Lecture 1: Introduction to the Human Brain

Question 1

What fissure separates the 2 cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 1

Great longitudinal fissure

Question 2

What do the grooves in the brain allow?

Answer 2

Increase the surface area of the brain to allow greater capacity for brain function, the lower the order of species the less grooves

Question 3

What is the difference between grey and white matter and where are they located?

Answer 3

Grey matter makes up the cerebral cortex and is on the periphery, it contains nerve cell bodies - nuclei
White matter is below the grey matter and contains axons - tracts

Question 4

What are gyri and sulci?

Answer 4

Gyri are the folds in the brain

Sulci are the grooves

Question 5

What is the name of the sulcus which separates the parietal lobe?

Answer 5

Central sulcus

Question 6

What are the four lobes of the brain and where are the roughly located?

Answer 6

Frontal - front
Parietal - More posterior
Occipital - most posterior
Temporal - inferior

Question 7

Which sulcus/fissure seperates the frontal and parietal lobe from the temporal lobe?

Answer 7

Lateral sulcus/fissure

Question 8

From which surface can the central and lateral sulci be seen?

Answer 8

Lateral surfaces

Question 9

What fissure/sulcus seperates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe and from what surface is it visible?

Answer 9

Parietooccipital sulcus

Question 10

In which gyrus does every motor axon originate?

Answer 10

Pre central gyrus

Question 11

Into which gyrus do all axons that carry conscious sensation travel?

Answer 11

Post central gyrus

Question 12

Where are the post and pre central gyrus?

Answer 12

Anterior (pre) and posterior (post) to the central sulcus

Question 13

What are the 3 parts of the brain stem and how are they positioned?

Answer 13

Medulla - first dilation of the spinal cord, most inferior
Pons - in the middle
Midbrain - most superior

Question 14

Where does the cerebellum lie (in relation to the brain stem)?

Answer 14

Posterior to the brainstem

Question 15

Where does the diencephalon lie?

Answer 15

Superior to the brain stem

Question 16

Where does the 4th ventricle lie?

Answer 16

Between the brain stem and the cerebellum

Question 17

What 2 parts of the brain does the diencephalon contain?

Answer 17

Thalamus and the hypothalamus

Question 18

What is the purpose of the 4th ventricle?

Answer 18

Helps to create and store CSF that then circulates around the brain

Question 19

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 19

Important relay station between the brainstem and spinal cord and cerebral cortex

Question 20

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 20

Controls the autonomic NS

Question 21

How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?

Answer 21

12

Question 22

Which end of the neural tube develops into the brain?

Answer 22

The rostral end

Question 23

Which end of the neural tube develops into the spinal cord?

Answer 23

The caudal end

Question 24

What are the 3 primary vesicles formed from the neural tube in the formation of the brain?

Answer 24

Prosencephalon - Most rostral
Mesencephalon
Rhombencephalon - Most caudal

Question 25

What are the 5 secondary vesicles formed in the formation of the brain and from what primary vesicles do they form?

Answer 25

Telencephalon and Diencephalon - from the prosencephalon Mesencephalon - from the mesencephalon Metencephalon and Myelencephalon - from the rhombencephalon

Question 26

What part of the mature brain does the telencephalon form?

Answer 26

the 2 cerebral hemispheres

Question 27

What part of the mature brain does the mesencephalon form?

Answer 27

Midbrain

Question 28

What part of the mature brain does the metencephalon from?

Answer 28

Pons and cerebellum

Question 29

What part of the mature brain does the myelencephalon from?

Answer 29

Medulla oblongata

Question 30

What 3 things does the cavity of the neural tube form in the mature CNS?

Answer 30

1) Ventricles - expanded cavities within the brain 2) Connecting channels - link ventricles 3) Vestigial - central canal of the spinal cord

Question 31

What are the 3 meninges of the brain and how are they positioned?

Answer 31

1) Dura - outermost 2) Arachnoid - middle 3) Pia - innermost

Question 32

What is the nature of the dura mater what is its position?

Answer 32

Tough fibrous membrane | Like a loose fitting bag, adhered to the inside of the skull

Question 33

What is the nature of the arachnoid mater and what is its position?

Answer 33

Soft translucent membrane | Adhered to the underside of the dura membrane

Question 34

What is the subdural space?

Answer 34

Potential space between the dura and arachnoid mater

Question 35

What is the nature of the pia mater and what is its position?

