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Reuben's Neuroscience > Neuroanatomy > Flashcards

Neuroanatomy Flashcards

(69 cards)

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1
Q

What is the brain’s cortex also known as?

A

Cerebrum

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2
Q

What are the 3 regions of the brainstem?

A

(From superior down) midbrain, pons, medulla

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3
Q

What is grey matter made of?

A

Neuronal cell bodies

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4
Q

What is white matter made of?

A

Axons covered in myelin sheaths (glial cells in the CNS)

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5
Q

In the brain, is it grey matter on the outside, or white matter?

A

Grey matter is on the outside, white matter is on the inside

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6
Q

What would one employ to view fibre tracts?

A

Diffusion-weighted MRI

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7
Q

What alignment of the brainstem is anatomically correct?

A

Aligned in the vertical axis (perpendicular to the ground)

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8
Q

Why do anatomical directions change in the brain and where does this occur?

A

During development there is a kink in the midbrain, giving the human brain an unusual 90 degree deviation. Dorsal and ventral changes over this kink as defined by 2 brain axes.

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9
Q

How can you tell the brain’s front from back (if given a whole brain)?

A

The brain is wider at the back

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10
Q

T/F: Cerebral ridges = gyri; cerebral grooves = sulci

A

True.

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11
Q

What is thought to be a function of the cerebral cortex?

A

The site of language, memory, emotions, self-awareness/consciousness

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12
Q

What are the 4 basic subdivisions of the cerebrum?

A

Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital

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13
Q

What is annoying about neuroanatomy in terms of structure relationships to function?

A

They do not strictly correlate over gyri and sulci

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14
Q

How did Brodmann relate cerebral structure to function?

A

He marked cellular changes across the surface and this proved to be more accurate

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15
Q

What is the structure connecting the hemispheres of the cerebrum/brain?

A

The corpus callosum

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16
Q

What is a key function of the cerebellum?

A

Motor control. Compares what you want to do with what you are doing. Refines execution of motor program. Also facilitates learning of new motor functions

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17
Q

What is the cell packaging like in the cerebellum?

A

Containing half of the neurons in the brain, the neurons must therefore be quite tightly packed, forming a sort of ‘crystalline’ structure.

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18
Q

Where does the basal ganglia reside?

A

In the telecephalon (refers to the embryonic structure from which the mature cerebrum develops)

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19
Q

What is the function of the basal ganglia?

A

It is involved in motor planning and it selects and initiates voluntary movements

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20
Q

What happens if you damage your basal ganglia?

A

You will have motor deficits e.g. Parkinson’s, Huntington’s Disease

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21
Q

Where is the thalamus?

A

It is part of the diencephalon (the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem)
(Also includes the hypothalamus, subthalamus and epithalamus)

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22
Q

What is the function of the thalamus?

A

It is the single most important relay for sensory information coming through the body. It is a major sensory relay to cortex. Perception is being channelled upwards to the thalamus and then up into the cortex – sensory perception!

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23
Q

How big are the thalami?

A

A thalamus is the size of a quail’s egg in the adult human

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24
Q

What is a nucleus?

