Brain Lecture 1

Question 1

Where do ganglia reside and what are they

Answer 1

Ganglia are collections of cell bodies that reside in the PNS

Question 2

What direction, in relation to the brain is superior, dorsal, rostral, anterior, caudal, posterior, ventral, and inferior

Answer 2

Superior/dorsal: top of brain
Rostral/anterior: front of brain
Caudal/posterior: back of brain
Ventral/inferior: bottom of brain

Question 3

What are the plane sections the brain can be viewed from ?

Answer 3

Horizontal: top and bottom parts are separated with slice

Sagittal: left and right parts are separated with slice

Coronal: front and back parts are separated with slice

Question 4

What are the meninges?

Answer 4

Dura mater: thick fibrous layer beneath bone, protects brain and spinal cord

Arachnoid mater: web like, is separated from pia mater by subarachnoid space where csf flows through.

Pia mater, membrane that surrounds brain and spinal cord

Question 5

What are the ventricles

Answer 5

Fluid filled spaces in the brain which contain CSF which brings nutrients and removes toxins and byproducts

Question 6

How does CSF flow?

Answer 6

CSF is produced by the choroid plexus, circulates through the ventricles then through subarachnoid space and leaves through the arachnoid villi which pass into the sinuses

Question 7

What are the 3 main sections of the brain and what do they contain

Answer 7

Hindbrain: pons, medulla and cerebellum

Midbrain: superior and inferior colliculi and substantia nigra

Forebrain: diencephalon and cerebral hemispheres
Diencephalon: thalamus and hypothalamus
Cerebral hemispheres: cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and hippocampus

Question 8

What does the brain stem contain ?

Answer 8

Midbrain, pons and medulla

Question 9

Where are the olives located and what is their function ?

Answer 9

Located in the medulla, one on each side (2 total), involved with motor functions with cerebellum
Inside the olives are the inferior olivary nucleus

Question 10

Where is the pyramidal decussation and what is it

Answer 10

Bottom of medulla, lots of nerves cross here

Question 11

What are the pyramids? And where are they located

Answer 11

Located in between the olives are the pyramids on the medulla, they carry motor information on the corticospinal tract

Question 12

What is the role of the colliculi?

Answer 12

Superior colliculus receives direct input from the retina, is associated with eye movements

Inferior colliculus associated with auditory information

Superior colliculus is larger than the inferior

Question 13

What does substantia nigra produce and what happens if it starts to degenerate

Answer 13

Neurones in substantia nigra secrete dopamine and control movements
Degeneration can lead to parkinsons disease

Question 14

What are the cranial nerves in order and are they sensory motor or both

Answer 14

1 olfactory: sensory
2 optic: sensory
3 oculomotor: motor
4 trochlear: motor
5 trigeminal: both
6 abducens: motor
7 facial: both
8 vestibulocochlear: sensory
9 glossopharyngeal: both
10 vagus: both
11 accessory: motor
12 hypoglossal: motor

Question 15

What is the function of the olfactory nerve?

Answer 15

Originates in cerebral cortex, causes smell, projects to nasal mucosa which synapses to axons which project to olfactory bulb

Question 16

What is the function of optic nerve and where does it originate ?

Answer 16

Originates in thalamus, projects from retina to superior colliculus and other parts of brain, sensory sight

Question 17

Structure and function oculomotor nerve

Answer 17

Originates in midbrain, controls eye movement, receives input from superior colliculus

Question 18

Structure and function of trochlear nerve

Answer 18

Originates in midbrain, controls eye movement

Question 19

Structure and function of trigeminal nerve

Answer 19

Originates in the pons, controls sensation in the face head and controls chewing

Question 20

Origin and function of abducens

Answer 20

Pons, controls eye movement

Question 21

Origin and function of facial nerve

Answer 21

Pons, facial expression, tear secretion and salivation

Question 22

Origin and function of vestibulocochlear nerve

Answer 22

Pons and medulla, hearing and balance

Question 23

Origin and function of glossopharyngeal?

Answer 23

Medulla, swallowing, taste and blood pressure and dissolved blood gas concentration

Question 24

Origin and functions of vagus nerve

Answer 24

Medulla, ear activity and sensation, has effects on major organs and systems: heart, respiratory tract, GI tract, diaphram and pharynx

Question 25

Origin and function of the accessory nerve

Answer 25

Medulla, head movement and swallowing

Question 26

Origin and function of hypoglossal nerve

Answer 26

Medulla, voluntary tongue movement and swallowing

Question 27

Where do the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems originate?

Answer 27

Sympathetic T1-L3

Parasympathetic : S2-4 and cranial nerves number 3,7,9 and 10

Question 28

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 28

Gateway to cortex; is a relay for motor instructions; keeps cortex informed
Relay for sensory information except smell