Introduction to Neuroanatomy: general organisation and functional anatomy

Question 1

Brain orientation teminology
- superior:
- inferior:
- anterior:
- posterior:

Answer 1

• superior: dorsal
• inferior: ventral
• anterior: rostral towards nostril
• posterior: caudal

Question 2

What are the parts of the forebrain?

Answer 2

• Cerebrum
• Diencephalon: thalamus + hypothalamus

Question 3

What are the parts of the diencephalon?

Answer 3

Thalamus
Hypothalamus

Question 4

What are the parts of the brainstem?

Answer 4

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

Question 5

Composition of grey and white matter in the brain

Answer 5

• grey matter (cortex) on the surface
• white matter internal

Question 6

Why is white matter lighter than grey matter?

Answer 6

White matter: myelinated axons (fatty+white)
Grey matter: collections of neurones

Question 7

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

Answer 7

Central sulcus

Question 8

What is the corpus collosum?
Function

Answer 8

• Large bundle of myelinated axons (white matter)
• Allows for communication between hemispheres

Question 9

What separates the left and right ventricles of the brain?

Answer 9

Septum pellucidum

Question 10

What separates the parietal and occipital lobes?

Answer 10

Parieto-occipital sulcus

Question 11

Function of the frontal lobe

Answer 11

• voluntary motor control
• speech
• social behaviour
• impulse control
• higher cognition (planning, thinking)

Question 12

Function of parietal lobe

Answer 12

• somatosensory perception
• spatial awareness

Question 13

What is somatosensory perception?

Answer 13

Any sense that isn’t a ‘special sense’

Question 14

Function of occipital lobe

Answer 14

Visual perception

Question 15

Function of temporal lobe

Answer 15

• language
• emotion
• long term memory
• sense of smell
• hearing
• taste

Question 16

Function of cerebellum

Answer 16

• balance
• motor function
• co-ordination

Question 17

Where is the primary motor cortex?

Answer 17

Pre-central gyrus
(frontal lobe)

Question 18

Where is the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer 18

Post-central gyrus
(parietal lobe)

Question 19

Where are cranial nerve nuceli located?

Answer 19

In the brainstem

Question 20

Functions of midbrain

Answer 20

Involved in pathways for:
- eye movement coordination
- pupillary response to light

Question 21

Functions of pons

Answer 21

Involved in pathways for:
- feeding
- sleep + consciousness

Question 22

Function of medulla of brainstem

Answer 22

Involved in pathways for
- CVS + respiratory function

Question 23

Explain why the control of voluntary motor action in the limbs is contralateral

Answer 23

• upper motor neurones connect primary motor cortex to spinal nerves (on opposite side)
• upper motor neurones decussate to opposite side at lower medulla

Question 24

Explain why the control of voluntary motor action in the limbs is contralateral

Answer 24

• upper motor neurones connect primary motor cortex to cranial nerves (on opposite side)
• upper motor neurones decussate to opposite side at level their nuclei communicate + arise from

Question 25

What is the uncus?

Answer 25

The relationship between where the edge of the tentorium cerebelli is found + part of the temporal lobe

Question 26

What separates the frontal + parietal from the temporal bone?

Answer 26

Lateral fissure

Question 27

How are the face, limbs + body represented in their somatosensory perception + voluntary motor control?

Answer 27

**Homunculus** - genitals, toes + feet medially - face, tongue + pharynx laterally

Question 28

What makes up the hindbrain?

Answer 28

Pons Medulla Cerebellum

Question 29

What are the layers of the scalp?

Answer 29

**SCALP** - **S**kin - **C**onnective tissue (dense) - **A**poneurosis of occipitofrontalis - **L**oose connective tissue - **P**eriosteum

Question 30

Compare bleeding in the dense and loose connective tissue of the scalp

Answer 30

- bleeding in DCT is localised - bleeding in LCT is less confined and can spread *e.g. to orbit*

Question 31

What is in the dense connective tissue of the scalp

Answer 31

Vessels supplying the scalp Cutaneous nerves

Question 32

Blood supply to the scalp

Answer 32

- External carotid artery via occipital, post auricular + superficial temporal - Internal carotid artery via ophthalmic, supratrochlear + supraorbital