1: Topographic Anatomy of the Brain and Spinal Cord Flashcards
Contains surface images for identification of parts and details about all parts covered in topographic anatomy lecture and lab
Spinal cord enlargements: where are they, and why are they present?
Enlargements are at cervical and lumbar segments
Cervical contain nerves supplying the arms, lumbar the legs
Conus medullaris
The lowest tapering portion of the spinal cord
Filum terminale interna
The continuation of the pia mater from the end of the conus medullaris
Cauda equina
The lumbar and sacral nerve roots arising from the conus medullaris
What are the dorsolateral and ventrolateral sulci?
Small grooves on the dorsolateral and ventrolateral portions of the spinal cord
Located at the point of exit of the nerve roots
Briefly describe the anterior median sulcus, dorsal median sulus, and dorsal intermediate sulcus
All help divide the spinal cord into three basic divisions (dorsal, lateral, and ventral funiculi)
AMS: anterior spinal artery runs here
DMS: very small sulcus
DIS: between the DMS and dorsolateral sulcus, a sulcus only present in the upper part of the spinal cord because it separates the fibers from the legs (medial) from those of the arms (lateral)
Dorsal funiculus: where is it and what is it?
Between dorsal median sulcus and dorsolateral sulcus
Almost exclusively contains the dorsal columns: ascending tract that conveys vibratory sense, well-localized touch, and joint position sense
Lateral funiculus: where is it and (brief) what does it do?
Between dorsolateral and ventrolateral sulci
Contains contralateral corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts
Damage -> weakness
Ventral funiculus: where is it?
Between ventrolateral and anterior median sulci
Distinguish the ventral horn from the dorsal horn
Ventral horn protrudes forward, dorsal protrudes back
Ventral is motor, dorsal is sensory
Briefly, what is the substantia gelatinosa?
A term for the most posterior portion of the dorsal horn
What is this structure?

Pons
What is this structure?
What does it do?
What emanates from it?
What is the effect of damage to this structure?

Middle cerebellar peduncle
Large white matter tract connecting the basal pons to cerebellum
The trigeminal nerve emerges from the junction of the basal pons with the middle cerebellar peduncle.
Incoordination (cerebellum functions to coordinate skilled movements)
Where is the medulla?
Portion of the brainstem from the spinal cord to the pons
What is the midbrain?
The portion of the brainstem extending rostally form the pons
What is this structure?
What does it contain?

Inferior olive (inferior olivary nucleus)
Contains a motor nucleus connected to the contralateral cerebellum
What is the post olivary sulcus and what does it contain?
What is the preolivary sulcus and what does it contain?
Post.: groove located dorsal to the protuberance of the inferior olive; CN IX and CN X nerve filaments emerge from here
**Pre.: **groove located ventral to protuberance of the inferior olive; CN XII filaments emerge from here
What is this structure?
What does it contain?
Brief description of purpose

Medullary pyramids
Bundles of fibers from cerebral cortex extending down to spinal cord (corticospinal neurons)
Critically important for voluntary movements (especially skilled)
What is this structure?
What does it contain?

Pyramidal decussation (crossing of fibers)
Comprise the descending motor tract in the lateral funiculus of the cord
What is this structure?
What is its function?

CN VI - Abducens nerve
Lateral eye movement
What is this structure?
What is its function?

CN VII - Facial nerve
Movement of muscles of facial expression
What is this structure?
What is its function?

CN VIII - Vestibulocochlear nerve
Hearing and inner ear balance
What is the acoustic tubercle?
Portions of CN VIII that wrap around the inferior cerebellar peduncle
What is this structure?
What is its function?

CN V - Trigeminal Nerve
Facial sensations and jaw movements




















































































