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brain introduction Flashcards

1
Q

what is white matter and what comprises it?

A

it is made from myelin from axons of neurons and consists of tracts, commissures, lemnisci, funiculi, fasciculi, capsule, column, peduncles

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2
Q

what is a tract?

A

location of a pathway

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3
Q

what is a commissure?

A

a tract that connects hemispheres

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4
Q

lemniscus?

A

a narrow strip of fibres

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5
Q

funiculi?

A

a rope or a cord

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6
Q

fasciculi?

A

bundle

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7
Q

capsule?

A

a sheet of white matter that borders a nucleus (grey matter)

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8
Q

what is a column?

A

it is longitudinally running fibres that are separated by other structures

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9
Q

what is a peduncle?

A

a stem or a stalk containing axons that connects parts of the CNS

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10
Q

what is grey matter and what does it comprise?

A

collection of cell bodies of neurons that is made of cortex, nuclei, ganglia, afferents, efferents and reticular formations

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11
Q

what are afferents?

A

they are axons taking information towards the CNS

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12
Q

what are efferents?

A

they are axons taking information away from the CNS

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13
Q

what is a cortex?

A

it is a laminated grey matter on the outside of the brain

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14
Q

what are nuclei?

A

collection of nerve cell bodies within the CNS

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15
Q

what are ganglia?

A

collections of nerve cell bodies within the PNS or CNS with capsules

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16
Q

what is a reticular formation?

A

it is a netlike arrangement where the white and the grey matter mix

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17
Q

what is the forebrain?

A

it is the cerebral hemispheres and the diencephalon - made up of the cortex, lobes, and underlying cortex white matter

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18
Q

what is the cortex?

A

it makes up most of the visible surface - up to 90% and is 10mm thick. It is folded into grooves which are names sulci and ridges which are gyri and the sulci are used to define lobes - folding increases SA

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19
Q

what are the lobes of the brain?

A

frontal - skilled voluntary movements and decision making
temporal - auditory perception and cognition and memory
occipital - visual perception
parietal - perception of the body and visuospatial location

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20
Q

what is the underlying white matter of the cortex for?

A

it allows for many connections between the cortex and CNS structures. The grey matter or diencephalon is made of the hypothalamus, thalamus and basal ganglia and is deep to the white matter. The thalamus is for directing inputs to cortical areas as a relay centre, the hypothalamus for ANS linking to endocrine system to the cerebrum and the BG for motor control, cognition and non motor behaviour made of the caudate, GP and putamen to name a few

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21
Q

what is the brainstem made of?

A

the midbrain, pons and medulla

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22
Q

what are the main functions of the midbrain?

A

special senses and sensory and motor control for the head and the neck via the cranial nerves. It is also for autonomic regulation of the body, regulates consciousness and is the pathway between the SC and the brain.

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23
Q

what does the midbrain surround?

A

the cerebral aqueduct which is made of the tectum (superior and inferior colliculi) and the cerebral peduncles

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24
Q

where are the pons and medulla oblongata found?

A

the pons is the bridge to the cerebellum and the medulla is contiunous with the spinal cord

