Gross Anatomy of The Brain Pt. I Flashcards
What do the cerebral hemispheres do?
Involved in basic functions such as receiving and analysing sensory impulses, storing memories and controlling the skeletal muscles on opposing sides of the body
What is the dominant cerebral hemisphere involved in?
Complex functions such as language, reading, writing and speech
What is the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere involved in?
Non-verbal functions such as orientation of the body in relation to its environment, visual experiences and interpreting musical patterns
How are the cerebral hemispheres connected?
Through the corpus callosum
What separates the brain into quarters superiorly?
The longitudinal cerebral fissure and the central sulcus
What makes up the cerebral cortex?
Six layers of neuronal cell bodies which constitute gray matter
More inferiorly the axons of these cells are myelinated which gives them a white appearance - white matter
How is white and gray matter arranged in the brain and spinal cord?
Brain - gray matter surrounds white matter
Spinal cord - white matter surrounds gray matter
What characterised the cerebral cortex superficially?
Gyri (folds)
Sulci (grooves)
Fissures (clefts)
They increase surface area of the brain and are very variable between individuals
How are the cerebral hemispheres divided?
Each into 4 lobes which are named after the overlying bone
The insula (fifth lobe) is deep to the other 3 doesn’t correspond to a bone so is named for its appearance
Where is the cerebellum found?
Inferior to the posterior part of the cerebrum and posterior to the pons and medulla, beneath the tentorium cerebella in the posterior cranial fossa
What makes up the cerebellum?
2 lateral hemispheres that are united by a narrow middle part called the vermis
What characterises the vermis?
Surface has ridges called folia and grooves
What is the tree like appearance of the cerebellum called?
Arbor vitae
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Control of balance ipsilaterally
What is the function of the brainstem?
Connects the brain and spinal cord
What are the different parts of the brainstem?
The midbrain
The pons
The medulla oblongata
Where is the midbrain found and which CNs are associated with it?
The junction of the middle and posterior cranial fossa
CN III - occulomotor, CN IV - the trochlear
Where is the pons found and which CNs are associated with it?
Bulging area in the anterior part of the posterior cranial fossa and is associated with CN V - the trigeminal
Where is the medulla found and which CNs are associated with it?
Continuous with the spinal cord and lies in the posterior cranial fossa
Associated with CN IX, X and XII, the glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal nerves
CN VI-VIII, abducens, facial and vestibulocochlear, emerge at the junction of the pons and medulla
What is the diencephalon?
The epithalamus, thalamus and hypothalamus
Forms the core of the brain
What are the different lobes of the cerebrum?
Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
Limbic lobe
What does the frontal lobe occupy?
The anterior cranial fossa