Building Brains 1 Flashcards
Which direction would be described as ‘rostral’ in the brain and spinal cord? (2)
SPINAL CORD:
Upwards - towards the beak
BRAIN:
Forwards - towards the nose
Which direction would be described as ‘caudal’ in the brain and spinal cord? (2)
SPINAL CORD:
Downwards - towards the tail
BRAIN:
Backwards - towards occipital lobe
What direction would be described as ‘dorsal’ in the brain and spinal cord? (2)
SPINAL CORD:
Towards back
BRAIN:
Towards top
What direction would be described as ‘ventral’ in the brain and spinal cord? (2)
SPINAL CORD:
Towards the front
BRAIN:
Towards the bottom
Name the three meninges surrounding the brain. (3)
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
Name the three dural folds/reflections. (3)
- Falx cerebri
- Tentorium cerebelli
- Falx cerebelli
Name the two layers of the dura mater. (2)
- Endosteal layer
- Meningeal layer
Underneath which layers of the meninges are CSF and blood vessels contained? (1)
Arachnoid
What is the purpose of arachnoid granulations? (1)
Allow reabsorption of CSF from subarachnoid space to dural venous sinuses.
Name two fluids contained in dural venous sinuses. (2)
- Blood
- CSF
Which meningeal layer acts to protect the brain? (1)
Dura mater
Which meningeal layer follows the contours of the brain the closest? (1)
Pia mater
Which sulcus of the brain is the deepest? (1)
Precentral
Which sulcus runs on both the outside and the inside of the brain? (1)
Parieto-occipital sulcus
Name three brain sulci that only run on the inner surface of the brain. (3)
- Calcarine sulcus
- Cingulate sulcus
- Marginal sulcus
Give another name for the hindbrain. (1)
Rhombencephalon
Give the two divisions of the hindbrain, and the structures that they contain. (5)
Metencephalon:
- Pons
- Cerebellum
Myelencephalon:
- Medulla oblongata
Give another name for the midbrain. (1)
Mesencephalon
Give three structures that make up the midbrain. (3)
- Tectum (colliculi)
- Tegmentum
- Cerebral peduncles
Give another name for the forebrain. (1)
Prosencephalon
Give two divisions of the forebrain and the structures that they contain. (6)
Diencephalon:
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
Telencephalon:
- Basal ganglia
- Cortex
Where is the thalamus located in relation to the putamen and caudate nucleus? (1)
The thalamus is deeper
Which system are the superior colliculi involved in? (1)
Visual
Which system are the inferior colliculi involved in? (1)
Auditory
Which colliculi are involved in the unconscious turning of the head in response to a visual stimulus? (1)
Superior
Which colliculi are involved in the localisation of sound? (1)
Inferior
Which part of the midbrain is involved in the main descending movement pathway? (1)
Cerebral peduncles
Name the area of the midbrain which surrounds the cerebral aqueduct.
What brain function is this area involved in? (2)
Periaqueductal grey
Pain
Which neurotransmitter is released by the substantia nigra? (1)
Dopamine
Why does the substantia nigra appear dark? (1)
Melanin is a by product of dopamine
Complete the sentence:
The ________________________ is a structure in the midbrain which appears a certain colour, and is involved in the extrapyramidal motor system. (1)
Red nucleus
Moving through the ventricular system, why does each ventricle get smaller than the last? (1)
To maintain pressure and flow of CSF.
Name (in order) the structures that CSF flows through in the brain (the ventricular system). (5)
- Lateral ventricles
- Interventricular foramen
- Third ventricle
- Cerebral aqueduct
- Fourth ventricle
Name the cistern which lies in close proximity to the cerebellum, where CSF is held after it has left the ventricles. (1)
Cisterna magna
Give three roles of the CSF. (3)
- Assists in circulating substances
- Provides cushioning
- Absorbs shock
In relation to the meninges, where is the cisterna magna located? (1)
Subarachnoid space
Name the two arteries that feed into the circle of Willis. (2)
Internal carotid arteries
Vertebral arteries
Describe the territory of the anterior cerebral artery. (1)
Medial frontal lobes (and corpus callosum)
Which artery of the circle of Willis supplies the diencephalon? (1)
Posterior cerebral artery
Which part of the brain does the posterior inferior cerebellar artery supply? (1)
Posterior cerebellum
Which part of the brain does the anterior inferior cerebellar artery supply? (1)
Anterior cerebellum
Which part of the brain does the superior cerebellar artery supply? (1)
Bulk of the cerebellum
Describe the territory of the posterior cerebral artery. (1)
Medial occipital and inferior temporal lobes (and hippocampus)
Which branches of the circle of Willis make up the posterior circulation? (5)
- Inferior posterior cerebellar artery
- Basilar artery
- Inferior anterior cerebellar artery
- Superior cerebellar artery
- Posterior cerebral artery
Which branches of the circle of Willis make up the anterior circulation? (2)
- Anterior cerebral artery
- Middle cerebral artery
Describe the territory supplied by the middle cerebral arteries. (3)
Lateral temporal and parietal lobes, and posterior frontal lobe
Name the connection between endothelial cells in the blood vessels which stop unwanted molecules getting into the brain. (1)
Tight junctions
Name four things that make up the blood-brain barrier. (4)
- Endothelial cells
- Basement membrane
- Pericytes
- Astrocytic end feet
What are the roles of pericytes in the blood brain barrier? (3)
- Communicate with endothelial cells
- Contribute to debris removal
- Control blood flow in capillaries
What are the roles of astrocytes in the blood brain barrier? (2)
- Stabilization
- Contain aquaporins to allow water to enter the brain
Why is the cortex of the brain folded? (1)
To increase surface area
Is the cortex composed of white matter or grey matter? (1)
Grey matter
Name the two main neurones found in the cerebral cortex. (2)
- Pyramidal cells
- Granule cells
Are pyramidal cells or granule cells more abundant in the cortex? (1)
Pyramidal cells
Describe the relative sizes of pyramidal cells and granule cells in the cortex. (1)
Pyramidal cells are larger than granule cells.
Do pyramidal cells contain dendritic spines? (1)
Yes
Describe the granule cells found in the cerebellum (spines, neurotransmitter, excitatory or inhibitory). (3)
- Smooth (no spines)
- GABA
- Inhibitory
Describe the granule cells found in the cerebral cortex (spines, neurotransmitter, excitatory or inhibitory). (3)
- Spiny
- Glutamate
- Excitatory
Name three roles of astrocytes. (3)
- Maintain homeostasis (sequestering K and glutamate)
- End feet maintain BBB
- Repair and scarring
What is the role of microglia? (1)
Resident immune cells
Describe the shape/function of a microglial cell during rest vs when activated. (4)
REST:
- Fine processes
ACTIVATED:
- Ramified
- Amoeboid
- Mobile
Are microglia capable of phagocytosis? (1)
Yes
What is the role of oligodendrocytes? (1)
Myelin
The cerebral cortex is made up of how many layers? (1)
6