Peripheral N

Question 14

Describe the white and grey matter structure of the brain

Answer 14

Like the cord

Central grey matter surrounded by white matter then surrounded by extra layer of grey matter

Question 15

Describe a spinal cord segment?

Answer 15

Cord has a central core of grey matter and an outer shell of white matter

Each segment connects with a spinal (mixed) N through dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor) roots

Dorsal N root has a swelling = spinal ganglion

Question 16

How can symptoms relate to spinal cord lesions?

Answer 16

Sensory and motor = mixed = lesion in spinal nerve

Just sensory = lesion in dorsal root

Just motor = lesion in ventral root

Question 17

Define funiculus

Answer 17

Segment of white matter containing multiple distinct tracts – axons up/down

Impulses travel in multiple directions

3 in the CNS = dorsal, ventral, lateral

Question 18

Define tract

Answer 18

Connection between 2 regions of grey matter

An anatomically and functionally defined white matter pathway connecting two distinct regions of grey matter.

Impulses travel in one direction

Question 19

Define fasciculus

Answer 19

A subdivision of a tract supplying a distinct region of the body

Question 20

Describe how the grey matter is divided?

Answer 20

Functionally distinct

Histologically district

Question 21

Define nucleus

Answer 21

Collection of functionally related cell bodies

Question 22

Define cortex

Answer 22

Folded sheet of cell bodies found on the surface of the brain

1-5mm thick

Question 23

Define fibre (white matter)

Answer 23

Axon with its supporting cells

Association = connects regions in the same hemisphere

Commissural = connect L and R hemispheres (corpus callosum)

Projection = connect cerebral hemispheres with cord/brainstem

Question 24

What is the role of the midbrain?

Answer 24

Eye movements

Reflex responses to sound and vision

Question 25

What is the role of the pons?

Answer 25

Feeding Sleep

Question 26

What is the role of the medulla?

Answer 26

Cardiovascular and respiratory centres Contains major motor pathways – medullary pyramids

Question 27

What is the central sulcus?

Answer 27

Sitting in the coronal plane Key landmark separating frontal and parietal lobes

Question 28

What is the precentral gyrus?

Answer 28

Contains primary motor cortex

Question 29

What is the postcentral gyrus?

Answer 29

Contains primary sensory cortex

Question 30

What is the lateral fissure?

Answer 30

Separates the temporal from the frontal/parietal lobes

Question 31

What is the parieto-occipital sulcus?

Answer 31

Separates parietal from occipital lobe

Question 32

What is the calcarine sulcus?

Answer 32

Primary visual cortex surrounds this

Question 33

Describe the optic chiasm

Answer 33

A site where fibres in the visual system cross over

Question 34

What is the uncus?

Answer 34

Part of the temporal lobe that can herniate, compressing the midbrain Important olfactory role

Question 35

Describe the medullary pyramids

Answer 35

Location of descending motor fibres (each has 1 million)

Question 36

Describe the parahippocampal gyrus

Answer 36

Key cortical region for memory encoding

Question 37

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 37

Fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 38

Describe the thalmus

Answer 38

Sensory station projecting to sensory cortext

Question 39

What is the role of the cingulate gyrus?

Answer 39

Cortical area important for emotion and memory

Question 40

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Answer 40

Essential centre for homeostasis

Question 41

Describe the fornix

Answer 41

Major output pathway from the hippocampus

Question 42

Describe the tectum

Answer 42

Dorsal part of the midbrain involved in involuntary responses to auditory and visual stimuli

Question 43

What can happen to the cerebellar tonsil?

Answer 43

Part of the cerebellum that can herniate and compress the medulla

Question 44

What are the ventricles of the brain?

Answer 44

Hollow cavities Contain choroid plexus which makes 600-700ml of CSF per day

Question 45

Where is CSF reabsorbed?

Answer 45

Granulations in the superior sagittal sinus