Brain Intro

Question 1

Describe the following cellular elements:
cell body
axon terminal
axon
myelin
dendrites

Answer 1

cell body- synthesizes and packages macromolecules
axon terminal- synaptic transmission to other neurons
axon- conducts action potentials toward other neurons
myelin- glial covering that speeds conduction
dendrites- site of most (but not all) synaptic inputs

Question 2

Describe saltatory conduction.

Answer 2

charge skips from node to node- accelerating the conduction of the impulse

Question 3

What are the components of the neuron?

Answer 3

cell membrane, nucleus, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, organelles

Question 4

What are the principal PNS glial cells?

Answer 4

Schwann cells

PNS axons can be myelinated or unmyelinated

Question 5

What are the CNS glial cells?

Answer 5

oligodendrocytes - some CNS axons are myelinated by oligodendrocytes but others are unmyelinated

astrocytes- provide structural and metabolic support to neurons

ependymal cells- line the ventricles

microglia- respond to CNS injury

Question 6

What is CNS?

Answer 6

brain and spinal cord

Question 7

What are the main components of the brain?

Answer 7

cerebrum, cerebellum, basal ganglia, diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla

Question 8

Where does the long axis of the CNS bend?

Answer 8

cephalic flexure

dorsal ventral relationships change at the cephalic flexure between brainstem and diencephalon

Question 9

Describe the following cerebral hemispheres:
frontal lobe
parietal lobe
temporal lobe
occipital lobe
limbic lobe

Answer 9

frontal lobe- motor areas
parietal lobe- somatosensory areas
temporal lobe- auditory areas
occipital lobe- visual areas
limbic lobe- interconnected with other limbic structures buried in the temporal lobe

Question 10

Describe the three sulci.

What marks the boundary between sensory and motor cortex?
What is localized near the lateral fissure?

Answer 10

central sulcus (between frontal and parital)
lateral sulcus )between frontal and temporal/ temporal and parietal
parietooccipital sulcus- between parietal and occipital

central sulcus marks boundary between sensory and motor cortex.
speech and audition are localized near the lateral fissure.

Question 11

Which areas are important for speech?
Which area is important for auditory functions?
Complex visual functions?
What is the primary receiving area for visual impulses?

Answer 11

Broca’s motor speech area and Wernicke’s area (reception of speech)

superior temporal gyrus (important for auditory functions)

inferior and middle temporal gyri (complex visual functions)

occipital lobe (primary area for receiving visual impulses)

Question 12

Where is the insula?

Answer 12

hidden deep in the lateral or Sylvian Fissure by parts of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes

Question 13

What does the diencephalon include?

Answer 13

thalamus and hypothalamus

thalamus-conveys information to the cerebral cortex (almost all motor and sensory pathways are relayed through the thalamus)

hypothalamus- controls autonomic nervous system

Question 14

What does the cerebral hemisphere include?
brainstem?
cerebellum?

Answer 14

cerebral hemisphere- cerebral cortex and corpus callosum

brainstem- midbrain, pons, medulla

cerebellum- vermis and hemisphere

Question 15

What makes CSF?

Where is vision processed most intensely?

Answer 15

CSF- made in choroid

vision is processed most intensely near the calcarine fissure

Question 16

What are major components of the basal ganglia?

Which are major limbic structures?

Answer 16

basal ganglia- caudate nucleus, putamen, ang globus pallidus
(lentiform nucleus = putamen and globus pallidus)

limbic structures- amygdala and hippocampus

Question 17

Precentral gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 17

Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex

General functions- voluntary movement of muscles of head and head region

Associated disorders- loss of voluntary movement of body and head region

Question 18

Premotor region
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 18

Brain region- frontal lobe of cerebral cortex

General functions- aids and integrates voluntary movements of body

Associated disorders- apraxia (loss of ability to carry out complex movements of body and head)

Question 19

Frontal eye fields
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 19

Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex

General functions- controls voluntary horizontal movement of the eyes

Associated disorders- loss of voluntary horizontal eye movement (eyes cannot deviate to side opposite lesion)

