CH 14 Flashcards
what are the four main parts of the adult brain?
- cerebrum
- cerebellum
- diencephalon
- brainstem
what are the protective coverings and barriers of the brain?
- cranial meninges
- bones of the skull
- cerebrospinal fluid
what are the cranial meninges?
CT coverings continuous w/ spinal meninges, sharing common names w/ them
what is the difference between the cranial and spinal dura mater?
the superficial cranial dura mater has two layers:
- outer periosteal layer
- inner meningeal layer
what are some differences btwn the cranial and spinal meninges?
- cranial dura mater has 2 layers, spinal dura mater has 1 layer
- no epidural space btwn dura mater and bones of the skull
what are the extensions of dura mater that separates parts of the brain?
- falx cerebri
- falx cerebelli
- tentorium cerebelli
what is the falx cerebri?
extension of the cranial dura mater that separates the right and left hemispheres of the brain
what is the falx cerebelli?
extension of the cranial dura mater that separates the left and right hemispheres of the cerebellum
what is the tentorium cerebelli?
extension of the cranial dura mater that separates the cerebellum and the cerebrum
what is the blood-brain barrier?
barrier btwn blood and the brain that maintains the selective permeability of brain tissue to substances in blood
what forms the blood-brain barrier?
- continuous capillaries (w/o fenestrations) w/ tight junctions btwn endothelial cells
- Astrocytes associate tightly w/ capillaries and secrete substances to maintain tight junctions
which arteries supply oxygenated blood to the brain?
- anterior L/R internal carotid arteries
- posterior L/R vertebral arteries
which veins drain deoxygenated blood from the brain?
dural venous sinuses drain venous blood into the internal jugular veins
how is neuronal activity and blood flow to the brain related?
as activity of neurons increase, blood flow to the brain also increases
increased perfusion (extent of blood flow)
what is the blood-brain barrier permeable to?
- lipid-soluble substances
– steroid hormones
–nonpolar molecules (O2 and CO2) - some water-soluble substances
– water
– glucose
– some ions (slow transport only)
what is the blood-brain barrier impermeable to?
- proteins
- antibiotics
What could disrupt the function/structure of the blood-brain barrier?
- tumours
- trauma to vessels and brain tissue
- infection (meningitis, rabies)
- radiation
what is the result of a compromised blood-brain barrier?
- brain tissue now permeable to more substances, can lead to damaged tissue
- brain hemorrhaging
- more infection
what is the composition of CSF?
consists mainly of water plus glucose, ions, proteins, lactic acid, urea, and some leukocytes
where is CSF located in the brain?
the ventricles, it continuously circulates around them and through spinal cord
what are the four ventricles of the brain?
- 2x lateral ventricles
- third ventricle
- fourth ventricle
what separates the two lateral ventricles?
thin membrane - septum pellucidum
where is the third ventricle located?
- between the two halves of the thalamus, superior to the hypothalamus
- connected to the lateral ventricles by two interventricular foramina
where is the fourth ventricle located?
between the brainstem and the cerebellum
what are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid?
- mechanical protection: absorbs shock and permits brain and spinal cord to float weightlessly
- chemical protection: maintains the specific optimal electrochemical environment required for accurate neuronal signalling
- circulation: circulates nutrients and waste
where is CSF synthesized?
in choroid plexuses lining ventricles of the brain
- ependymal cells filter blood plasma and secrete the filtered substance as CSF
what are choroid plexuses?
capillary networks in the brain’s ventricles where ependymal cells fliter blood plasma and secrete CSF
- secretion is also bidirectional
- ependymal cells are joined by tight junctions, forming blood-CSF barrier
how is CSF circulated through the ventricles?
CSF from choroid plexuses of lateral ventricles → interventricular foramina → third ventricle, choroid plexuses of third ventricle → aqueduct of midbrain → fourth ventricle
how is CSF circulated starting from the fourth ventricle?
subarachnoid space:
- fourth ventricle → median or lateral apertures → subarachnoid space
central canal:
- fourth ventricle → central canal (they are continuous w/ e/o)
what are apertures?
three openings in the roof of the fourth ventricle where CSF flows into and then through the subarachnoid space around brain and spinal cord
what are the three different apertures?
