APE 12: Cranial Cavity and Gross Brain Anatomy

Question 1

How many bones does the skull consist of?

Answer 1

22

Question 2

What are the joints between the bones of the skull an example of?

Answer 2

Syndesmosis- fibrous joints

Question 3

How many of the bones form the cranium?

Answer 3

8

Question 4

How many bones form the face?

Answer 4

14

Question 5

What are the two orbital cavities found in the skull?

Answer 5

Obicularis oris and obicularis oculi

Question 6

What does the piriform aperture lead to?

Answer 6

The nasal cavity

Question 7

What are the margins of the orbit?

Answer 7

Supraorbital, infraorbital and lateral

Question 8

Which 4 bones contribute to the orbit?

Answer 8

Zygomatic, maxilla, frontal and ethmoid

Question 9

Where do the turbinate bones arise from?

Answer 9

From the lateral wall of the nose

Question 10

What are the names of the turbinate bones?

Answer 10

Superior, middle and inferior

Question 11

What are the names of the 3 sutures in the skull?

Answer 11

Lambdoid, squamosal and sagittal

Question 12

What is the name of the area on the skull where all the sutures meet?

Answer 12

Pterion

Question 13

Which structure lies beneath the pterion?

Answer 13

The middle meningeal artery

Question 14

What is the clinical significance of the middle meningeal artery?

Answer 14

Attaches directly to the cranial bones- common injuries during head trauma

Question 15

What are the 3 recesses on the undersurface of the brain?

Answer 15

Anterior middle and posterior cranial fossae

Question 16

Which parts of the brain fit into each fossae?

Answer 16

Anterior= frontal lobe
Middle= temporal lobe
Posterior= occipital lobe

Question 17

What forms the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 17

The cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 18

Which nerve filaments pass transmit through the opening of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone?

Answer 18

The olfactory nerve

Question 19

Which nerve runs through the optic canal?

Answer 19

The optic nerve

Question 20

Which 3 foramen are found in the middle cranial fossa and what do they transmit?

Answer 20

Foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen lacerum

Transmit cranial nerves

Question 21

Which important structure lies in the sella turcica?

Answer 21

The pituitary gland

Question 22

Which vessel enters the cranium through the carotid canal?

Answer 22

The internal carotid artery

Question 23

Which structures are found in the posterior cranial fossa?

Answer 23

The internal auditory meatus, jugular foramen, hypoglossal canal and foramen magnum

Question 24

Which nerves pass through the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 24

Nerves 3-6: Occulomotor, trochlea, opthalmic branch of trigeminal and abducens

Question 25

Which nerve passes through the foramen rotundum?

Answer 25

Maxillary branch of trigeminal

Question 26

Which nerve passes through the foramen ovale?

Answer 26

Mandibular branch of trigeminal

Question 27

Which nerves pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 27

Facial and vestibulocochlear

Question 28

Which nerves pass through the jugular foramen?

Answer 28

Glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory

Question 29

Which nerve passes through the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 29

Hypoglossal nerve

Question 30

What are the main parts of a brain?

Answer 30

Cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem

Question 31

What 3 components make up the brainstem?

Answer 31

Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata

Question 32

What does the cerebrum control?

Answer 32

Personality, memory and intelligence

Question 33

What does the cerebellum control?

Answer 33

Balance, muscular co-ordination and dexterity

Question 34

What does the brain stem control?

Answer 34

Normal conscious awareness and basic life support functions

Question 35

Where is the longitudinal fissure found?

Answer 35

Between the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 36

Where is the transverse fissure found?

Answer 36

Between the cerebrum and cerebellum

Question 37

Where is the lateral sulcus found?

Answer 37

Between the frontal and temporal lobes

Question 38

What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 38

Frontal, occipital, parietal and temporal

Question 39

What do each of the lobes contain?

