Neuroanatomy Flashcards

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
Q

What are the 3 ways that thalamic nuclei project?

A
  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
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26
Q

Where is the hypothalamus?

A

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)

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27
Q

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

A
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!
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28
Q

What does the brainstem control?

A
Controls:
o	Facial muscles (hence muscles of expression)
o	Sensation from face and head
o	Cardiorespiratory control
o	Arousal, sleep/wake cycle
29
Q

How can damage to the brainstem cause death?

A

One of the functions that the brainstem controls is cardiorespiratory function, and if this is compromised in some way, death can quickly ensue

30
Q

How big is the brainstem (compared to another anatomical part)?

A

No bigger than your thumb

31
Q

How many of the 12 cranial nerves give sensory and motor supply to the face and deeper structures?

A

10 of the 12

32
Q

Cranial nerves can be:

a) Purely of motor control
b) Purely for sensory relays
c) Both

A

c) Both

33
Q

What are the 3 important regions of a spinal cord segment?

A
  1. Dorsal (posterior) horns
  2. Ventral (anterior) horns
  3. Intermediate zones
34
Q

T/F: In a spinal cord segment, the grey matter is on the outside and the white matter is on the inside.

A

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
Q

What does the spinal cord attach to superiorly?

A

The medulla

36
Q

What are the 4 regions of the spinal cord?

A

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

37
Q

Where does the spinal cord end (or fray out)?

Bonus points: what is it called after this point?

A

L1/L2

Bonus answer: cauda equina

38
Q

What is the purpose of the dorsal horn?

A

Receive sensory/afferent information

39
Q

Where are the dorsal horn neurons’ cell bodies?

A

They are in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), outside of the spinal cord, but paravertebral

40
Q

Where does the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sit?

A

The DRG cell body cluster sit in the intervertebral foramina

41
Q

What do neurons of the ventral horn do?

A

Send out motor/efferent signals

42
Q

Peripheral nerves have:

a) Sensory supply
b) Motor supply
c) Both

A

c) Both

43
Q

Define a dermatome.

A

The region of body innervated by a bilateral pair of dorsal root ganglia

44
Q

What are important imaging landmarks of the brain?

A

Ventricles

45
Q

What fills the ventricles?

A

Fluid (Cerebrospinal fluid; CSF)

46
Q

How many ventricles are there and what connects them?

A

There are 4 ventricles, 2 lateral, the 3rd ventricle and the 4th ventricle
They are connected by the cerebral aqueduct

47
Q

What structure forms CSF?

A

The choroid plexus in the ventricles - a highly vascular structure that creates an ultrafiltrate of plasma

48
Q

T/F: The brain would collapse in on itself without the buoyancy conferred by CSF.

A

True

49
Q

T/F: CSF is only produced when you are awake.

A

False. CSF is produced 24 hours a day - a constitutive thing

50
Q

What are the layers of the meninges?

A

Three layers of connective tissue:

  1. Dura (thickest, outermost)
  2. Arachnoid (fibrous, middle)
  3. Pia (thinnest, innermost)
51
Q

What resorbs CSF into the systemic circulation?

A

major veins at arachnoid granulations

52
Q

What is falx (cerebri)?

A

A projection of dura mater into the longitudinal fissure. It prevents lateral movement of the brain.

53
Q

What is tentorium (cerebelli)?

A

Dura mater that projects anteriorly and separates cerebellum from occipital lobe of cortex

54
Q

What is a problem with falx and tentorium?

A

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
Q

List the features of the BBB.

A

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
Q

List the layers of the meninges.

A

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

57
Q

Describe dura mater.

A

Outer, tough, fibrous layer attached to the internal surface of the skull

58
Q

Describe arachnoid mater.

A
  • Much more delicate fibrous tissue that lines the inside of the dura
  • Spider-web-like appearance
59
Q

Describe pia mater.

A
  • Attached to the brain tissue

* Lines the sulci and is intimately associated with the surface of the brain

60
Q

What are the potential spaces formed by the meninges?

A

Epidural space - between the dura and the skull

Subdural space - between the dura and the arachnoid

61
Q

What sits in the subarachnoid space?

A

CSF

62
Q

Name the dural septa.

A
  1. Falx cerebri
  2. Tentorium cerebelli
  3. Falx cerebelli
  4. Diaphragm sellae
63
Q

List the layers of the meninges.

A

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

64
Q

Describe dura mater.

A

Outer, tough, fibrous layer attached to the internal surface of the skull

65
Q

Describe arachnoid mater.

A
  • Much more delicate fibrous tissue that lines the inside of the dura
  • Spider-web-like appearance
66
Q

Describe pia mater.

A
  • Attached to the brain tissue

* Lines the sulci and is intimately associated with the surface of the brain

67
Q

What are the potential spaces formed by the meninges?

A

Epidural space - between the dura and the skull

Subdural space - between the dura and the arachnoid

68
Q

What sits in the subarachnoid space?

A

CSF

69
Q

Name the dural septa.

A
  1. Falx cerebri
  2. Tentorium cerebelli
  3. Falx cerebelli
  4. Diaphragm sellae