- 1x median aperture
- 2x lateral apertures
how is CSF reabsorbed?
through arachnoid granulations, extensions of the arachnoid mater that project into the dural venous sinuses and are especially prominent in superior sagittal sinuses
why is CSF volume relatively constant?
rates of filtration and reabsorption of CSF is also relatively constant
what is hydrocephalus?
condition caused by increased CSF pressure
- may be caused by tumours, inflammation, or malformation
- pressure on delicate brain and spinal cord tissues compresses them, altering their functions
how do you treat hydrocephalus?
drain excess CSF to relieve pressure, usually via surgical insertion of a shunt
what does the brainstem consist of?
- medulla oblongata
- pons
- midbrain
what is the reticular formation?
network of grey (cell bodies) and white (myelinated axons) matter tracts within the brainstem with both sensory and motor fxns.
what is the medulla oblongata?
- continuous w/ spinal cord
- forms inferior portion of brainstem
what is the function of the medulla oblongata’s white matter?
contains all sensory and motor tracts that run btwn brain and spinal cord
what are the medulla oblongata’s pyramids?
enlarged corticospinal tracts found on anterior side of medulla oblongata that controls voluntary movements of limbs and trunk
what is the decussation of pyramids?
- at junction of MO with spinal cord
- 90% of axons on one side cross to the opposite side
- why one side of the brain controls the movements of the opposite side of the body
how does the medulla oblongata control multiple body functions?
nuclei such as cardiovascular centre, respiratory centre, and vomiting, coughing, etc. centres are found in the medulla oblongata
what is an olive?
bulges just lateral to each pyramid of the medulla oblongata that contains a nucleus
- receives info from cerebral cortex, midbrain, and spinal cord
what is the function of the inferior olivary nucleus?
neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus extend their axons into the cerebellum to regulate muscle activity
what are the gracile and cuneate nuclei?
nuclei in the medulla oblongata that integrates information of somatic sensations (pain, touch, pressure, conscious proprioception)
what is the pons?
“bridge”, connects parts of the brain with each other via tracts
connects:
- L/R of cerebellum
- nerve impulses controlling voluntary skeletal movements from cerebral cortex to cerebellum
what are some nuclei found in the pons?
- pontine nuclei
- respiratory group
- vestibular nuclei
- nuclei for cranial nerves 5-8
what is the midbrain?
mesencephalon
- extends from pons to diencephalon
- contains cerebral aqueduct
- contains sensory tracts, motor tracts, and nuclei (for visual and auditory info)
what are tectum?
posterior portion of midbrain w/ 4 bumps
- 2x superior colliculi
- 2x inferior colliculi
what are the superior colliculi?
2 bumps on posterior portion of pons that are reflex centers for visual stimuli
what are the inferior colliculi
2 bumps on posterior portion of pons that are reflex centers for auditory stimuli
- controls the startle reflex
what are peduncles?
anterior portion of the midbrain containing three paired tracts
- ascending axons carry sensory info to thalamus
- descending tracts run btwn cerebrum, pons, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord
what are the three paired tracts in the midbrain’s anterior cerebral peduncles?
- corticospinal
- corticobulbar (brainstem nuclei)
- corticopontine
what is the substantia nigra?
large and darkly pigmented nuclei in midbrain, neurons release dopamine to help control subconscious muscle activity, roles in reward and addiction
what are red nuclei?
nuclei found in midbrain that are red due to rich blood supply
- axons from cortex and cerebellum synapse here to coordinate muscular movements of limbs
what cranial nerves/ nuclei are found in the midbrain?
cranial nerves 3 and 4, oculomotor and trochlear
what is the reticular activating system?
ascending portion of the reticular formation
- controls visual, auditory, mental activity, pain/touch/pressure sensing and consciousness
- controls arousal, attention, alertness, sensory overload
what is arousal?
ability to wake up from sleep
what is sensory overload?
ability to filter excessive auditory/visual stimuli
what does the descending portion of the reticular activating system control?
muscle tone via cerebellum and spinal cord
- also regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate
what does inactivation of the reticular activating system lead to?
sleep
what does damage to the reticular activating system lead to?
coma, due to lack of arousal
what does the reticular activating system not help process?
olfactory stimuli, meaning you won’t be able to wake up from smells (like a burning house)
what is the cerebellum?
highly convoluted portion of brain that is posterior and inferior to cerebrum
what is the cerebellum’s grey matter cortex?
superficial portion of cerebellum made of grey matter
why is the cerebellum highly convoluted?
for increased surface area, cerebellum is 10% of brain’s mass but contains 50% of brain’s neurons
what are cerebellar peduncles?
white matter tracts that attaches cerebellum to the brainstem and coordinates muscle movements
- myelinated for rapid communication for coordination
- inferior, superior, and middle peduncles
what is the vermis?
the central body of the cerebellum that separates the cerebellum into left and right cerebellar hemispheres
what are cerebellar fissures?
grooves on cerebellum that divide the hemispheres into lobes
what are the lobes of the cerebellum?