Question 20

Prefrontal cortex
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 20

Brain region-frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- intellectual functions, affective processes
Associated disorders-intellectual and emotional impairment

Question 21

Broca’s motor speech area
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 21

Brain region- frontal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- regulates motor aspects of speech
Associated disorders- motor aphasia

Question 22

Postcentral gyrus
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 22

Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- conscious perception of somesthetic sensation
Associated disorders- loss of somatosensory perception

Question 23

Wernicke’s area
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 23

Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex
General functions- receptive integration of speech
Associated disorders- receptive aphasia

Question 24

Superior parietal lobule
Brain region-
General functions-
Associated disorders-

Answer 24

Brain region- parietal lobe of cerebral cortex

General functions-integration of sensory and motor functions; programming mechanism for motor responses

Associated disorders- posterior parietal syndrome; sensory neglect; apraxia

Question 25

Superior temporal gyrus Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 25

Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex General functions- auditory perception Associated disorders- loss of auditory perception

Question 26

Middle temporal gyrus Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 26

Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex General functions- detection of moving objects Associated disorders- loss of movement detection

Question 27

Inferior temporal gyrus Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 27

Brain region- temporal lobe of cerebral cortex General functions- recognition of faces Associated disorders-loss of facial recognition

Question 28

Upper and lower banks of calcarine sulcus Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 28

Brain region- occipital lobe of cerebral cortex General functions- visual perception Associated disorders- partial or total loss of vision of the contralateral visual fields for both eyes, depending upon the extend of the lesion in the visual cortex

Question 29

Lateral, third, and fourth ventricles and cerebral aqueduct. Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 29

Brain region- ventricles of brain (deep brain structures) General functions- flow of CSF throughout CNS: source of electrolytes and conduit of neuroactive and metabolic products Associated disorders- hydrocephalus

Question 30

Caudate nucleus, putament, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 30

Brain region- basal ganglia of deep brain structures General functions- regulation of motor functions associated with cerebral cortex Associated disorders- dyskinesia

Question 31

Thalamic nuclei Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 31

Brain region- thalamus (diencephalon) General functions- transmission of signals from other regions of CNS to the cerebral cortex mediating sensory, motor, cognitive, and affective (emotional) functions Associated disorders- disruption and possible loss of sensory, motor and other functions

Question 32

Hypothalamic nuclei Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 32

Brain region- hypothalamus (hypothalamic nuclei) General functions- visceral (feeding, drinking, autonomic, and endocrine functions and sexual and emotional behavior) Associated disorders- disruption, loss, or alterations in visceral and affective functions and processes

Question 33

Hippocampal formation, amygdala, septal area, cingulate gyrus, prefrontal cortex Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 33

Brain region- limbic structures General functions- modulation of hypothalamic functions; regulation of emotional behavior, short-term memory Associated disorders- temporal lobe epilepsy; loss of control of emotions and related affective processes; loss of short term memory

Question 34

Cerebellum: anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 34

Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem General functions-integration of motor functions related to all regions of CNS associated with motor and related processes Associated disorders- loss of balance; ataxia; hypotonia; loss of coordination; disorders of movement when intentionally attempting to produce a purposeful response

Question 35

Midbrain Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 35

Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN III and IV) Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits as well as deficits associated with CN III and IV

Question 36

Pons Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 36

Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN V, VI, and VII) Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits as well as deficits associated with CN V, VI, VII

Question 37

Medulla Brain region- General functions- Associated disorders-

Answer 37

Brain region- cerebellum and brainstem General functions- transmission and regulation of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions (CN VIII, IX, X, XII) Associated disorders- sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits, including respiration, as well as deficits associated with CN VIII, IX, X, XII

Question 38

What is the spinal cord white matter made of mostly?

Answer 38

almost entirely axons and dendrites

Question 39

What is the only CN to exit the brainstem from the dorsal/posterior aspect?

Answer 39

The trochlear nerve (CN IV) is the only cranial nerve to exit the brainstem from the dorsal/posterior aspect.