Neuro anatomy terms

Question 1

Tracts

Answer 1

 Tracts - location of a pathway, eg spinothalamic tract

Question 2

Commisures

Answer 2

 Commisures - tract connecting one hemisphere to the other, eg anterior
commisure

Question 3

Lemnisci

Answer 3

 Lemnisci - narrow strip of fibres, eg medial lemniscus

Question 4

Funiculi

Answer 4

 Funiculi - ‘rope’ or ‘cord’, eg lateral funiculus

Question 5

Fasiculi

Answer 5

 Fasiculi - ‘bundle’, eg gracile fasiculus

Question 6

Capsule

Answer 6

 Capsule - sheet of white matter fibres borders a nucleus of grey matter

Question 7

Column

Answer 7

 Column - longitudinally running fibres are separated by other structures, eg
dorsal column

Question 8

Cortex

Answer 8

Cortex - laminated grey matter on outside of brain, eg motor cortex

Question 9

Nuclei

Answer 9

Nuclei - collections of nerve cell bodies within the CNS, eg arcuate nucleus

Question 10

Ganglia

Answer 10

Ganglia - collections of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS (eg doral root ganglia)
AND some in CNS that have a capsule (eg basal ganglia)

Question 11

Afferents

Answer 11

Afferents - axons taking information towards the CNS, eg sensory fibres

Question 12

Efferents

Answer 12

Efferents - axons taking information to another site, eg motor fibres

Question 13

Reticular

Answer 13

Reticular - ‘netlike’, where grey and white matter mix, eg reticular formation of
brainstem

Question 14

Ipsilateral

Answer 14

–Ipsilateral - same side

Question 15

Contralateral

Answer 15

–Contrallateral - opposite side

Question 16

Medial

Answer 16

 Medial = towards midline

Question 17

Median

Answer 17

 Median = at midline

Question 18

Lateral

Answer 18

 Lateral = away from midline

Question 19

Rostral

Answer 19

 Rostral = towards nose (anterior)

Question 20

Caudal

Answer 20

 Caudal = towards tail (posterior)

Question 21

In brain stem and cord
dorsal
ventral

Answer 21

In brain stem & cord
 Dorsal = Posterior
 Ventral = Anterior

Question 22

In cerebrum
dorsal
ventral

Answer 22

In cerebrum
 Dorsal = Superior
 Ventral = Inferior

Question 23

Gyri

Answer 23

Gyri (gyrus) - ridges

Question 24

Sulci

Answer 24

Sulci (sulcus) - grooves

Question 25

Frontal lobe functions

Answer 25

Frontal  Voluntary movement on opposite side of body  Frontal lobe of dominant hemisphere controls speech and writing  Intellectual functioning, thought processes, reasoning and memory

Question 26

Parietal functions

Answer 26

Parietal |  Receives and interprets sensations,

Question 27

Temporal lobe functions

Answer 27

Temporal |  Understanding spoken word, sounds as well as memory and emotion

Question 28

Occipital lobe functions

Answer 28

Occipital |  Understanding visual images and meaning of written words

Question 29

Grey matter structures deep in the white matter surround the ventricles and include:

Answer 29

Grey matter structures deep in the white matter surround the ventricles and include:  Thalamus: relay centre directing inputs to cortical areas  Hypothalamus: ANS, links endocrine system to brain, homeostasis  Basal ganglia (Caudate nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus): motor control, cognition and non-motor behaviour

Question 30

Cerebellum

Answer 30

Cerebellum - co-ordinates movement & balance  Lies over dorsal surface of brain stem and attached by 3 peduncles:  Superior  Middle  Inferior  Separated from dorsal brainstem by IVth ventricle (forms part of its roof)  Made up of folded cortex, white matter and deep inner nuclei  Cortex folded into many transverse folia - cerebellum is involved in the coordination of voluntary motor movement, balance and equilibrium and muscle tone

Question 31

Underlying the cortex is the white matter:

Answer 31

Underlying the cortex is the white matter:  Many connections between cortex and other CNS structures, eg internal capsule, corpus callosum

Question 32

What does cerebellar injury result in?

Answer 32

Cerebellar injury results in movements that are slow and uncoordinated, for example:  loss of coordination of motor movement (asynergia)  movement tremors (intention tremor)  weak muscles (hypotonia)  abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)

Question 33

What are the functions of the brain stem?

Answer 33

``` Brain stem - many functions including:  Special senses  Sensory and motor for head & neck via cranial nerves  Autonomic regulation of body  Regulates consciousness  Pathway between brain and spinal cord ```

Question 34

What does the midbrain contain?

Answer 34

 Midbrain:  Tectum (superior & inferior colliculi)  Cerebral peduncle (tegmentum & crus cerebri)  Surrounds cerebral aqueduct

Question 35

Where is the pons?

Answer 35

 Pons: Bridge to cerebellum

Question 36

Where is the medulla oblongata?

Answer 36

 Medulla oblongata: continuous with cord

Question 37

What two types of specialised cell does the CNA contain?

Answer 37

The CNS contains two types of specialised cell:  Nerve cells or neuron(e)s  Neuroglia

Question 38

Name a few types of neuron

Answer 38

 Many types, for eg; pyramidal, stellate, basket, Golgi, Purkinje, chandelier etc

Question 39

Name a few types of Neuroglia

Answer 39

 Astrocytes  Oligodendrocytes  Microglia  (Ependyma)