Gross Neuroanatomy + BBB

Question 1

How many pairs of spinal nerves?

Answer 1

31

Question 2

What is the Bell-Magendie law?

Answer 2

entering dorsal carries sensory, exiting ventral carries motor

Question 3

What is the reflex arc?

Answer 3

sensory neuron to spinal cord to motor neuron, circumvents the brain

Question 4

What is the telencephalon composed of and what is the function?

Answer 4

Cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, limbic system, basal ganglia, basal forebrain

Cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, limbic system, basal ganglia, basal forebrain HOHA (hippocampus, amygdala, olfactory bulbs, hypothalamus)

Basal ganglia: caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra

Basal forebrain: contains nucleus basalis (sends ACh axons to cerebral corex, arousal, damage = memory + learning impairments)

Question 5

What is the diencephalon composed of and what is the function?

Answer 5

thalamus + hypothalamus

Regulates internal environment
Controls release of pituitary gland hormones
“Drive” states

Question 6

What is the mesencephalon composed of and what is the function?

Answer 6

midbrain

Tectum (“roof”): superior colliculus (visual), inferior colliculus (auditory)

Tegmentum: red nucleus (motor coordination), substantia nigra (dopamine production), CN 3& 4 (eye movements), periaqueductal grey (PAG, pain suppression)

Question 7

What is the metencephalon composed of and what is the function?

Answer 7

Pons, cerebellum (damage = cerebellar ataxia)

Pons: brings information to and from cerebellum

Cerebellum: movement, balance, coordination

Question 8

What is the myelencephalon composed of and what is the function?

Answer 8

medulla

breathing, HR

Question 9

How many layers does the neocortex have? Where does incoming and outgoing info go?

Answer 9

6 layers, incoming sensory goes to 4, outgoing information goes to 5 and 6

Question 10

What does the blastocyst invaginate to become?

Answer 10

gastrula

Question 11

What are the three germ layers?

Answer 11

Ectoderm: outermost, forms skin and nervous system
Mesoderm: middle, forms skeletal + muscular + circulatory system
Endoderm: innermost, linings of internal organs

Question 12

What is described as ‘the organiser’?

Answer 12

dorsal lip of the blastopore

Question 13

What is the rule for neurulation?

Answer 13

NEURAL TUBE CNS, NEURAL CREST PNS

Question 14

Which germ layer becomes the neural plate?

Answer 14

ectoderm to neuroectoderm

Question 15

What are the steps from neuroectoderm to tube?

Answer 15

plate
groove
folds
tube (lateral to tube is crest)

Question 16

What are the three primary vesicles?

Answer 16

prosencephalon (most rostral/anterior)
mesencephalon
rhombencephalon (most caudal/posterior)

Question 17

What are the 5 secondary vesicles and what do they form? And when do they develop?

Answer 17

telencephalon - cerebrum
diencephalon - thalamus + hypothalamus
mesencephalon - midbrain
metencephalon - pons + cerebellum
myelencephalon - medulla oblongata

5 weeks post conception

Question 18

What ventricles are associated with each of the five vesicles?

Answer 18

telencephalon - none
diencephalon - lateral + third
mesencephalon - cerebral aqueduct
metencephalon - none
myelnecephalon - fourth ventricle

Question 19

What are the four Brodmann’s areas, where are they located?

Answer 19

BA 17: primary visual cortex
BA 1: primary sensory cortex (post-central gyrus)
BA 4: primary motor cortex (pre-central gyrus)
BA 41 and 42: primary auditory cortex (under Sylvian fissure)

Question 20

What are the 4 features of the BBB?

Answer 20

Continuous intercellular tight junction, pericytes (wrap around endothelial cells, induce TJ formation, contribute to construction of basal lamina), basal lamina (layer of ECM secreted by endothelial cells), astrocytes

Question 21

What molecules can diffuse across the BBB?

Answer 21

High to low concentration, fat-soluble, low electrically charged small molecules

Question 22

What is transcellular movement?

Answer 22

Transport proteins grab and ferry across

Question 23

What is transcytosis?

Answer 23

Larger proteins (endo + exo)

Question 24

What are the 3 layers of meninges?

Answer 24

Dura mater: two layers, outermost
Arachnoid mater: spider-like, granulations projecting into dura
Pia mater: delicate, adheres closely to brain

Question 25

What are the three spaces? Which two are only potential?

Answer 25

Epidural space: potential space superior to dura
Subdural space: potential space inferior to dura
Subarachnoid space: CSF, blood vessels

Question 26

What is it called when there’s too much water?

Answer 26

hydrocephalus (treated with shunt)