LECTURE: Contents of Cranial Cavity

Question 1

What part of the brain sits in each of these fossa?

Answer 1

anterior: frontal lobe
middle: temporal lobe
posterior: cerebellum

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

Answer 3

Question 4

The brainstem transitions to the spinal cord as it passes through what opening?

Answer 4

foramen magnum

Question 5

The brain is surrounded by three layer of connective tissue which comprise the …

Answer 5

meninges

Question 6

What are the 3 layers of the meninges?

Answer 6

dura mater

arachnoid mater

pia mater

Question 7

Which layer of the meninges is the tough outer layer?

Answer 7

dura mater

Question 8

The dura mater has 2 layers which are the …

Answer 8

meningeal and periosteal dura

Question 9

The areas where the meningeal and the periosteal dura separate form what structures?

Answer 9

dural septae and venous sinuses

Question 10

The endocranium is made of which layer of the meninges?

Answer 10

periosteal layer adherent to internal periosteum

Question 11

The meningeal layer forms ____ to help support the brain.

Answer 11

septae

Question 12

Falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli are two examples of what?

Answer 12

septaes formed by the meningeal layer to help support the brain

Question 13

The attachment of the dura to the bones in the floor of the skull is stronger than to ______.

Answer 13

calvaria

Question 14

A blow to the cranium can detach the dura from what?

Answer 14

the calvaria

Question 15

Will detaching the dura from the calvaria result in damage to bone?

Answer 15

no

Question 16

What type of fractures tear the dura and result in leakage of CSF into the soft tissue of the neck, nose, ear or nasopharynx?

Answer 16

basal fractures

Question 17

The middle, “webby” layer of the meninges

Answer 17

arachnoid mater

Question 18

This layer of the meninges is loosely draped over the surface of the brain without diving into sulci.

Answer 18

arachnoid mater

Question 19

This area contains CSF

Answer 19

subarachnoid space

Question 20

Delicate layer in close contact to brain tissue

Answer 20

pia mater

Question 21

Follows the contours of the brain and is difficult to remove from its surface

Answer 21

pia mater

Question 22

Answer 22

Question 23

Answer 23

Question 24

A sickle-shaped double layer of dura mater which is located within the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres.

Answer 24

falx cerebri

Question 25

This runs from the crista galli to the internal occipital protuberance and reflects horizontally to form the tentorium cerebelli.

Answer 25

falx cerebri

Question 26

Function of this is to reduce the side-to-side movement of the brain.

Answer 26

falx cerebri

Question 27

What separates the occipital lobes of the cerebrum from the cerebellum?

Answer 27

tentorium cerebelli

Question 28

The ___________ is attached laterally at the petrous portion of the temporal bone and anteriorly at the anterior clinoid processes of the sphenoid bone.

Answer 28

tentorium cerebelli

Question 29

The opening through which the brainstem (midbrain) passes is the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 29

tentorial notch

Question 30

The _________ supports the posterior cerebrum so it doesn’t compress the cerebellum below.

Answer 30

tentorium cerebelli

Question 31

A small sickle-shaped fold which projects from the inferior midline of tentorium cerebelli to partially separate the cerebellar hemispheres.

Answer 31

falx cerebelli

Question 32

Horizontal sheet of dura that forms a roof over the pituitary gland in the sella turcica, encircling the stalk of the pituitary.

Answer 32

diaphragma sellae

Question 33

Tumors of the pituitary gland may cause the diaphragm to bulge superiorly and press on the

Answer 33

optic chiasma

Question 34

Obstruction of the optic chiasma leads to what problems?

Answer 34

visual and endocrine problems

Question 35

Answer 35

Question 36

Runs longitudinally along the midline of the skull and receives most of the blood from cerebral veins

Answer 36

superior sagittal sinus

Question 37

A small sinus located in the inferior edge of the falx cerebri. It joins with the great cerebral vein (of Galen) to empty into the straight sinus.

Answer 37

inferior sagittal sinus

Question 38

Formed when the posterior aspect of the falx cerebri fans out horizontally to form the tentorium cerebelli, it receives blood from the inferior sagittal sinus and great cerebral vein and drains into the confluence of sinuses.

Answer 38

straight sinus

Question 39

Receives blood from superior sagittal sinus and straight sinus - blood leaves here and travels through the transverse sinuses (on either side).