Answer 39

``` Frontal= primary motor cortex Parietal= primary somatic sensory cortex Occipital= primary visual cortex Temporal= primary auditory context ```

Question 40

What are the folds found on the surface of the brain called?

Answer 40

Gyri

Question 41

What separates the gyri?

Answer 41

The sulci/grooves

Question 42

What links both the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 42

The corpus callosum

Question 43

How many meninges cover the brain?

Answer 43

3

Question 44

What is the outermost meninx called and what is it tightly adhered to?

Answer 44

Dura mater, tightly adhered to bone so often remains attached to the inside of the skull

Question 45

What is the name of the sickle-shaped fold of dura mater that occupies the interval between the two cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 45

The falx cerebri

Question 46

What is the name of the fold of the dura mater that separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum?

Answer 46

The tentorium cerebelli

Question 47

What are the names given to the channels formed by the separation of the dura mater and what do they do?

Answer 47

Dural venous sinuses which receive blood from the brain

Question 48

Name the different dural venous sinuses

Answer 48

Superior sagittal, inferior sagittal, sigmoid, transverse and straight

Question 49

What is the clinical term for bleeding between the skull and dura mater and what can this cause?

Answer 49

Extra-dural haemorrhage which can cause life-threatening pressure on the brain

Question 50

What are the other two meninges?

Answer 50

Arachnoid and pia mater

Question 51

What is the subarachnoid space?

Answer 51

Very narrow space over the surface of the brain that is filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Question 52

What happens to the arachnoid mater in bacterial meningitis?

Answer 52

It becomes acutely inflammated and pus fills the subarachnoid space and surrounds the vessels

Question 53

What does the fluid-filled cavity corresponding to the lumen of the embryonic neural tube give rise to?

Answer 53

The ventricular system

Question 54

What are the different ventricles found in the brain?

Answer 54

Lateral, third and fourth

Question 55

What do the lateral ventricles drain into?

Answer 55

They drain via the two interventricular foramen to the third ventricle

Question 56

Where is the third ventricle located?

Answer 56

In the midline between the two thalami

Question 57

Where is the fourth ventricle located?

Answer 57

Between the brainstem which is anterior and the cerebellum which is posterior

Question 58

What connects the third and fourth ventricles?

Answer 58

The cerebral aqueduct of the midbrain

Question 59

Which plexus continuously secretes CSF?

Answer 59

The choroid plexus

Question 60

How does the CSF reach the subarachnoid space?

Answer 60

Flows through the choroid plexus, to the 4th ventricle and into the subarachnoid space via 3 openings

Question 61

Where is the CSF continuously reabsorbed?

Answer 61

The superior sagittal sinus

Question 62

What does an obstruction within the ventricular system of the foetus result in?

Answer 62

Exapnsion of the brain and skull- hydrocephalus

Question 63

At which point is a needle inserted to perform lumbar puncture to sample the CSF?

Answer 63

L3/L4

Question 64

What do the pyramids of the medulla contain and where do they descend?

Answer 64

Contain voluntary motor fibres | Descend from frontal lobes to spinal cord

Question 65

What would damage to the medulla oblongata cause?

Answer 65

Weakness/paralysis

Question 66

Where is the pons found relative to the medulla?

Answer 66

The pons is found superior to the medulla

Question 67

What are the two 'Roman pillars' of the midbrain called and what are they separated by?

Answer 67

Called cerebral peduncles, separated by interpeduncular fossa

Question 68

What are the 4 colliculi and what are they concerned with?

Answer 68

2 superior and 2 inferior | Concerned with visual and auditory reflexes

Question 69

Which two nerves arise from the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 69

Olfactory and optic (1 and 2)

Question 70

Where does the olfactory nerve arise?

Answer 70

In the nasal mucosa

Question 71

What is the target of the olfactory nerve?

Answer 71

The olfactory bulb and the tract

Question 72

Where do the 2 optic nerves unite and then what do they divide into?

Answer 72

Unite at the chiasm and divide again to become optic tracts

Question 73

What is the clinical significance of the chiasm being situated just above the pituitary gland?

Answer 73

Visual field defects

Question 74

Which 2 nerves arise from the midbrain?

Answer 74

Oculomotor and trochlear (3 and 4)

Question 75

Where does the oculomotor nerve emerge from?

Answer 75

The interpeduncular fossa, between the cerebral peduncles

Question 76

What does the oculomotor nerve supply?

Answer 76

4 out of 6 of the extraocular muscles

Question 77

Where does the trochlear nerve arise from?

Answer 77

The posterior aspect of the midbrain

Question 78

Which muscle does the trochlear nerve supply?

Answer 78

A single extraocular muscle

Question 79

Which single cranial nerve exits dorsally?

Answer 79

Trochlear nerve

Question 80

Which 4 nerves arise from the pons?

Answer 80

Trigeminal, abducens, facial, vestibulocochlear (5, 6, 7 and 8)

Question 81

What does the trigeminal nerve supply?

Answer 81

Facial sensation and muscles of mastication

Question 82

What does the abducens nerve supply?

Answer 82

A single extraocular muscle

Question 83

What does the facial nerve supply?

Answer 83

Muscles of facial expression and taste fibres (anterior 2/3 of the tongue)

Question 84

What does the vestibulocochlear nerve supply?

Answer 84

The middle ear- concerned with hearing and balance

Question 85

Which 4 nerves arise from the medulla?

Answer 85

Glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal (9, 10, 11 and 12)

Question 86

What does the glossopharyngeal nerve supply?

Answer 86

Mainly a sensory nerve- supplies pharyngeal sensation (gag reflex) and taste fibres (posterior 1/3 of tongue)

Question 87

What does the vagus nerve supply?

Answer 87

Muscles of speech and swallowing, is the parasympathetic nerve of thorax and abdomen till splenic flexure of colon

Question 88

What is the parasympathetic innervation below the splenic flexure of the colon?

Answer 88

From the sacral outflow in the pelvic splanchnic nerves- S2, 3, 4

Question 89

What are the two aspects of the accessory nerve and what do they do?

Answer 89

Cranial portion= joins the vagus nerve | Spinal portion= supplies trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck

Question 90

Which nerve emerges by itself?

Answer 90

The hypoglossal nerve (12)

Question 91

What does the hypoglossal nerve supply?

Answer 91

Purely a motor nerve, supplies intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue