Neuroanatomy

Question 1

Describe the function of the cerebrum

Answer 1

To perform higher functions: touch, vision and emotions

Question 2

Describe the function of the cerebellum

Answer 2

Coordinate muscle movements, maintain posture and balance

Question 3

Describe the function of the brainstem

Answer 3

Relay centre between cerebrum and cerebellum
Performs automatic functions

Question 4

How is the cerebrum decided divided

Answer 4

4 lobes, right and left hemispheres
Joined by the corpus callosum

Question 5

What does the left hemisphere control

Answer 5

Speech, comprehension, arithmetic and writing

Question 6

What does the right hemisphere control

Answer 6

Creativity, spatial ability, artistic and musical skills

Question 7

Describe the role of the frontal lobe

Answer 7

Personality and behaviour
Judgment and planning
Speech
Body movement
Intelligence and concentration

Question 8

What area is responsible for speaking and writing

Answer 8

Broca’s area

Question 9

What area is involved in body movement

Answer 9

Motor strip

Question 10

Describe the function of the parietal lobe

Answer 10

Interest language
Sense of touch and pain
Interprets vision, hearing and memory
Spatial and visual perception

Question 11

Describe the function of the occipital lobe

Answer 11

Interpret vision (colour, light and movement)

Question 12

Describe the function of the temporal lobe

Answer 12

Understanding language
Memory
Hearing
Sequencing and organisation

Question 13

What area is responsible for understanding language

Answer 13

Wernicke’s area

Question 14

What happens if Broca’s area is damaged

Answer 14

Difficulty moving the tongue or facial muscles to produce speech and sounds
Difficulty forming letters and words when writing
Can still understand some language

Question 15

What happens if Wernicke’s area

Answer 15

Individual may speak long sentences that have no meaning
Can make speech sounds but have difficulty understanding speech

Question 16

Describe the cortex

Answer 16

Surface of cerebrum
Contains neurones arranged in layers

Question 17

Describe grey matter

Answer 17

Contains synapses and neurones causing the colouration

The impulses are generated here

Question 18

Describe white matter

Answer 18

Where the myelinated axon pathways run giving it a white colour

Transfer the impulse to other parts of the CNS or body

Question 19

Describe a gyrus

Answer 19

The top of the fold in the brain

Question 20

Describe suculus

Answer 20

The grooves between folds

Question 21

Why are gyri and suculi important

Answer 21

Help define specific brain regions

Question 22

Describe the pituitary gland

Answer 22

Controls other endocrine glands
Secretes hormones that control sexual development, promote bone and muscle growth

Question 23

How is the pituitary gland connected to the hypothalamus

Answer 23

Via pituitary stalk

Question 24

Describe the function of the pineal gland

Answer 24

Regulates the body’s internal clock and circadian rhythm
Secretes melatonin

Question 25

Describe the function of the thalamus

Answer 25

Relay station for almost all information in the cortex Role in pain sensation, alertness and memory

Question 26

Describe the function of the basal ganglia

Answer 26

Work with the cerebellum to coordinate fine motions

Question 27

What is the basal ganglia made up off

Answer 27

Caudate, putamen and globus pallidus

Question 28

Describe the role of the limbic system

Answer 28

Centre of our emotions, learning and memory

Question 29

What is included in the limbic system

Answer 29

Cingulate gyri, hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus

Question 30

Describe the structure of pyramidal cells

Answer 30

Have 1 apical dendrite that courses towards the surface of the cortex Have multiple basal dendrites Have 1 long axon that leaves cortex and enters the white matter

Question 31

What are the 6 cortical layers in the cerebral cortex

Answer 31

Molecular External granular External pyramidal Internal granular Internal pyramidal Multi form

Question 32

Describe the ventricles in the brain

Answer 32

Spaces in the brain that are full of cerebrospinal fluid Protects the brain by keeping it buying and cushioned

Question 33

Describe the cerebral ventricular system

Answer 33

4 ventricles 2 lateral ventricles 1 in the diencephalon 1 in the hindbrain

Question 34

Names the 5 main parts in the brain

Answer 34

Myelencephalon (Medulla Oblongata) Metencephalon (Pons and Cerebellum) Mesencephalon (Midbrain) Diencephalon (Hypo/thalamus) Telencephalon (Cerebral Hemisphere)

Question 35

Describe the Papez circuit

Answer 35

Functions primarily in the cortical control of emotion and memory storage

Question 36

Describe the amygdala

Answer 36

Paired structure in the temporal lobe Involved in emotion, memory and the flight and fight response

Question 37

Describe the main function of the hypothalamus

Answer 37

To keep the body in homeostasis Influences the autonomic nervous system and manages hormones

Question 38

Name the 3 dopaminergic pathways

Answer 38

Mesocortical Mesolimbic Nigro-striatal

Question 39

Describe the mesocortical pathway

Answer 39

ventral tegmental area -> cortec and limbic system (Schizophrenia and drug addiciton)

Question 40

Describe the mesolimbic pathway

Answer 40

Ventral tegmental area -> nucleus accumbens (Schizophrenia and drug addiction)

Question 41

Descrobe the Nigro-striatal pathway

Answer 41

substantia nigra -> caudate/putamen (Parkinsons disease)

Question 42

Describe the function of the substantia nigra

Answer 42

Modulates motor movement and reward functions Part of basal ganglia circuitry

Question 43

Describe the function of the brainstem

Answer 43

Responsible for vital life functions e.g breathing, conciousness and heart rate Contains many critical collections of white and grey matter

Question 44

Describe the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

Answer 44

Set of connected nuclei responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions

Question 45

Describe the development of the adult brain from an embryo

Answer 45

Neural tube -> forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain -> telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencphalon, myelencephalon