Answer 39

confluence of sinuses

Question 40

Carries the blood from the confluence of sinuses laterally (on either side) to the sigmoid sinuses.

Answer 40

transverse sinuses

Question 41

Follow an S-shaped course in the posterior cranial fossae, forming grooves leading from the transverse sinus to the jugular foramen (and into the internal jugular vein).

Answer 41

sigmoid sinuses

Question 42

These sinuses are located on each side of the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone, and receives blood from the ophthalmic veins, the superficial middle cerebral vein (in the lateral fissure of the cerebral hemispheres) and the sphenoparietal sinus (in the edge of the lesser wing of the sphenoid).

Answer 42

cavernous sinuses

Question 43

The cavernous sinuses communicate with each other through

Answer 43

intercavernous sinuses

Question 44

The cavernous sinuses drain posteriorly through the

Answer 44

superior and inferior petrosal sinuses

Question 45

Small channels that drain blood from the cavernous sinus to the transverse sinus on each side (as they become sigmoid sinus). The sinus lies in the crest of the petrous portion of temporal bone.

Answer 45

superior petrosal sinuses

Question 46

Small venous sinuses that drain blood from the cavernous sinus to the jugular foramen, commencing at the posterior end of the cavernous sinus, they run posteriorly and laterally in a groove between the petrous portion of the temporal bone and the basilar portion of the occipital bone.

Answer 46

inferior petrosal sinuses

Question 47

The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus contain what nerves?

Answer 47

III, IV, VI, and V2

Question 48

What vessels run through the center of the cavernous sinus on each side?

Answer 48

internal carotid artery and abducens nerve

Question 49

The superior sagittal sinus receives what fluids?

Answer 49

blood (from cerebral veins) and CSF (from subarachnoid space)

Question 50

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is generated within the

Answer 50

ventricles of the brain

Question 51

CSF flows out of the ventricular system through openings (apertures) in the _________ to enter the subarachnoid space.

Answer 51

fourth ventricle

Question 52

The CSF is returned to the blood-stream by traveling through one-way valves called __________ into the superior sagittal sinus.

Answer 52

arachnoid villi

Question 53

Veins within the skull bones are called

Answer 53

diploic veins

Question 54

Veins of the scalp can drain into what veins?

Answer 54

the internal or external jugular vein **or** diploic veins

Question 55

How do diploic veins drain their blood?

Answer 55

diploic veins drain into the superior sagittal sinus through emissary veins

Question 56

What is the primary artery of the dura mater?

Answer 56

middle meningeal artery

Question 57

The middle meningeal artery enters the skull through foramen spinosum and can be torn with what?

Answer 57

skull fracture (especially at the pterion)

Question 58

Which area is most vulnerable to a skull fracture that can tear the middle meningeal artery?

Answer 58

pterion

Question 59

The meninges of the brain relay sensations to the brain by means of which nerve?

Answer 59

the 3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve

Question 60

Deformation of the dura mater can result in

Answer 60

headaches

Question 61

What arteries supply most of the blood to the brain?

Answer 61

internal carotid and vertebral arteries

Question 62

Blood supply in the brain

Answer 62

Question 63

What artery gives rise to branches to the brainstem and cerebellum before bifurcating into posterior cerebral arteries?

Answer 63

basilar artery

Question 64

The posterior cerebral arteries communicate with the internal carotid arteries through what arteries?

Answer 64

posterior communicating arteries

Question 65

Once inside the skull, the internal carotid arteries give rise to what arteries?

Answer 65

anterior and middle cerebral arteries

Question 66

The anterior cerebral arteries communicate by means of what artery?

Answer 66

anterior communicating artery

Question 67

The circular anastomotic communication of blood vessels at the base of the brain is referred to as the

Answer 67

Circle of Willis

Question 68

The capillaries in the brain are specialized to restrict which substances are allowed to leave the bloodstream and enter the interstitial fluid (around the neurons) called the …

Answer 68

blood-brain barrier

Question 69

What makes up the specialization part of the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 69

capillaries (continuous basement membrane and tight junctions) and perivascular feet of astrocytes on the outer surface of the capillaries.

Question 70

A tear in the meningeal artery leads to

Answer 70

epidural hematoma

Question 71

A cerebral vein tear leads to

Answer 71

subdural hematoma

Question 72

A cerebral artery rupture leads to

Answer 72

subarachnoid hemorrhage