1.1 - intro & brain development Flashcards
1. how & why _study the brain & nervous system 2. concept_nerual pathway & how its defined 3. how_classify & name - neural pathways, and how studying them is useful clinically 4. neural circuits & nomenclature of brain anatomy 5. list_lobes of brain, brief _functions 6. describe_broad organisation of cortex List & ID_ primary motor & sensory areas (cortex) 7. ID_main external strucutres (cortical hemispheres & brain) in midsaggital section 8. ID_main external structures (brainstem) discuss_gener
obj. concept/def: neural pathways
function - neurons?
neurons intergrate and sum_inputs
from multiple synapses
to_decide whether or not to produce an action potential (output)
Once decided action potential travel long distances along axons
obj - neural pathway classified
axons can only conduct action potentials in..
1 direction
(tf- pathways in CNS can be id that carry particular types of info in partic directions) eg. motor, sensory
obj - nerual pathway naming
tracts are named based on?
where they start
then where they finish
eg.
spino/thalamic
cortico/spinal
obj. how - study the brain
how do we study brain funct. & conn.?
*5
- anatomy & histology
- post-mortem analysis (of damaged or struct’s)
- neurophysiological recordings
- neurosurgery
- scans
how do we study brain funct. & conn.
eg of
1. anatomy & histology *3
- tract dissection
- brain stem
- cortex (brodmann)
how do we study brain funct. & conn.
eg of
2. post-mortem analysis (of damaged or struct’s)*2
- sensory speech (wernickes’s) area
2. tract death
how do we study brain funct. & conn.
eg of
3. neurophysiological recordings
- EEG
- during surgery
EEG: The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a medical test used to measure the electrical activity of the brain. A number of electrodes are applied to your scalp. EEG can help diagnose a number of conditions including epilepsy, sleep disorders and brain tumours.
how do we study brain funct. & conn.
eg of
5. scans
- functional brain imaging
Functional imaging:
is the study of human brain function based on analysis of data acquired using brain imaging modalities such as Electroencephalography (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Optical Imaging.
how do we study (brain funct. & connection) in animals?
*4
- experiment (there is more ‘freedom’ w animals)
- surgical removal
- tract section
- tracing studies (injecting subject, watching the path) - neuro/physiological recordings
& staining of cells - animal ‘disease model’
- animal ‘genetic model’
obj. nomenclature - brain anatomy
def:
sulcus (pl. sulci)
sulcus:
fold or crevice in cortex
def:
gyrus (pl. gyri)
gyrus:
island of tissue btw folds
def:
grey matter
grey looking tissue that contains -neruons -cell bodies -dendrites
def:
white matter
white matter:
white looking tissue
contains
- myelinated axon tracts
explain how anatomical diretions (in CNS)
are complicated by “midbrain Flexure”
midbrain flexure:
the axis of the CNS ‘bends’
roughly at the midbrain
TF - at this point rostro-caudal axis bends too
rostral
(rather than towards the nose) means towards anterior regions of the brain ***from midbrain point
caudal:
still means towards tail/coccyx *** from midbrain point down
likewise- dorsal & ventral
mean diff. things at different points alon this axis
dorsal:
means top half of brain/superior half (rather than back/posterior half of the spinal cord)*** the complete top half
ventral:
means bottom/inferior half of the brain *** ventral after midbrain bend (w dorsal/ventral still normal before the midbrain bend
obj.
WHY do we study the brain & nervous system?
understand the pathways
and how they function
and how they malfunction
has proven invaluable clinically..
- in understand which areas are connected
- what they do
- why they might have malfunctioned due to differnet injuries or leisions