- anterior lobe
- posterior lobe
- flocculonodular lobe
what do the anterior and posterior lobes of the cerebellum do?
controls subconscious movements
what does the flocculonodular lobe of the cerebellum do?
controls equilibrium and balance
what are the functions of the cerebellum?
- determines accuracy of muscle movements and initiates adjustments
- smooths out movements
- corrects errors
- helps w/ learning complex movement sequences (like choreography)
- regulates posture and balance
- some nonmotor fxns. in learning, memory, etc. due to connections to cerebral cortex
what does damage to cerebellum result in?
ataxia
- problems in balance, stiffness
- uncoordinated movements and gait
- slurred, mumbling speech
- may be due to trauma/drugs
what is the diencephalon?
“core” of brain tissue, covered by cerebral hemispheres
- consists of thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus
what is the thalamus?
- 80% of diencephalon
- relays signals from spinal cord and brainstem → primary sensory cortex
- transmits signals from cerebellum → primary motor cortex
- plays a role in consciousness
what is the interthalamic adhesion?
grey matter that joins right and left halves of the thalamus in 70% of humans
what are the thalamic nuclei?
don’t need to memorize
seven major groups that form diff. connections to cerebral cortex:
- anterior nucleus
- medial nuclei
- lateral group
- ventral group
- intralaminar nuclei
- periventricular nucleus
- reticular nucleus of prethalamus
what is the hypothalamus?
- inferior to thalamus
- plays major part in maintaining homeostasis
what are the nuclei found in the hypothalamus?
- posterior hypothalamic area
- intermediate hypothalamic area
- anterior hypothalamic area
- preoptic area
what is the posterior hypothalamic area?
contains nuclei for olfaction, feeding reflexes (licking, swallowing)
what is the intermediate hypothalamic area?
contains infundibular stalk, regulates anterior pituitary gland fxn.
what is the infundibular stalk?
found in hypothalamus, connects hypothalamus to pituitary gland
what is the anterior hypothalamic area?
contains axons from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei that transport ADH and oxytocin to posterior pituitary
what is the preoptic area?
anterior part of hypothalamus that helps regulate certain autonomic activities (e.g. body temp)
what are the functions of the hypothalamus?
- control of the ANS
- hormone production
- regulation of emotional and behavioural patterns
- regulation of eating and drinking
- control of body temp
- regulation of circadian rhythms and states of consciousness
how does the hypothalamus function in control of the ANS?
axons from hypothalamus extend to sym. and para. nuclei in brainstem and spinal cord
- stimulates smooth/cardiac muscle contraction and secretions from glands
how does the hypothalamus function in hormone production?
- hypothalamus releases hormones into capillary network → carried to anterior pituitary → stimulates/inhibits secretion of anterior pituitary hormones
- cell bodies in paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei produce ADH and oxytocin →transported through infundibulum stalk and released by the posterior pituitary gland
what hormones do cell bodies in paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei secrete?
- antidiuretic hormone
- oxytocin
how does the hypothalamus function in regulating emotional and behavioural patterns?
works w/ limbic system to express rage, aggression, pain, pleasure, sexual arousal
how does the hypothalamus function in regulating eating and drinking?
hypothalamus contains thirst center, feeding center, and satiety center
- certain cells that can sense osmotic pressure changes are stimulated by increase of osmotic pressure of ECF and cause thirst sensation → drinking water restores normal osmotic pressure
how does the hypothalamus function in controlling body temperature?
hypothalamus functions as body’s thermostat
- when blood temp flowing through hypothalamus changes, ANS responses are activated to restore homeostatic temperature
how does the hypothalamus function in regulating circadian rhythms and states of consciousness?
suprachiasmatic nucleus receives visual input from retina to synchronize biological rhythms to 24-hr cycle
- suprachiasmatic nucleus serves as body’s internal biological clock