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25
what is the cerebellum?
it is located in the dorsal aspect of the brain stem and is separated from it by the fourth ventricle of which it forms the roof. It is attached by cerebellar peduncles (inferior, middle and superior) and has a folded cortex, white matter and deep nuclei.
26
what is the function of the cerebellum?
it coordinates movement and balance
27
what does contralateral and ipsilateral mean?
contralateral - controlling structures on other side of body ipsilateral - controlling structures on same side of body
28
what are neurones?
they are the most basic functional unit of the NS, and are specialised with specific shapes. They all have processes called dendrites, axon and cell body for integration
29
what is the basic function of neurones?
they convey information via electrical signals and receive, integrate and transmit
30
where do afferent or sensory neurons travel?
away from the PNS or from receptors to the CNS
31
where do efferent or motor neurons travel?
carry information from the CNS to peripheral receptors
32
what is the function of the smaller interneurons?
they link afferents with efferents within the CNS
33
what is contained within the cell body of a neuron?
the nucleus with genetic information and organelles for metabolism
34
what are the processes and what are they for?
they are dendrites - the neurons can receive information and then integrated into the cell body and transmitted to next neuron via axon
35
what is the function of the synapse?
to deliver information from one neuron to the next
36
what is in the synapse to relay information?
chemical neurotransmitters
37
what does shape of neurons depend on?
projections
38
what is a multipolar neuron?
a neuron with many dendrites and the axon as projections - usually motor - cell body at end
39
what is bipolar?
a neuron with 2 processes extending from the body - a dendrite that receives branches and an axon that can branch further down - mainly in special senses areas such as retina and auditory - cell body in middle
40
what is a pseudo-unipolar neuron?
one that has one process and can branch later one - it is unique as information can bypass the cell body and be transmitted directly to the next neuron - typically sensory and cell body in the middle
41
what are the divisions of the nervous system?
two main branches are the CNS (brain and SC) and PNS which divides into somatic - controls external actions of skin and muscles, autonomic (internal activities of organs and glands) which splits into sympathetic and parasympathetic
42
what does the coronal plane divide?
the anterior and posterior sagittal is left from right transverse - superior from inferior
43
what is the shape of the brain?
it is an s bend with respect to the long axis of the spinal cord - the brain undergoes a bend in its rostral portion during development - dorsal is superior and ventral inferior
44
what is rostral and caudal?
rostral is towards face which in brain is anterior and caudal is posterior or tail end
45
where is the spinal cord connected?
the most caudal portion of the brainstem
46
what is the cerebrum?
the forebrain - consists of two parts - the outer (telencephalon/cerebral hemisphere) or the inner (diencephalon)
47
what are the three poles in the cerebrum?
occipital, temporal and frontal
48
what does the longitudinal fissure separate?
the hemispheres of the cerebrum
49
what is the corpus callosum?
it is a structure that is a thick body around 1 cm in thickness and is a passive way of information travel between the L and the R hemispheres
50
where is the midbrain?
more rostral just inferior to diencephalon
51
Where is the cerebellum?
posterior to midbrain
52
why do the pons and the cerebellum share many functions?
they are derived from the same embryonic tissue
53
what are the expansions in the brain?
they develop with the brain - ventricles - lateral, third and fourth - series of interconnecting channels - spaces in CNS that contain fluid
54
what are gyri?
gyri are folds - there are cell bodies of neurons in the cerebral cortex gyri
55
what is a sulcus?
a groove
56
what is the corpus callosum?
it is a huge bundle of white matter structures
57
is grey matter only in the cortex?
no, there are collections deep in cerebrum - referred to as basal ganglia for motor control
58
how is the surface area of the cerebral hemispheres increased?
through folds
59
what is lissencephaly?
it is where the brain is smooth - there are no grooves - can be genetic. Results in several motor problems and mental retardation if make it past 5 months - depends on degree - life expectancy is 5-10 years
60
what does the central sulcus do?
separates the frontal from the parietal lobe
61
what separates the occipital from the parietal lobe?
the occipital fissure
62
what separates the frontal and the temporal from parietal lobe?
the lateral fissure
63
where are the pre and post central gyri?
they are before and behind then central fissure respectively - the post is the main area of the brain for receiving sensory information and processing
64
what are the components of the diencephalon?
the hypothalamus | the thalamus
65
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
to control the ANS - HR, hormones and temperature etc
66
what is the function of the thalamus?
transmit information back and forth from lower CNS to cerebrum - brainstem, SC and cerebral cortex
67
where is the visual cortex?
at the back of the occipital lobe
68
which lobe is the calcarine sulcus found in?
the occipital
69
which structure can only be seen slightly on the ventral/inferior surface?
the hypothalamus just behind the optic chiasm
70
where can you see the cranial nerves (12 pairs)?
on the inferior/ventral surface - controlling head and neck
71
what are cranial nerves 1-6?
``` I - olfactory II - optic III - occulomotor IV - trochlear V - trigeminal VI - abducens ```
72
how does development of the brain start?
initially are a neural tube filled with fluid, then bends around the rostral end which gives rise to the initial tissue for development
73
what are the three swellings in development?
the fore (cerebrum) - prosencephalon, mid - mesencephalon and hindbrain (most caudal) - rhombencephalon
74
what will caudal brain develop into?
mostly spinal cord - walls of the neural tube caudal to the rhombencephalon will develop into SC
75
three swellings then become five, what are these?
the forebrain will subdivide into the diencephalon and then telencephalon. The midbrain does not divide. The hindbrain divides into the myelencephalon and the metencephalon
76
what is the diencephalon for?
progression of the optic vesicles and visual system | makes (hypo)thalamus
77
where is the ventricular system?
``` in each of the subdivisions there is a part of ventricular system the lateral ventricles in telen third in dien cerebral aqueduct in mesen fourth in meten and myelen ```
78
what are the 6 or 7 divisions of the brain and why is it either?
the hemispheres, the diencephalon, midbrain, pons, medulla, cerebellum and spinal cord - could be 6 as the pons and cerebellum may be put together as come from same tissue origin
79
which two cranial nerves run to the forebrain?
the olfactory and optic nerve
80
what is the telencephalon?
the hemipsheres
81
what is the metencephalon?
pons and cerebellum
82
what is the myelencephalon?
medulla
83
where does the neural tube begin?
at the ventricular system/ central canal

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