Answer 35

microscopically thin, delicate membrane | Tightly adhered to the surface of the brain, following all cavities

Question 36

What is the subarachnoid space and what is contained within it?

Answer 36

Space between the arachnoid and pia mater | Arachnoid mater sends cobweb-like projections down to the pia mater, the space contains CSF

Question 37

What is the function of the meninges and the CSF?

Answer 37

Protect the brain, cushion and nourish

Question 38

What is the falx cerebri?

Answer 38

A large reflection of dura mater which extends into the cranial cavity between the 2 cerebral hemispheres

Question 39

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 39

A large reflection of dura mater which extends into the cranial cavity between the cerebrum and cerebellum

Question 40

Of how many layers does the dura consist and what are they called?

Answer 40

2 - Outer periosteal and inner meningeal

Question 41

What are dural venous sinuses and what is their function?

Answer 41

Spaces where the periosteal and meningeal layers of dura are not adhered together Venous blood drains into them and then into the internal jugular vein

Question 42

What is the falx cerebelli?

Answer 42

A reflection of dura mater which extends into the cranial cavity between the cerebellar hemispheres

Question 43

What is the superior sagittal sinus?

Answer 43

Dural venous sinus created by the falx cerebri reflection

Question 44

Where does the confluence of sinuses lie?

Answer 44

Posteriorly

Question 45

What are the 5 major sinuses to remember and in which dural infolding are they positioned?

Answer 45

1) Superior sagittal sinus - Falx cerebri 2) Inferior sagittal sinus - Falx cerebri 3) Straight sinus - Falx cerebri where crossed by tentorium cerebelli 4) Right/left transverse sinus - Tentorium cerebelli 5) Sigmoid sinus - Tentorium cerebelli

Question 46

What percentage of body weight is made up by the brain and what percentage of oxygen is consumed by the brain?

Answer 46

2% of weight | 20% of oxygen consumption

Question 47

What are the 2 pairs of arteries that supply the brain?

Answer 47

1) Vertebral arteries | 2) Internal carotid arteries

Question 48

Via which foramen do the verterbral arteries enter the skull?

Answer 48

Foramen Magnum

Question 49

From which arteries do the vertebral arteries branch?

Answer 49

Subclavian arteries

Question 50

What do the external carotid arteries supply?

Answer 50

Face, scalp, neck etc.

Question 51

How do the internal carotids enter the skill?

Answer 51

Via carotid channels

Question 52

What is the rough course of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 52

Come off subclavian and run up alongside the spinal cord within the vertebrae on the posterior surface of the neck

Question 53

Which pair of arteries supplying the brain is more anterior?

Answer 53

The internal carotid

Question 54

What are the pairs of cerebellar arteries and from where do they originate?

Answer 54

1) Posterior inferior cerebellar arteries from the vertebral arteries 2) Anterior inferior cerebellar arteries from the basillar artery formed from the union of the 2 vertebral arteries 3) Superior cerebellar arteries from the basillar artery just before it bifurcates

Question 55

What are the pairs of cerebral arteries and from where do they originate?

Answer 55

1) Posterior cerebral arteries formed from the bifurcation of the basillar artery 2) Middle cerebral arteries which come off the internal carotid 3) Anterior cerebral arteries which come off the middle cerebral arteries

Question 56

What is the anterior communicating artery and the posterior communicating arteries and what do they make up along with the cerebral arteries?

Answer 56

Anterior communicating artery - between the 2 anterior cerebral arteries Posterior communicating arteries between the internal carotid and posterior cerebral artery Make up the arterial surface of Willis

Question 57

What are the labyrinthine arteries?

Answer 57

Branches off the basillar artery

Question 58

Which artery supplies the vast majority of the lateral hemisphere?

Answer 58

Middle cerebral artery

Question 59

Which artery supplies most of the pre and post central gyri?

Answer 59

Middle cerebral artery

Question 60

Which artery projects forwards and supplies the majority of the medial surface of the brain?

Answer 60

Anterior cerebral arteries

Question 61

Which arteries mainly supply the posterior aspect of the brain?

Answer 61

Posterior cerebral arteries

Question 62

At the junction between what 2 parts of the brain does the basillar artery bifurcate?

Answer 62

Between the pons and midbrain

Question 63

Which artery supplies the medial surface of the occipital lobe?

Answer 63

Posterior cerebral

Question 64

Which arteries supply the lateral aspect of the pons?

Answer 64

Labyrinthine arteries

Question 65

What is the anterior spinal artery a branch of?

Answer 65

The vertebral