Brainstem, Diencephalon, Cerebellum, Cerebral Hemispheres & Spinal cord Flashcards
In which cranial cavity can the brain stem be found?
Posterior
Which two emryological vesicles give rise to the brain stem?
Rhombencephalon
Mesencephalon
What ventricles lie within the brainstem?
4th
Which cranial nerve(s) emerge from the pontomedullary junction?
Abducens
Facial
Vestibulocochlear
What are the pyramids and what is their function?
Paired swellings found between the anterior median fissure and the venterolateral sulcus
Function - Carry fibres responsible for voluntary control of the musculature of the body and face
What are the decussation of pyramids?
This is where the descending motor fibres cross over to their opposite side from which they originated from the cerebral hemispheres
What are the olives and what is their function?
Involved in cerebellar motor learning and function
2 oval swellings located laterally to the pyramids
What structure does the ‘open’ part of the medulla open on to?
4th ventricle
Through which foramen does the medulla pass to become the spinal cord?
Foramen magnum
What is the middle cerebal peduncle made up of?
Nerve fibres
What cranial nerve leaves the brainstem beside the middle cerebelar peduncle of the pons?
Trigeminal nerve
What part of the brain lies immediately superior to the midbrain?
Forebrain
What are the cerebral peduncles and where are they destined for?
Structures which lie on the front of the midbrain and contain motor and sensory fibres that travel down to the pons
What structures make up the Diencephalon?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Between which 2 parts of the brain do the thalamus and hypothalamus lie?
Telencephalon
Mesencephalon
What is the name given to the midline structure that connects the 2 cerebellar hemispheres?
Vermis
To which part of the brain is cerebellum connected to by peduncles?
Pons
Which ventricular space lies anterior to the cerebellum?
4th
In which cranial cavity is the cerebellum located?
Posterior cranial fossa
What is the name of the long fissure that seperates the 2 cerebral hemispheres?
Longitudinal fissure
What type of nerve fibres pass through the corpus callosum?
Commisural
Which lobe contains the primary motor cortex?
Frontal lobe
Which lobe contains the primary sensory area?
Parietal lobe
Which lobe contains the primary visual cortex?
Occipital
Which lobe contains the primary auditory cortex?
Temporal
What is the 1st structure that would be passed through when gaining access to the vertebral canal, e.g. LP?
Dura mater
At what vertebral level does the spinal cord terminate in adults and in new borns?
L1/2
New brons - S3
At what vertebral do the dura and arachnoid mater terminate?
Dura - S2
Arachnoid - S2
What is the termination of the spinal cord called?
Conus medullaris
Where does the pia mater terminate?
Coccyx
At what vertebral level is a lumbar puncture performed?
L3/4
Spinal cord ends at L1/2
Cauda equinas below L2 so safe to insert needle here
In what position is the patient during a lumbar puncture?
Foetal position
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there in total?
31
Is cauda equina syndrome UMN or LMN?
LMN
Fromw which arteries do the L+R vertebral arteries arise
R+L subclavian arteries
From which arteries do the R+L ICA’s arise?
R+L CCA’s
How is the basillar artery formed and with which area of the brainstem is it most closely related?
Formed from the joining of the 2 vertebral arteries
Closely associated with the Pons
Which arteries complete the posterior Circle of Willis by connecting the ICA’s with the Posterior Cerebral arteries?
The posterior communicating arteries
What structure completes the anterior portion of the circle of willis by connecting the anterior cerebral arteries?
Anterior communicating
What is the arterial blood supply to primary motor cortex area of the brain?
Middle cerebral artery
What is the arterial supply to the primary sensory cortex of the brain?
Middle cerebral artery
What is the arterial supply to the primary visual cortex?
Posterior cerebral artery
What is the arterial supply to the primary auditory area?
Middle cerebral area
What is the arterial supply to the area of olfaction?
Anterior cerebral artery
Which artery lies immediately below the occulomotor nerve?
Superior cerebral artery
Which artery lies superior to superior cerebellar artery?
Posterior cerebral artery
Which part of the CCA detects the pressure of blood flow to the head?
Carotid sinus (baroreceptors)
Which part of the CCA detects the volume of Oxygen within the blood travelling to the brain?
Carotid body (chemoreceptors)
Into which do the dural venous sinuses drain into?
IJV
Through which foramina does the IJV pass to leave the skull?
Jugular foramen
What veins drain into the cavernous sinus?
Opthalmic veins
What structures of the skull base in the cavernous sinus associated with?
The sella turcica of the sphenoid bone
Which arteries fuse together to form the anterior spinal artery?
Vertebral
Which artery are the posterior spinal arteries branches of?
Vertebral
What fluid can be found in the subarachnoid space?
CSF
What structures does the falx cerebri seperate?
The cerebral hemispheres
To what bony structures does the falx cerebri attach?
Crista galli
Frontal & ethmoid sinuses
Which dural venous sinus runs along the top of the falx cerebri?
Superior sagittal sinus
Which dural venous sinus runs along the posterior margin of the falx cerebri?
Inferior sagittal sinus
Which structures does the tentorium cerebelli seperate?
cerebellum and occipital lobes
To what bony areas does the anterior edge of the tentorium cerebelli attach?
anterior and posterior clinoid processes
Which dural venous sinus runs along the attachment of the falx cerebri to the tentorium cerebelli?
Straight sinus
What is the dural fold that seperates the 2 hemispheres of the cerebellum?
Falx cerebelli
What is the fold of dura matter that surrounds the pituitary stalk?
Diaphragma Sellae
What is the most important artery supplying the dura matter and through which foramen does it enter the skull?
Middle meningeal artery - Jugular foramen
What embryological structures form the spaces of the ventricles?
Lumen of the neural tube
What are the components of the lateral ventricles and in which lobes of the brain are they found?
Anterior horns - frontal lobe
Body
Posterior horn - Occipital lobe
Inferior horn - Temporal lobe
What structure connects the lateral ventricles to the 3rd ventricle?
Foramen of Monro
Where is the foramen of monro found?
Underside of the lateral ventricles
What part of the brain is the 3rd ventrical found within?
Between R + L Thalamus
In which part of the brain is the cerebral aqueduct found?
Midbrain
Where in the brain can the 4th ventricle be found?
Between the cerebellum and pons
What is the structure that produce CSF?
Choroid plexus (ependynal cells)
How does CSF pass from the 3rd ventricle into the 4th?
Via cerebral aqueduct
Where is CSF reabsorbed?
Arachnoid granulations
What makes the indentations found either side of the superior sagittal sinus?
Cerebral veins
What are the functions of the hypothalamus?
Sex drive
Thirst
Hunger
Body temperature
Sleep cycles
