Laboratory One - Gross Neuroanatomy

Question 1

Where in relation to the brain is the spinal cord?

Answer 1

Caudal

Question 2

A cross section of the spinal cord would be cut in what plane?

Answer 2

Transversely

Question 3

What is the volume of the rat CNS?

Answer 3

2.5cm3

Question 4

What are some obvious differences between the rat and the human brain?

Answer 4

Rhinecephalon (rostral bluldges from frontal cortex)
The Vermis (between cerebellums)
Parafloccus (lateral ridges on cerebellum)
Massive trigeminal nerves (whiskers)

Question 5

What is the largest cranial nerve on the rat? and why?

Answer 5

The trigeminal nerve- whiksers, sensory

Question 6

What are the twelve cranial nerves for the human?

Answer 6

Olfactory
Optic
Oculormotor
Trochlear
Trigeminal
Abducens
Facial
Vestibulochochlear
Glossopharyngeal
Vagus
Accessory
Hypoglossal

Question 7

What is the fourth ventricle?

Answer 7

A cavity containing CSF, acts to protect the brain

Question 8

What is the function of the ventricular system?

Answer 8

To allow the circulation of CSF that protects the brain by cushioning it.

Question 9

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 9

Transmission of neural signals between the brain and the body.

Question 10

What is the significance between the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord?

Answer 10

Dorsal = Sensory pathways

Ventral = Motor pathways

Question 11

What is an important functional role of the pons?

Answer 11

• Contains nuclie that give rise to the nerves that innervate the face
• Has cerebral peduncles that are WMT that connect the cerebellum to the CNS
• Contains sensory (tegmentum pontine) and motor pathways(pars basilaris)

Question 12

What is the significance of the medulla?

Answer 12

• Contains medullary pyramids = pyramidal decussation

- House many nucle that are important for breathing, pH detection/regulation, thermoregulation…

Question 13

What is a function of the superior and inferior colliculi?

Answer 13

Superior colliculi = Visual reflex orientation

Inferior colliculi = Auditory reflex stimuli

Question 14

What structures are a part of the midbrain?

Answer 14

Superior and inferior colliculi + corpus quadrigemina
= Tectum
Tegmentum
Substantia Niagra
Crus Cerebri
periaqueductal grey region therefore ventricles- 4th

Question 15

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 15

Relay station for SENSORY information to the brain

Question 16

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 16

Links the nervous system with the endocrine system, synthesizes hormones and regulatory hormones.

Question 17

What is the function of the midbrain periaqueductal grey region?

Answer 17

• Mediates opoid based analgesia
• ## Pain modulation

Question 18

Where is the midbrain periaqueductal grey region found?

Answer 18

Within the midbrains tegmentum

Question 19

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 19

WMT - commisural fibres - between hemispheres

Question 20

What is the corona radiata?

Answer 20

A WMT- biggest projection fibres between the cerebral cortex and the medulla oblongata

Question 21

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 21

• Memory and learning

- Emotions

Question 22

What is the volume of the rat cerebellum and what portion does it make up the the CNS?

Answer 22

0.5cm3 therefore 20%

Question 23

What is the functional role of the vermis in the rat?

Answer 23

maintaining equilibrium and coordinating speech, eye and body movement, specifically along the extremities

Question 24

What is the function of the cerebellar hemispheres?

Answer 24

Motor Control

Question 25

What is the function of the flocculus?

Answer 25

The flocculus is a part of the vestibulo-ocular reflex system and is used to help stabilize gaze during head rotation about any axis of space

Question 26

What is the physiological distinction between grey and white matter?

Answer 26

White: Myelonated axons | Grey : Neurons cell bodies and dendrites+ axon terminals

Question 27

What is the difference between dorsal and ventral horns?

Answer 27

The horns of the spinal cord contain cell bodies. Dorsal = Sensory Ventral = Motor

Question 28

What is the main function of dorsal and ventral columns?

Answer 28

Contain the axonds of their respective bodies to transmit signals

Question 29

What is the difference between the fasiculus gracalis and fasiculus cuneatus?

Answer 29

Fasiculus gracalis = Lower limbs sensory tracts | Fasiculus cuneatus = Upper limbs sensory tracts

Question 30

How does the proportion of grey and white matter vary between rostral and caudal regions of the spinal cord and why?

Answer 30

The rostral region of the spinal cord contains more grey matter as it has more body to innervate than the caudal region which contains more white matter- which has less body to innervate

Question 31

What is the function of the area postrema?

Answer 31

Vomiting and ANS control

Question 32

What is the role of the descending trigeminal?

Answer 32

Crude touch, pressure, Pain and temperature pathway for the face, head, neck regions

Question 33

Damage to the hippocampus results in:

Answer 33

Anterograde amnesia )inability to form new memories)