L4 Flashcards

1
Q

what is cerebral white matter responsible for

A

communication between cerebral area and between the cerebral cortex and lower CNS centres

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2
Q

what does white matter mostly consist of

A

myelinated axons bundled into large tracts

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3
Q

what are projection tracts

A

extend vertically from the brain to the spinal cord forming the internal capsule

can see in a caronal section inferiorly close to the brainstem

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4
Q

what are commissural tracts

A

they cross from one hemisphere to the other

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5
Q

what is the biggest commissural tract

A

the corpus collosum

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6
Q

how many axons are in the corpus callosum

A

300 million

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7
Q

the corpus collosum is so large that there are 4 parts of it. what are these called

A

the splenium, body, genu and rostrum

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8
Q

what is the splenium

A

it is the posterior part of the corpus callosum which has tracts coming from the temporal and occipital lobes

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9
Q

tracts from the body of the corpus collosum come from……

A

the parietal lobe and parts of the frontal lobe (frontal lobe - the anterior part)

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10
Q

what does genu mean

A

it mens bend which is why it is the bent part of the corpus collosum

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11
Q

where do tracts from the genu come from

A

anterior parts of the frontal lobe

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12
Q

how could someone end up with split brain

A

a corpus callosum transection

or

if you are born without one

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13
Q

what is a a corpus callosum transection

A

it is a form of treatment in patients with severe
and disabling epilepsy

it prevents the spread of epileptic discharge
from one hemisphere to the other

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14
Q

what is it called when you are born without a corpus collosum

A

acallosal

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15
Q

what are the symptoms of having split brain

A

there are no obvious changes in intellect and behaviour but they may have problems with certain tasks

e.g. object in right hand with eyes closed, can be
named; object in left hand can not be named

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16
Q

what is the anterior commissure

A

Includes axons that
connect the middle & inferior temporal gyri of
the two sides of the brain

it is like a smaller version of the corpus collosum therefore it is another example of a commissural tract

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17
Q

what are association fibers

A

they connect lobes and gyri within the hemisphere

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18
Q

ganglia means….

A

more than one

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19
Q

what is the corpus striatum made up of

A

the caudate nucleus (looks like a commor) and the lentiform nucleus

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20
Q

what is the lentiform nucleus made up of

A

the putamen (pod) and the globus pallidus (pale globe)

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21
Q

what is the corpus striatum functionally associated with

A

the subthalamic nuclei and the substantia naira

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22
Q

what is the striatum made up of

A

putamen and the caudate nucleus

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23
Q

what is the pallidum made up of

A

globus pallidus

the external (GPe) & internal (GPi) divisions

24
Q

what is the basal ganglia made up of

A

corpus striatum, subthalamic nuclei and the substantia nigra

25
Q

describe what the basal ganglia looks like in the brain

A

a sleeping lizard. the basal ganglia has a head, body and tail

the head is the lentiform nucleus

the body and tail is caudate nucleus

26
Q

what structure sits at the end of the tail of the basal ganglia

A

the amygdaloid nucleus/amygdala

there is one on each side of the brain

27
Q

what is the the amygdaloid nucleus

A

the limbic system

28
Q

what is the internal capsule

A

projection fibers to and from the spinal cord which run deep into the lentiform nucleus

29
Q

where does the posterior limb of the internal capsule lie between

A

between the lentiform nucleus and the thalamus

30
Q

where does the anterior limb of the internal capsule lie between

A

between the lentiform and the caudate nucleus

31
Q

what structures make up the internal capsule

A

the anterior limb, the genu and the posterior limb

32
Q

what 2 structures have major connections to the basal ganglia

A

the substantia nigra and the motor cortex

33
Q

how does the basal ganglia play a role in movement

A

the BG receives input from the substantia nigra and the motor cortex and then sends signals back to them

however the BG don’t have direct access to the motor neurons in the cerebral cortex so it has to make the connection through the thalamus.

Hence have cortical-basal ganglia-thalamic-cortical loop

34
Q

in motor control the basal ganglia’s function is too…….

A

inhibit unnecessary movements and act as a break so that only have movement and exquisite movement when we need it

it also plays a role in regulating attention and cognition (plays a role in memory)

35
Q

how is the break that the basal ganglia puts on movement removed

A

brake is released by input form the cerebral cortex and the substantia nigra to start movement

36
Q

how does input form the cerebral cortex and the substantia nigra take the brake off movement

A

the basal ganglia’s inhibitory neurons are tonically active which means that they are inhibiting the excitatory neurons

this break is removed by excitatory neurons in the cortex which activate inhibitory neurons which inhibit the inhibitory neurons (the brake) which means that the excitatory neurons are free to fire

37
Q

what causes Parkinson’s disease

A

substantia nigra dopamine neuron degeneration

38
Q

what are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

A
– rigidity
– tremor (at rest)
– difficulty initiating movement
– postural instability
– shuffling gait
– stiff facial expression (mask-like face)
39
Q

what is the treatment for Parkinson’s disease

A

replacement of dopamine

stem cell therapy

deep brain stimulation

40
Q

what paired structures are found in the diencephalon

A

thalamus, hypothalamus and epithalamus

41
Q

what % of the diencephalon does that thalamus take up

A

80%

this is the dominant structure of the diencephalon because of its structure not its function

42
Q

the thalamus forms what part of the 3rd ventricle

A

superior lateral walls

43
Q

how many nuclei are there in the thalamus

A

about 12

44
Q

what connects the 2 thalamus together

A

the interthalamic adhesion (also called the intermediate mass)

45
Q

what are the key roles of the thalamus

A

relaying sensation, motor activities, cortical arousal, learning and memory

46
Q

why is the thalamus divided into several groups

A

Each collection sends information up to different parts of the cortex

47
Q

the thalamus is known as……

A

the gateway to the cerebral cortex

48
Q

where is the hypothalamus located

A

below the thalamus in the hypothalamic sulcus

it is superior to the brainstem and extends from the optic chiasm

49
Q

the hypothalamus forms what part of the 3rd ventricle

A

the inferolateral wall

50
Q

why if you were to have a tumor of the hypothalamus could you end up with a visual impairment

A

because of the hypothalamuses proximity to the optic chiasm

51
Q

what are the main homeostatic roles of the hypothalamus

A

Autonomic control centre (eg. respiration)

Centre for emotional response (limbic system)

Body temperature regulation (thermosensitive neurons)

Regulation of food intake (appetite & satiety centres)

Regulation of water balance and thirst (thirst centre)

Regulation of sleep-wake cycles (with pineal gland)

Control of endocrine system functioning
(eg. ovaries, testes to produce egg, sperm)

52
Q

what are the symptoms of damage to the hypothalamus

A

various neuroendocrine disturbances

autonomic dysfunction (respiratory,
cardiovascular and gastrointestinal
systems)

disturbances in temperature regulation,
water balance, sexual behavior and
food intake

changes the level of consciousness, sleepwake cycle and emotional behavior

53
Q

what most commonly damages the hypothalamus

A

tumors

a early symptom of this is visual defects because of encroaching on the optic chiasm or optic tract

54
Q

what is the epithalamus

A

it is a small cone shaped body that is attached to the roof of the 3rd ventricle

55
Q

what can be found in the epithalamus

A

it contains Ca2+ salts such as pineal sand (in adults) and radiopaque)

This means that you can see these in an xray and it is used as a landmark to see where you are in the brain

56
Q

what is one role for the epithalamus

A

it generates melatonin which is the sleep inducing signal. this peaks at night

note that you only have one pineal gland but there are other features of the epithalamus that are bilateral