Describing the brain Flashcards
What does neurulation refer to?
- development of the PNS only
- formation of new neurons
- development and formation of the neural plate
- development of the CNS only
- development and formation of the neural plate
- neural plate comes from thickening of the ectoderm and forms the nervous system

Organise the labels below, describing how the neural plate forms?
- notochord stimulates above ectoderm
- ectoderm thickens and forms the neural plate
- mesoderm cells differentiate into notochord (cartilage precursor)
- mesoderm cells differentiate into notochord (cartilage precursor)
- notochord stimulates above ectoderm
- ectoderm thickens and forms the neural plate

Once the neural plate has been formed by the stimulation of the ectoderm by the notochord in the mesoderm, what does the neural plate do as part of neurulation?
- edges fold in forming a groove
- folds of the neural plate fold up and form a groove
- cavity forms in the hollow tube created from the neural plate
- invaginates forming a 2nd notochord
- edges fold in forming a groove

What is primary neurulation?
- edges fold in forming a groove
- folds of the neural plate fold up and form a groove
- cavity forms in the hollow tube created from the neural plate
- invaginates forming a 2nd notochord
- folds of the neural plate fold up and form a groove
- eventually these folds come together and fuse forming a hollow tube

What is secondary neurulation?
- edges fold in forming a groove
- folds of the neural plate fold up and form a groove
- cavity forms in the hollow tube created from the neural plate
- invaginates forming a 2nd notochord
- cavity forms in the hollow tube created from the neural plate

When does neurulation begin?
- weeks 1-2
- weeks 3-4
- weeks 5-6
- weeks 7-8
- weeks 3-4
- think 3-4 candles on a cake

What 3 important structures are formed from neurulation?
- brain
- spinal cord
- PNS and CNS
What 3 important structures are formed from the neural tube?
- spinal cord, meninges, bones
- spinal cord, muscles, brain
- spinal cord, meninges, bones
- spinal cord, meninges, brain
- spinal cord, meninges, brain
The neural tube forms the spinal cord, meninges, brain. If there are defects in the neural tube, this can lead to disorders of the spine and nervous system, one is called spina bifida. What is spina bifida (means split spine in latin)?
- posterior neuropore does not close properly
- anterior neuropore does not close properly
- caudal neuropore does not close properly
- cranium neuropore does not close properly
- posterior neuropore does not close properly
- leads to a cleft/gap in the spine and spinal cord

What is the term used to describe where the anterior neuropore fails to close?
- anencephaly, greek for “without a brain
- fatal where baby is born without parts of skull or brain, generally the telencephalon (cerebral hemisphere)
- this is what was happening with zica virus

There are 2 broad types of spina bifida, occulta (latin for hidden) and cystica, what is the difference?
- occulta = vertebral arch defects (not able to be seen as in the latin name
- cystica = meninges (and sometime the nerves) project out of vertebrae

Once the neural tube has sealed, bulges begin to form called primary brain vesicles. What are the 3 primary brain vesicles, what are they?
- Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, Rhombencephalon
- Telencephalon, Mesencephalon, Rhombencephalon
- Prosencephalon, Myclencephalon, Rhombencephalon
- Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, Myclencephalon
- Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, Rhombencephalon

Prosencephalon, which is latin for forward, is one of the 3 primary vesicles that form in the brain. Which part of the brain does this go on to form?
- hindbrain
- midbrain
- forebrain
- brain stem
- forebrain
- same as name origin meaning forward

Mesencephalon, latin for darkened streak as it looks darkened in unstained brain tissue, is one of the 3 primary vesicles that form in the brain. Which part of the brain does this go on to form?
- hindbrain
- midbrain
- forebrain
- brain stem
- midbrain
- think middle and mesoderm

The Rhombencephalon is one of the 3 brain vesicles, what does it go on to form?
- hindbrain
- midbrain
- forebrain
- brain stem
- hindbrain

Once the neural tube has sealed, bulges begin to form called primary brain vesicles. 3 primary brain vesicles, Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon (think middle) and the Rhombencephalon are formed. What are the 5 secondary vesicles that are formed from these and which primary vesicle do they originate from?
1 - Telencephalon (greek meaning end brain) = Prosencephalon
2 - Diencephalon (greek meaning through) = Prosencephalon
3 - Mesencephalon = Mesencephalon
4 - Metencephalon = Rhombencephalon
5 - Myelencephalon = Rhombencephalon

Once the neural tube has sealed, bulges begin to form called primary brain vesicles. 3 primary brain vesicles, Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon (think middle) and the Rhombencephalon are formed, which then go on to form the 5 secondary vesicles depicted in the image below. What do each of the 5 secondary brain vesicles then go on to form?
1 - Telencephalon = cerebral hemisphere
2 - Diencephalon = thalamus
3 - Mesencephalon = midbrain
4 - Metencephalon = pons/cerebellum
5 - Myelencephalon = spinal cord

Is the thalamus or hypothalamus higher or lower in the brain?
- thalamus
- hypo means below
The cerebral hemisphere is split into left and right sides by what?
- longitudinal fissure, also referred to as sagittal fissure
- fissure means narrow crack of opening

The cerebral cortex is crucial for cognition and can be separated into 4 lobes, what are they?
1 - frontal lobe
2 - temportal lobe
3 - parietal lobe
4 - occipital lobe

In the brain there is an uneven surface, with elevations and grooves, what is the name of these and the purpose of having them?
- grooves = sulci (think sinking)
- elevations = gyri (think growing up)
- purpose is to increase surface area
What does sulcus mean?
- singular depression
What is the purpose of the central sulcus in the brain, located towards the midbrain, almost parallel with the frontal suture of the skull?
- forms the boundary between the frontal and the parietal lobes
- forms the boundary between the occipital and the parietal lobes
- forms the boundary between the temporal and the parietal lobes
- forms the boundary between the frontal and the occipital lobes
- forms the boundary between the frontal and the parietal lobes
- indicates change in function

In the brain, there are different terms used to describe the locations, instead of anterior, posterior etc… What are the 4 terms used in the brain and what do they refer to in simple terms?
1 - rostal = front
2 - caudal = back
3 - dorsal = top (think fin on dolphin)
4 - ventral = bottom





































