Anatomy Flashcards
What is the cerebrum?
- 2 hemispheres
- largest but youngest part
- performs higher functions
What is the cerebellum?
- under the cerebrum
- controls muscle movements
- controls posture and balance
What is the difference between higher mammalian and rodent brain structures?
Higher mammals have gyrencephalic structures whereas rodents have lissencephalic structures
What is the brain stem?
- oldest part
- connects to the spinal chord
- controls autonomic functions
Name the 4 main lobes
- frontal lobe
- parietal lobe
- occipital lobe
- temporal lobe
What areas are in charge of speech and language processing?
Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area
What is an aphasia?
Disturbance of language where speech production, comprehension, reading or writing is affected
Describe Broca’s aphasia
Speech production and writing is impaired but can still read and understand language. People have issues moving their tongue.
Describe Wernicke’s aphasia
Can speak but it is very wordy and has neologisms, difficulty understanding speech too.
Name three deep brain structures
- Basal ganglia
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What does the basal ganglia do?
Controls motor co-ordination and skilled movement
What does the thalamus do?
Acts as a relay station for signals to/from the cortex, controls pain, attention and alertness.
What does the hypothalamus do?
Controls autonomic functions (circadian rhythms) and hormonal secretion from the pituitary gland.
What is the limbic system linked to?
Memory
What three main parts is the limbic system made up of?
- cingulate gyrus
- hypothalamus
- amygdala
What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?
- hyper-sexuality
- hyperphagia/pica
- reduced fear and aggression
What is the ventricular system filled with?
CSF
Where is CSF produced?
Choroid plexus
Describe how CSF flows
Unidirectional flow until the 4th ventricle, then it becomes multidirectional
How much CSF is produced per hour and per day?
20mL/hour
500mL/day
What are the three types of memory and where are they stored?
- STM (frontal cortex)
- LTM (hippocampus and temporal lobe)
- Skill memory (cerebellum)
How many cranial nerves emerge from the brain stem?
10/12
How is blood supplied to the head and neck?
Through the internal carotid and vertebral arteries
What specifically does the internal carotid feed?
The Circle of Willis
What specifically do the vertebral arteries do?
Venous outflow out the sigmoid sinus and then the internal jugular vein
Describe the blood brain barrier and it’s role
It is the immunoprivilege of the brain to shield it from the periphery, only small hydrophobic molecules can pass. There is none in areas secreting hormones.
What are all the vertebrae of the spine?
7x cervical vertebrae
12x thoracic vertebrae
5x lumbar vertebrae
5x sacral vertebrae
What does grey matter contain?
- neurons
- dendrites
- neuroganglia
What does white matter contain?
Myelinated axons
What does the central canal contain?
CSF
What is the direction of afferent and efferent?
efferent = away
afferent = towards
What do spinal nerves control?
Voluntary and sensory control as well as autonomic functions
How many spinal nerves do we have?
62
Name all the spinal nerves
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
How are spinal nerves organised?
In axon bundles (fascicles) protected by three layers of connective tissue: epineurium, perineurium and endoneurium
What does the Artery of Adamkiewicz do?
Supplies blood to the lower 2/3 of the spinal chord
What is the neuromuscular junction?
Chemical synapse at the end of a motor neuron
What neurotransmitter does the neuromuscular junction use?
Acetylcholine (ACh)
What are the two muscle filaments?
actin = thin filamaent
myosin = thick filament
When can contraction cycles continue?
As long as there is ATP and Ca2+
