Brain Structure and Function

Question 1

What are the FOUR types of neurone in the brain and their function?

Answer 1

Glial Cell - Supportive, don’t have dendrites or an axon
Astrocytes - Maintain BBB
Microglia - Immune function (mop up dead neurones)
Oligodendrocytes - Structural Support

Question 2

What are the FOUR layers to the brain?

Answer 2

1) Skin
2) Dura Mater - tough, in contact with the bone
3) Arachnoid Membrane - spider web appearance
4) Pia Mater - Soft and delicate, in contact with brain

Question 3

Where is CSF produced and stored

Answer 3

Made by choroid plexus cells and circulates through ventricles and subarachnoid space - important for diagnosis.

Question 4

Explain 1) Spina Bifida & 2) Anencephaly

The role of folic acid

Answer 4

• Failure of neural tube to fold properly
  1) Spinal column/meninges don’t fold properly - only corrected by surgery (muscle weakness)
  2) Incomplete development of brain and skull, facial defects, survival almost 0
  FOLIC ACID REDUCES CHANCES OF BIRTH DEFECTS

Question 5

Define these Brain areas

1) Medulla
2) Pons
3) Midbrain
4) Cerebellum
5) Hypothalamus
6) Thalamus
7) Corpus Callosum

Answer 5

1) Respiration and circulation
2) Bridge between regions, autonomic function
3) Body movement, substantia nigra
4) Fine muscle movement and balance (ataxia)
5) Homeostasis, pituitary gland (release of hormones)
6) Sensory switchboard, relays to and from cortical areas
7) Connects left and right hemispheres

Question 6

Define these areas of the Cerebral Cortex

1) Frontal Lobe
2) Parietal Lobe
3) Occipital Lobe
4) Temporal Lobe

Answer 6

1) Intellectual function, emotions (suppress aggression) and motor complex
2) Processes sensory information (taste/temp/touch)
3) Visual information
4) Auditory complex

Question 7

What is the role of Basal ganglia

Answer 7

coordinates activities like walking. Inhibits unnecessary movements.
Death of these in parkinson’s

Question 8

Define these areas of the Limbic System

1) Hippocampus
2) Cingulate Gyrus
3) Amygdala

Answer 8

1) Long term memory, spatial navigation, experience (alzheimers)
2) coordinates sensory input with emotion
3) Anger, anxiety, sadness, sex drive etc

Question 9

What is the motor and sensory homunculus

Answer 9

motor - Speech/Mouth etc

sensory - Fingers/Sensitivity