An Introduction to Human Brain Anatomy

Question 1

The sagittal plane

Answer 1

divides the brain in a left and right part

Question 2

axial/transverse plane

Answer 2

divides the brain in inferior and superior parts

Question 3

coronal/frontal plane

Answer 3

the vertical plane perpendicular to the sagittal plane

Question 4

explain the terms distal, proximal, bilateral,unilateral, ipsilateral, and contralateral

Answer 4

used to indicate the location of an area relative to another area. Distal = moving away from, proximal = moving towards. bilateral = present in both hemispheres, unilateral = present in one hemisphere. ipsilateral = connections between two areas in the same hemisphere, contralateral = connections between brain areas in different hemispheres

Question 5

what is the neuropil

Answer 5

synaptically dense gray matter region composed of mostly unmyelinated axons, dendrites, and glia cell processes

Question 6

What are the 5 frontal cortex regions according to Broadmann’s classification?

Answer 6

(1) Area 4 corresponds to the primary motor cortex, containing neuronal bodies, as well as cortico-spinal projection fibers which show a somatotopical organization; (2) Area six contains the premotor region and is subdivided into the lateral premotor cortex (PMC), and the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA); (3) Area 44 and 45 correspond to Broca’s area; (4) Area 8–10, and 46 include dorsolateral prefrontal areas, and 47 to the ventrolateral prefrontal corex; (5). Finally, areas 11 and 47 represent the main parts of the orbitofrontal cortex

Question 7

What are the 4 regions of the parietal cortex according to broadmann’s classification

Answer 7

1) Areas 1–3 correspond to the somatosensory cortex and its cytoarchitecture strongly resembles that of the primary motor cortex; (2) The more laterally located areas 5 and 7 together form the superior polymodal parietal cortex; (3) Areas 39 and 40 are located in the inferior polymodal parietal cortex, corresponding to the Geschwind’s territory; (4) The medial parts of areas 31, 5, and 7 form the precuneus, and area 43 is considered a transition region of the fronto-parietal operculum

Question 8

4 temporal cortex regions according to broadmann’s classification

Answer 8

(1) Area 41 is the primary auditory cortex; (2) Adjacent is the auditory association cortex consisting of area 42 and 22, which in part overlays with Wernicke’s area; (3) The temporal visual association cortex is formed by areas 20, 21, and37; (4) Finally, area 38, one of the paralimbic areas, occupies the temporopolar cortex.

Question 9

3 regions of occipital cortex according to Broadmann’s classification

Answer 9

The occipital lobe consists of three areas (17–19). The primary visual cortex corresponds to area 17, and area 18 and 19 form the visual association cortex

Question 10

Where is the basal ganglia and which parts

Answer 10

the basal ganglia are located deep in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres anterior to the thalamus positioned medial to the lateral ventricles. They consist of two major functional divisions: (1) the striatum, and (2) the globus pallidus. The striatum in turn is composed of two highly interconnected masses: the putamen and caudate nucleus.

Question 11

which two areas are functionally but not ontologically considered to be part of the basal ganglia

Answer 11

the subthalamic nucleus(STN) and the substantia nigra

Question 12

degeneration of a specific crescent shaped, dopamine-producing region is a main hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Which region?

Answer 12

The substantia nigra

Question 13

What are the three lobules of the cerebellum (in each hemisphere)?

Answer 13

the anterior, posterior, and flocculonodular lobe

Question 14

What are the three peduncles that connect the cerebellum to the brain stem?

Answer 14

• the superior cerebellar peduncle -> the midbrain
• the middle cerebellar peduncle -> pons
• the inferior cerebellar peduncle -> medulla oblonga

Question 15

Which brain region has the most neurons?

Answer 15

The cerebellum

Question 16

What are projection fibers, association tracts and commissural tracts?

Answer 16

*Projection fibers connect cortical and subcortical gray matter
* association tracts connect two cortical areas, * commissural tracts connect the brain’s hemispheres.

Question 17

What are the five major brainstem white matter tracts?

Answer 17

the superior,middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles, the corticospinal tract, and the mediallemniscus

Question 18

5 main association fibers (connecting the cortical lobes)

Answer 18

(1) the superior longitudinal orarcuate fasciculus connecting the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobe; (2) the inferior longitudinal fasciculus connecting the temporal and occipital lobe; (3) the superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, connecting the frontal and parietal lobe; (4) the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus connecting the orbital cortex to the ventral occipital lobe,and; (5) the uncinate fasciculus connecting the anterior temporal lobe and lateral orbital frontal regions.

Question 19

Three major fibers connecting the limbic system (hippocampus)

Answer 19

(1) the cingulum connecting the prefrontal, parietal and occipital cortex to the temporal lobe and hippocampus; (2) the stria terminalis connecting the hypothalamus to the amygdala, and; (3) the fornix, which is a projection fiber, connecting the medial temporal lobe to the mamillary bodies and hypothalamus.