Basic Neuroanatomy

Question 1

Peripheral NS (2 - 2)

Answer 1

1) 12 pairs of nerves form cranium, 31 from spinal cord
2) connects limbs and organs to CNS
Has 2 branches: Somatic and Autonomic

Question 2

Somatic system (2)

Answer 2

1) links Peripheral NS with external environment eg. body

2) regulates voluntary and reflexive functions

Question 3

Autonomic system (2 - 2)

Answer 3

1) links Peripheral NS with internal environment eg. organs
2) regulates involuntary functions
Has 2 branches: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Question 4

Sympathetic branch (3)

Answer 4

1) Responsible for the fight or flight response
2) inhibits unnecessary physiological activities
3) stimulates autonomic activity and adrenal glands

Question 5

Parasympathetic branch (2)

Answer 5

1) Responsible for maintaining resting body functions eg rest and digest
2) conserves energy, inhibits autonomic activity and stimulates non immediate processes

Question 6

Central NS (2 - 2)

Answer 6

1) The body’s command and integration centre
2) controls and coordinates information processing, movement and behavior
Has 2 parts: Brain and Spine

Question 7

Spinal cord:

Answer 7

1) protected by 31 vertebrae
2) efferent function - motor commands,
3) Afferent function - sensory information

Question 8

Medulla (location - 2)

Answer 8

Hindbrain, Myelencephalon

1) Full name: Medulla oblongata
2) contains some nuclei of reticular formation - sleep, arousal and facial muscles

Question 9

Pons (location - 2)

Answer 9

Hindbrain, Metencephalon

1) Links from cerebellum to cerebral cortex
2) contains some nuclei of reticular formation - sleep, arousal and facial muscles

Question 10

Cerebellum (location - 2)

Answer 10

Hindbrain, Metencephalon

1) contains 30 bil neurons, half of total
2) - visual, auditory, vestibular, somatosensory and motor commands modulation specifically precise movements

Question 11

Tectum (location - 2)

Answer 11

Midbrain, Mesencephalon

1) contains superior colliculus - eye movement and
2) inferior colliculus - auditory system

Question 12

Tegmentum (location - 6)

Answer 12

Midbrain, Mesencephalon

1) Known as ‘the covering’
2) Large portion of reticular formation - sleep, arousal, attention, movement and somatic functions
3) Periaqueductal grey matter which surrounds the cerebral aqueduct between 3rd and 4th ventricles - stereotypical behavior
4) Red nucleus - motor system control
5) Substantia nigra - movement initiation
6) Ventral tegmental area - learning and reward signalling

Question 13

Thalamus (location - 4)

Answer 13

Forbrain, Diencephalon

1) Greek for chamber, 2) controls input to cerebral cortex
3) lateral medial geniculate nuclei - vision and audition, and ventrolateral nucleus - motor control
4) Massa intermedia - Connection between hemispheres

Question 14

Hypothalamus (location - 2)

Answer 14

Forbrain, Diencephalon

1) ‘Under thalamus’
2) - control of autonomic NS, and pituitary gland (endocrine system)

Question 15

Basal ganglia (location - 3)

Answer 15

Forbrain, Telencephalon

1) Subcortical nuclei involved in control of movement
2) Stratum including Caudate Nucleus - urging and reward systems, and Putamen - automatic motor programmes
3) Globus Pallidus - voluntary movement control, also major output nucleus

Question 16

Limbic system (location - 3 )

Answer 16

Forbrain, Telencephalon

1) limbic/ cingulate cortex - emotion, interoception and cognition
2) Amygdala - emotions primarily fear
3) Hippocampus - Memory and navigation

Question 17

Cerebral cortex (location - 3)

Answer 17

Forbrain, Telencephalon

1) Outer layer making up 2/3rds of the brain’s total mass
2) Divided into 4 lobes: Frontal - Planing, attention, reasoning and emotional inhibition; Parietal - Somatosensory cortex spatial awareness, attention; Occipital - Visual processing; Temporal - Hearing, language, memory, object recognition, emotion
3) covered by the Meninges which has 3 membranes: Dura - thick and durable; Arachnoid - thin cushion; Pia mater - thin, sticks to brain tissue

Question 18

Endocrine system (3)

Answer 18

1) The collection of glands that produce hormones - the regulation of metabolism, growth and development, tissue and sexual function, sleep, and mood, among other things
2) Regulated by the pituitary gland, attached to the hypothalamus.
3) Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and thus slower than the NS.