Neuroanatomy

Question 1

What is the neuraxis?

Answer 1

an imaginary line drawn through the spinal cord up to the front of the brain

Question 2

anterior (rostral)

Answer 2

toward the head

Question 3

posterior (caudal)

Answer 3

toward the tail

Question 4

What makes up the CNS?

Answer 4

brain and spinal cord

Question 5

What makes up the PNS?

Answer 5

cranial nerves, spinal nerves, peripheral ganglia

Question 6

What do PNS nerves target?

Answer 6

motor commands to organs and muscles
i.e. efferent or away from CNS

Question 7

What does an afferent neuron do?

Answer 7

carries information to the brain/CNS

Question 8

What are the meninges?

Answer 8

a series of membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord
-made up of 3 layers
-inflammation of this is called meningitis
-bleeding between these layers is called a subdural hematoma

Question 9

Where is the cerebral cortex located?

Answer 9

In the forebrain (telencephalon); divided into 4 lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal

Question 10

What are the grooves on the cerebral cortex?

Answer 10

Sulci (small) and Fissures (big)

Question 11

What are the bulges in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 11

gyri

Question 12

Describe the function of the frontal lobe i.e. primary motor cortex

Answer 12

voluntary movement, expressive language and for managing higher level executive functions

Question 13

Describe the function of the parietal lobe
i.e. primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 13

Thalamic radiations relay sensory data from skin, muscles, tendons, and joints of the body to the primary somatosensory cortex

Question 14

Describe the function of the occipital lobe
i.e. primary visual cortex

Answer 14

receive, segment, and integrate visual information

Question 15

Describe the function of the temporal lobe
i.e. primary auditory cortex

Answer 15

integrating and processing complex auditory signals, which includes language comprehension

Question 16

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 16

a collection of subcortical nuclei that lie just under the anterior aspect of the lateral ventricles
-involved in the control of movement

*ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies found throughout the body (PNS)

Question 17

What makes up the limbic system?

Answer 17

1) hippocampus (memory)
2) amygdala (emotion)
3) mammillary bodies (emotion)

fornix connects the hippocampus and mammillary bodies)

Question 18

What comprises the telencephalon?

Answer 18

1) Cerebral cortex
2) Basal ganglia
3) Limbic system

Question 19

What comprises the diencephalon?

What functions do each part have?

Answer 19

1) Hypothalamus
- contains nuclei involved in integration of species-typical behaviors, control of the autonomic nervous system and pituitary (ingestive behavior-eating, reproductive behavior, sleep, fight/flight)

2) Thalamus
-contains nuclei that receive sensory information and transmit it to cortex

Question 20

What comprises the mesencephalon?

Answer 20

1) Tectum
-involved in the visual and auditory systems

2)Tegmentum

Question 21

What comprises the myelencephalon?

Answer 21

Medulla oblongata
-the most caudal portion of brain and is rostral to the spinal cord

-nuclei of the medulla control vital functions such as regulation of the cardiovascular system, breathing, and skeletal muscle tone

Question 22

Function of dorsal regions of the spinal cord

Answer 22

the back of spinal cord; sensory

Question 23

Function of ventral regions of the spinal cord

Answer 23

the front of spinal cord; motor

Question 24

What are the divisions of the PNS?

Answer 24

Somatic
-comprised by nerves that control muscle action and that carry sensory information back to the CNS (cranial & spinal nerves)

Autonomic
-division of PNS governs smooth muscle and gland secretion

Question 25

What are the divisions of the ANS?

Answer 25

1) Parasympathetic -supports activities that increase energy -rest and digest 2) Sympathetic -arousal and the expenditure of energy -fight or flight

Question 26

What do the cranial nerves do?

Answer 26

Cranial nerves send electrical signals between your brain, face, neck and torso. Your cranial nerves help you taste, smell, hear and feel sensations. They also help you make facial expressions, blink your eyes and move your tongue.