1. Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What is neuroanatomy?
The study of the structure of the nervous system
What is neurophysiology?
The study of functions and activities of the nervous system
What is in the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
What is in our peripheral nervous system?
Automatic nervous system and somatic nervous system
What is our automatic nervous system?
it communicates with internal organs and glands
What are the two elements of our automatic nervous system?
Sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (calming)
What is the sympathetic division responsible for?
fight or flight- responding to stressors and mobilising energy
What is the parasympathetic division responsible for?
preparing to relax- peaceful and restful state, conserving energy
What is our somatic nervous system?
it communicates with sense organs and voluntary muscles
What are the two elements of our somatic nervous system?
Sensory input and motor output
What is sensory input also known as?
afferent
What is motor output also known? as?
efferent
What is the neuraxis?
the direction in which the CNS lies in relation to the spinal cord
Which direction is medial?
Towards the midline
Which direction is lateral?
Away from the midline
Which direction is bilateral?
On both sides of the body/head
Which direction is dorsal?
Back of body/top of head
Which direction is ventral?
Front of body/bottom of head
Which direction is rostral?
Towards nose
Which direction is caudal?
Towards feet
Which direction is slicing coronal?
Front to back
Which direction is slicing sagittal?
Vertical slice
Which direction is slicing horizontal?
Top to bottom
Which direction is slicing cross-sectionally?
Taken at a right angle
What is the meninges?
three protective layers which protect the brain and spinal cord- semi-permeable membrane
What are the three layers called?
Dura mater, arachnoid membrane and the subarachnoid space
What is cerebral spinal fluid?
Fluid that fills the subarachnoid space, spinal cord and ventricles
What does cerebral spinal fluid do?
Provides cushioning and support for the brain
What is the Blood-Brain barrier?
A semi-permeable membrane separating blood from cerebralspinal fluid
What does the BBB do?
Prevents toxins entering the brain from the bloodstream
Where is the Myelencephalon (medulla)?
Hindbrain
What is the medulla responsible for?
Sleep, attention, cardiac and respiratory reflexes
Where is the Metencephalon?
Hindbrain
What structures are in the Metencephalon?
Pons and Cerebellum
What is the Metencephalon are responsible for?
Motor control, decision making, language
Where is the Mesencephalon?
Midbrain
What are some structures responsible for in the Mesencephalon?
Auditory functions, visual-motor function, sensory motor system
What is the periaqueductal gray (in the Mesencephalon) responsible for?
Pain inhibition
- Regulations of heart rate
- Defensive and fearful reactions
Where is the Diencephalon?
Forebrain
What are some structures in the Diencephalon area?
Hypothalamus and thalamus
What are the hypothalamus and thalamus (in the Diencephalon area) responsible for?
hypothalamus- motivated behaviours (eat, sleep, sex)
thalamus- sensory signals to prepare motor signals in cerebral cortex (sleep, consciousness)
Where is the Telencephalon?
Forebrain
What is in the Telencephalon area?
everything else
What happens in the telencephalon area?
Mediates most of the brains complex functions e.g. movement, sensory input, cognitive processes
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outermost layer of the cerebrum
What are the large and small convolutions in the cerebral cortex called?
Large- fissures
Small- Sulci
What does the cerebral cortex contain?
neocortex, hippocampus, limbic system, basal ganglia
What is the hippocampus responsible for?
Memory- autobiographical, spatial and locational
What is the limbic system responsible for?
Motivating behaviour
contains the hippocampus, amygdala, fornix…
What is the neocortex?
Largest part of the cerebral cortex with 6 layers, divided into 4 lobes
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Motor cortex and complex cognitive functions
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
somatic sensations, orientation and location of objects
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Hearing, language, memory
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Visual processing
