Human Nervous System Review and Meninges, Ventricles, and CSF

Question 1

What defines the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

Answer 1

• Encased in bones of the skull and vertebral column
• Grossly consists of the brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and subcortical structures) and spinal cord
• Control center, integration, and processing

Question 2

What defines the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Answer 2

• Spinal nerves - 31 pairs
• Cranial nerves - 12 pairs
• Carrying information to and from the CNS
• And the autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Question 3

What is the purpose of the Insula?

Answer 3

• Involved in consciousness
• May be implicated in expressive aphasia

Question 4

What is the purpose of the Limbic lobe?

Answer 4

Processes memory and emotion

Question 5

Is the spinal cord in the CNS or PNS?

Answer 5

CNS

Question 6

Are spinal nerves in the CNS or PNS?

Answer 6

PNS

Question 7

What side of the spinal nerve carries motor (efferent) information?

Answer 7

Ventral side

Question 8

What side of the spinal nerve carries sensory (afferent) information?

Answer 8

Dorsal side

Question 9

What are the 3 layers of the meninges?

Answer 9

Dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater

Question 10

What are the two layers of the dura mater?

Answer 10

Meningeal layer and endosteal layer (closest to the bone)

Question 11

Are there generally spaces on either side of the dura?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

What are the spaces where the endosteal and meningeal layers of the dura separate called?

Answer 12

Venous sinus

Question 13

What do the sinuses do?

Answer 13

They all collect used blood and fluids to be drained out of the jugular vein and recycled

Question 14

What is the superior sagittal sinus?

Answer 14

The main sinus, dips into the longitudinal fissure

Question 15

What is the dural septa?

Answer 15

Two-layer folds separating the cranium into compartments

Question 16

What is the falx cerebri?

Answer 16

The dural septa between the right and left hemispheres

Question 17

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 17

The dural septa that separates the cerebellum from the cerebral hemispheres

Question 18

What does infratentorial mean?

Answer 18

Contains cerebellum and brainstem

Question 19

What does supratentorial mean?

Answer 19

Contains cerebrum

Question 20

What is the tentorial notch?

Answer 20

The opening where the brainstem passes into the cerebrum

Question 21

What often occurs at the tentorial notch?

Answer 21

Damage (when brain has a lot of movement) due to the thick and leathery texture of the notch

Question 22

Where is the arachnoid?

Answer 22

Lies on the inner surface of the dura

Question 23

What is the subarachnoid space?

Answer 23

The space below the arachnoid, but above the pia

Question 24

What is in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 24

CSF

Question 25

What are cisterns?

Answer 25

They are large pockets, enlargement of the subarachnoid space

Question 26

What are arachnoid trabeculae?

Answer 26

Collagenous strands connect the arachnoid and the pia for suspension

Question 27

Do all of the meninges also cover the spinal cord?

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

Does the spinal dura only consist of a single layer?

Answer 28

Yes

Question 29

How does an epidural hematoma occur?

Answer 29

It occurs if the meningeal arteries are torn

Question 30

Characteristics of an epidural hematoma

Answer 30

Most frequently occurring after skull fractures
Bleeding between the periosteum (endosteal layer of the dura) and the skull bones
Death can occur within minutes of meningeal arteries being torn

Question 31

How does a subdural hematoma occur?

Answer 31

From dural venous sinus or vein attachment at the sinus (blood is beneath the dura)