A

A nucleus is a group of neurons dedicated to the same task

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25
What are the 3 ways that thalamic nuclei project?
1. Relays sensory information to specific areas of the cortex 2. Relays non-sensory information from the cortex and basal ganglia to specific regions of the cortex 3. Project globally to cortex; arousal, sleep
26
Where is the hypothalamus?
It is in the diencephalon (the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem) (Also includes the thalamus, subthalamus and epithalamus)
27
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
``` Regulates homeostasis (temperature, satiety state, blood volume and pressure, ion concentration, pH, O2 and glucose) Also controls the pituitary gland (a master endocrine gland) A tiny, but critical region! ```
28
What does the brainstem control?
``` Controls: o Facial muscles (hence muscles of expression) o Sensation from face and head o Cardiorespiratory control o Arousal, sleep/wake cycle ```
29
How can damage to the brainstem cause death?
One of the functions that the brainstem controls is cardiorespiratory function, and if this is compromised in some way, death can quickly ensue
30
How big is the brainstem (compared to another anatomical part)?
No bigger than your thumb
31
How many of the 12 cranial nerves give sensory and motor supply to the face and deeper structures?
10 of the 12
32
Cranial nerves can be: a) Purely of motor control b) Purely for sensory relays c) Both
c) Both
33
What are the 3 important regions of a spinal cord segment?
1. Dorsal (posterior) horns 2. Ventral (anterior) horns 3. Intermediate zones
34
T/F: In a spinal cord segment, the grey matter is on the outside and the white matter is on the inside.
False. That is a description of the brain. The spinal cord is the other way around; white on the outside, grey on the inside.
35
What does the spinal cord attach to superiorly?
The medulla
36
What are the 4 regions of the spinal cord?
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral
37
Where does the spinal cord end (or fray out)? | Bonus points: what is it called after this point?
L1/L2 | Bonus answer: cauda equina
38
What is the purpose of the dorsal horn?
Receive sensory/afferent information
39
Where are the dorsal horn neurons' cell bodies?
They are in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), outside of the spinal cord, but paravertebral
40
Where does the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sit?
The DRG cell body cluster sit in the intervertebral foramina
41
What do neurons of the ventral horn do?
Send out motor/efferent signals
42
Peripheral nerves have: a) Sensory supply b) Motor supply c) Both
c) Both
43
Define a dermatome.
The region of body innervated by a bilateral pair of dorsal root ganglia
44
What are important imaging landmarks of the brain?
Ventricles
45
What fills the ventricles?
Fluid (Cerebrospinal fluid; CSF)
46
How many ventricles are there and what connects them?
There are 4 ventricles, 2 lateral, the 3rd ventricle and the 4th ventricle They are connected by the cerebral aqueduct
47
What structure forms CSF?
The choroid plexus in the ventricles - a highly vascular structure that creates an ultrafiltrate of plasma
48
T/F: The brain would collapse in on itself without the buoyancy conferred by CSF.
True
49
T/F: CSF is only produced when you are awake.
False. CSF is produced 24 hours a day - a constitutive thing
50
What are the layers of the meninges?
Three layers of connective tissue: 1. Dura (thickest, outermost) 2. Arachnoid (fibrous, middle) 3. Pia (thinnest, innermost)
51
What resorbs CSF into the systemic circulation?
major veins at arachnoid granulations
52
What is falx (cerebri)?
A projection of dura mater into the longitudinal fissure. It prevents lateral movement of the brain.
53
What is tentorium (cerebelli)?
Dura mater that projects anteriorly and separates cerebellum from occipital lobe of cortex
54
What is a problem with falx and tentorium?
Although they prevent aberrant brain movements, if there is a brain growth or tumour, the brain can't move very much and will end up herniating or compressing its own structures.
55
List the features of the BBB.
Tight junctions between endothelium No pinocytosis - only transport is by active mechanisms Lipid-soluble molecules are able to easily pass into the brain - Active extrusion mechanisms like p-glycoprotein and ABC transporters can interfere with these lipid-soluble entry processes
56
List the layers of the meninges.
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
57
Describe dura mater.
Outer, tough, fibrous layer attached to the internal surface of the skull
58
Describe arachnoid mater.
* Much more delicate fibrous tissue that lines the inside of the dura * Spider-web-like appearance
59
Describe pia mater.
* Attached to the brain tissue | * Lines the sulci and is intimately associated with the surface of the brain
60
What are the potential spaces formed by the meninges?
Epidural space - between the dura and the skull | Subdural space - between the dura and the arachnoid
61
What sits in the subarachnoid space?
CSF
62
Name the dural septa.
1. Falx cerebri 2. Tentorium cerebelli 3. Falx cerebelli 4. Diaphragm sellae
63
List the layers of the meninges.
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
64
Describe dura mater.
Outer, tough, fibrous layer attached to the internal surface of the skull
65
Describe arachnoid mater.
* Much more delicate fibrous tissue that lines the inside of the dura * Spider-web-like appearance
66
Describe pia mater.
* Attached to the brain tissue | * Lines the sulci and is intimately associated with the surface of the brain
67
What are the potential spaces formed by the meninges?
Epidural space - between the dura and the skull | Subdural space - between the dura and the arachnoid
68
What sits in the subarachnoid space?
CSF
69
Name the dural septa.
1. Falx cerebri 2. Tentorium cerebelli 3. Falx cerebelli 4. Diaphragm sellae

Reuben's Neuroscience (10 decks)

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