Lecture 1.1: Nuts & Bolts of the Brain

Question 1

What are the 2 divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• Somatic (voluntary)
• Autonomic (involuntary)

Question 2

What are the 2 divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 2

• Sympathetic
• Parasympathetic

Question 3

What do Afferent Neurones do?

Answer 3

Afferent neurones carry information from sensory receptors of the skin and other organs to the central nervous system

Question 4

What do Efferent Neurones do?

Answer 4

Efferent neurones carry motor information away from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands of the body

Question 5

What is the Coronal Plane?

Answer 5

• Frontal Plane
• Separates front and back

Question 6

What is the Transverse Plane?

Answer 6

• Horizontal Plane
• Separates up and down

Question 7

What is Sagittal Plane?

Answer 7

• Midline Plane
• Separates left and right

Question 8

What is Parasagittal Plane?

Answer 8

• Midline Plane but not in the middle,
• Separates left and right but not in equal parts

Question 9

What is Dorsal?

Answer 9

Posterior

Question 10

What is Ventral?

Answer 10

Anterior

Question 11

What is Rostral?

Answer 11

Towards nose

Question 12

What is Caudal?

Answer 12

Towards tail bone

Question 13

What is a Sulcus in the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 13

A depression or fissure in the surface of the brain

Question 14

What is a Gyrus in the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 14

A ridge on the cerebral cortex

Question 15

What does Grey Matter contain?

Answer 15

Neurone Rich Regions

Question 16

What does White Matter contain?

Answer 16

Myelinated Axons

Question 17

In the PNS collections of nerve cells are called….?

Answer 17

Ganglia

Question 18

What are Nuclei?

Answer 18

• Neurones formed into coherent groups
• E.g. Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus

Question 19

LOOK at diagrams for anatomy

Question 20

What does the Forebrain contain? (3)

Answer 20

• Cerebrum
• Thalamus
• Hypothalamus

Question 21

What is the role of the Cerebrum?

Answer 21

• 85% of the brain
• Initiates and coordinates movement and regulates
  temperature
• Other areas of the cerebrum enable speech,
  judgment, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving,
  emotions and learning

Question 22

What is the role of the Thalamus?

Answer 22

Processing centre for sensory information

Question 23

What is the role of the Hypothalamus?

Answer 23

Control centre for the autonomic nervous system

Question 24

What is the role of the Hippocampus?

Answer 24

Plays key role in memory consolidation

Question 25

What is the Midbrain?

Answer 25

Vital connection between the forebrain and hindbrain

Question 26

What makes up the Midbrain? (3)

Answer 26

Topmost part of brain stem: colliculi, tegmentum and peduncles

Question 27

What does the Hindbrain contain? (3)

Answer 27

* Pons * Medulla oblongata * Cerebellum

Question 28

What is role of the Hindbrain?

Answer 28

Coordinates functions that are fundamental to survival, including respiratory rhythm, motor activity, sleep, and wakefulness

Question 29

What is the role of the Medulla Oblongata?

Answer 29

Autonomic vital function such as heart rate and breathing

Question 29

What is the role of the Pons?

Answer 29

Connects brain w spinal cord and cranial nerve nuclei

Question 30

What is the role of the Cerebellum?

Answer 30

Making postural adjustments in order to maintain balance, co-ordination

Question 31

What are Brodmann Areas?

Answer 31

* Area of cerebral cortex defined by cell histology and organisation * Related to function * More detail than needed

Question 32

What is the Corpus Callosum?

Answer 32

Separates the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Question 33

What are the Layers of the Meninges? (3)

Answer 33

* Dura mater * Arachnoid mater * Pia mater

Question 34

What is the Structure of the Dura Mater?

Answer 34

* Thick, strong membrane layer located directly under your skull and vertebral column * It consists of two layers of connective tissue

Question 35

What is the Structure of the Arachnoid Mater?

Answer 35

* Thin membrane with thread-like processes that make contact with the pia mater * Contains arteries and is filled with CSF * Increases in size to form cisterns

Question 36

What is the Structure of the Pia Mater?

Answer 36

* Envelopes the contours of the brain and spinal cord * Composed of delicate connective tissue and has many tiny blood vessels

Question 37

Where is Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) secreted from?

Answer 37

Secreted by the choroid plexuses (modified ependymal cells) of the ventricles

Question 38

How much CSF is produced in a day?

Answer 38

3-500mls produced/day

Question 39

CSF Contents

Answer 39

* Similar constituents to blood plasma * Less albumin and glucose

Question 40

What is the role of CSF? (3)

Answer 40

* Bathes the brain and cushions the it against mechanical agitation * A reservoir for metabolic substrates for the brain * Dissolves & carries away products of metabolism from the brain

Question 41

Where is CSF taken up again?

Answer 41

Resorption in venous sinuses via arachnoid granulations

Question 42

What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?

Answer 42

Physical barrier preventing passage of molecules and cells into the brain

Question 43

What is the role of the BBB?

Answer 43

* Protection against toxins & pathogens * Maintain a constant intracerebral chemical environment * Facilitates and restricts molecules/drugs from the blood to the CSF

Question 44

How does the BBB control what molecules can move from blood to CSF? (2)

Answer 44

* Cerebral capillary endothelial cells have tight junctions * Astrocytic foot processes