Cerebral Hemispheres- white matter and basal ganglia (neuroanatomy)

Question 1

Name the three types of myelinated axon fibres which are bundled into the tracts.

Answer 1

1. Commissural fibres
2. Association of fibres
3. Projection fibres

Question 2

RECAP- what is the white matter composed of?

Answer 2

Bunches of myelinated axon fibres

->this is what provides white appearance

Question 3

What do commissural fibres do?

Answer 3

Connect corresponding areas of the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 4

Name the biggest bundle of commissural fibres found in the brain.

Answer 4

Corpus callosum

(connects right and left cerebral hemispheres).

Question 5

What do association fibres do?

Answer 5

Connect one part of the cortex with the other.
Can be short or long.

i.e. fibres go from one area to another within the same hemisphere

Question 6

What do projection fibres do?

Answer 6

Run between cerebral cortex and various subcortical centres.

->projecting fibres project to or away from the cerebral cortex

Question 7

What do projection fibres pass though?

Answer 7

Corona radiata
Internal capsule

Question 8

What type of imaging can be used to visualise the fibres of the brain?

Answer 8

3D cerebral tractography

Question 9

What is the internal capsule made up of?

Answer 9

Projection fibres passing to and from the cerebral cortex.

Question 10

Where would you find the internal capsule?

Answer 10

Between the thalamus and caudate nucellus medially and lentiform nucleus laterally

->kind of looks like a H, google it

Question 11

What is the function of the internal capsule?

Answer 11

Derives blood supply from the middle cerebral artery.
Frequently affected in stroke.

Question 12

RECAP- what are the basal ganglia?

Answer 12

Collection of neuronal bodies deep in the grey matter

Question 13

Which three masses make up the basal ganglia?

Answer 13

Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Globus pallidus

Question 14

Which basal ganglia can be remembered as ‘the one with the tail’?

Answer 14

Caudate nucleus

->caudate means tail

Question 15

Which basal ganglia can be remembered as ‘the one that looks like a hard shell’?

Answer 15

Putamen

Question 16

The putamen and the globus pallidus form which nucleus?

Answer 16

Lentiform nucleus

Question 17

Which basal ganglia can be remembered as ‘the one that looks pale’?

Answer 17

Globus pallidus

(think ghost maybe?)

Question 18

Where does the caudate nucleus lie?

Answer 18

Follows curve of lateral ventricle

Question 19

What is the main function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 19

Initiation and termination of movements

Question 20

What conditions are caused by defects in the basal ganglia?

Answer 20

Parkinson’s
Chorea (movement disorder causing jerky movements)