Forebrain (Cerebrum) Flashcards
What 2 portions does the forebrain consist of? Where is each derived from?
- Outer brain (cerebral hemispheres)
- Derived from telencephalon
- Inner brain
- Derived from diencephalon
Together, what are the outer and inner brain responsible for?
higher level processing e.g. memory, numerical abilities, cognition, learning
Describe the telecephalon swellings during development of the nervous system
- Two swellings either side of midline
- Connected via lamina terminalis
- Two swellings go on to become the 2 cerebral hemispheres
What is the lamina terminalis? What does it go on to become?
- Goes on to become the corpus callosum and anterior commissure
What is the anterior commissure?
A white matter tract (a bundle of axons) connecting the two temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres across the midline
i.e. these are commissural fibres –> connect 2 hemispheres
Describe the development of the diencephalon. What does it give rise to?
- Diencephalon appears as a swelling of the lateral aspect of the central canal
- The lumen of the central canal is diminished as two pairs of swellings appear – the thalamus, dorsally, and the hypothalamus, ventrally.
As the lumen of the diencephalon starts to narrow down, what will it become?
Becomes the 3rd ventricle
What structure marks the boundary between the thalamus and hypothalamus?
- The hypothalamic sulcus (sulcus of Monro)
- This is a groove in the lateral wall of the 3rd ventricle
How is the C-shape of the telecephalon/cerebrum adopted?
Grows massively compared to other vesicles and starts to fold over the developing diencephalon –> adopting C-shape
As a consequence, many internal structures are similarly c-shaped
Structure of ventricular system
- C shape of lateral ventricle
- 3rd ventricle in middle of diencephalon
Coronal sections of the brain
- Anteriorly:
- Only lateral ventricles can be seen, one in each cerebral hemisphere
- Corpus callosum can be seen, connecting two hemispheres
- Middle:
- Corpus callosum
- Thalamus can be seen
- 3rd ventricle between the two thalami can be seen
- Cut through brainstem so can see part of cerebral aqueduct
- Posterior:
- Parietal lobes have been sectioned
- No corpus callosum
Sagittal sections of brain
- Very lateral
- Near middle:
- Lateral ventricle can be seen, following the c-shape of the cerebral hemispheres
- Cerebellum can be seen
- Midsagittal section
Horizontal sections of brain
- Very superiorly
- Lateral ventricles can be seen
- Middle, through corpus callosum
- Not at level of 3rd ventricle yet
- Inferiorly:
- Midbrain (mickey mouse shape)
- Occipital and temporal lobes
What part(s) of the ventricles are the arrows pointing at?
Coronal section: can see pons
- Body of 3rd ventricle
- Inferior horn of lateral ventricle (projecting into temporal lobe)
Horizontal section:
- Anterior horn of lateral ventricle (projecting into frontal lobe)
- Posterior horn of lateral ventricle (projecting into occipital lobe)
Sagittal section:
- Body of lateral ventricle
How many divisions comprises the diencephalon? What does the diencephalon (inner brain) sit on top of?
- 4 divisions
- Sits on top of the brainstem, connecting it to the cerebral hemispheres.
What are the 4 divisions of the diencephalon?
-
Thalamus
- Made up of several nuclei –> grey matter
- Function: Acts as relay station between parts of the CNS
-
Hypothalamus
- Below the thalamus (hypo- means below)
- Several nuclei –> grey matter
- Function: Autonomic and neuroendocrine functions
- Helps control release of specific hormones
-
Subthalamus
- Functionally part of the basal nuclei (basal ganglia)
- Involved in motor control (not visible in midsagittal view)
-
Epithalamus
- Includes the pineal gland which secretes melatonin
What are the thalami? How are they connected?
- Large bilateral egg-shaped masses of gray matter (collection of nuclei)
- Connected at the interthalamic adhesion (massa intermedia)
What is wedged between the two thalami?
The 3rd ventricle
What is the function of the thalamus?
- ‘Receptionist of the brain’
- Receives info from many different parts of the CNS
- Then relays that info to cerebral cortex
- Relay nuclei send fibres to cerebral cortex, either to sharply defined area or more diffusely
- Both sensory and motor processing
Where does the thalamus receive input from?
- Somatosensory, auditory, visual, vestibular and other inputs
- Reticular formation
- Limbic system
- Basal ganglia
- Cerebellum
E.g. where does the thalamus then send visual information
To the occipital lobe –> the visual processing centre of the mammalian brain
What is the vestibular system?
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements.
E.g. Where does the thalamus send auditory info?
To the temporal lobe –> holds the primary auditory cortex.
The thalamus is the major source of sensory information to the primary sensory cortex for all of the senses except which sense?
- Except olfaction (sense of smell)
- Olfaction skips thalamus and goes straight into cortex