Intro To Nervous System Flashcards
The CNS is made up of these 3 (or 4) parts:
Brain (Cerebrum and Cerebellum)
Brainstem
Spinal cord
Gray matter is made up of:
Multiple neuron cell bodies
White matter is made up of:
Group of neuronal processes (fibers)
Axon or dendrites
What is a nucleus?
Group of similar neuron cell bodies (gray matter)
What is laminate?
“Layer” or “band” of gray matter
What are bodies?
Collection of neuron cell bodies (gray matter)
What is the cortex?
Gray matter found on outer surface of brain and cerebellum
What is a tract or fasciculus?
Group of fibers/axons (white matter)
What is lemniscus?
“Ribbon” or “band” of axons (white matter)
What is funiculus?
“Column” or “cord” of axons (white matter)
List the names of white matter from smallest fibers to largest group of fibers:
- tract or fasciculus (bundle of axons)
- lemniscus (group of fibers)
- funiculus (column or cord, can contain many tracts)
White matter can go in these directions:
Ascending, descending
What is the function of the brainstem?
Connects spinal cord to cerebrum and cerebellum
Brainstem is also called
“Bulb” or “bulbar”
Brainstem is made up of 3 divisions
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
In the medulla oblongata, gray matter is located in:
The inferior olivary nuclei “olives”
Describe the inferior olivary nuclei:
Paired L & R, grey matter
Forms bulging landmarks on ventrolateral surface “olives”
The medulla oblongata has these cranial nerve nuclei:
CN 12 - hypoglossal CN 11 - cranial root of spinal accessory CN 10 - vagus CN 9 - glossopharyngeal CN 8 - part of vestibulocochlear complex CN 5 - part of Trigeminal complex
White matter in the medulla oblongata is located in:
“Pyramids” on ventral surface and Inferior Cerebellar peduncles (ICPs) on dorsal surface
Where are “pyramids”?
Paired L+R on the ventral surface of medulla oblongata medial to “olives” (which is gray matter)
Which direction of fibers does “pyramids” in the medulla oblongata contain?
Descending fibers ie. corticospinal axons
What is the inferior cerebellar peduncles (ICPs)?
Paris L+R white matter on the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata. “Stalks” of axons going to and from cerebellum.
What is the function of the ICP?
Helps attach cerebellum to medulla
The posterior pons contains:
White and gray matter
White matter in the dorsal pons includes:
Middle cerebellar peduncles (MCPs)
What are middle cerebellar peduncles (MCPs)?
Paired L+R, stalks of axons mainly going to cerebellum, help attach cerebellum to pons
Grey matter in dorsal pons includes cranial nerve nuclei:
CN 8 - part of vestibulocochlear complex
CN 7 - facial
CN 6 - abducens
CN 5 - part of trigeminal complex
The ventral (anterior) pons is also called
Basal or basilar pons
The ventral (anterior) pons contains
Gray and white matter
Includes pontine nuclei
Decussate
When something crosses midline
The midbrain is also called
Mesencephalon
The midbrain (mesencephalon) includes what structure that divides the mesencephalon into ventral and dorsal portions
Cerebral aqueduct (of Sylvius)
Ventral midbrain comprised of ___ and contains cranial nerve nuclei (aka gray matter):
Blank: 2 cerebral peduncles
CN 3 - oculomotor
CN 4 - trochlear
CN 5 - part of trigeminal
Red nucleus (motor) Substantia nigra (motor)
What is the substantia nigra?
Serotonergic nuclei
substantia nigra is important in
Motor control
Think: Parkinson’s disease
The dorsal midbrain (aka mesencephalon) is called
“Tectum”
The tectum (dorsal midbrain) contains:
2 paired nuclei: superior and inferior colliculi
And superior cerebellar peduncles (SCPs)
What does the superior colliculi do?
Reflexes
What does the inferior colliculi do?
Auditory
Describe the superior cerebellar peduncles (SCPs)
Paired L+R white matter of the dorsal midbrain “tectum” that connects the cerebellum and cerebrum to itself, the midbrain
The cerebellum contains
Gray and white matter
The gray matter of the cerebellum is located
Mostly on outer surface = cortex
The cortex of cerebellum is arranged in leaf-like folds called
folia
The white matter of the cerebellum is located here
In the core, called medullary center
The ICP (inferior cerebellar peduncle) connects the ____ to the _____
Cerebellum to the medulla
The MCP (middle cerebellar peduncle) connects the ____ to the _____
Cerebellum to the pons
The SCP (superior cerebellar peduncle) connects the ____ to the _____
Cerebellum to the midbrain and cerebrum
What does the cerebellum function to do?
Receive sensory input from cerebral cortex, sensory systems and other CNS areas
Influence skeletal muscle activity: posture, equilibrium, coordination + control of movement
The cerebellum is mainly ____ control of motor activity
Unconscious (though there is some research proving otherwise)
The cerebrum has 2 major distinctions or cerebral hemispheres called:
Diencephalon and telencephalon
Diencephalon means
“Between” “brain”
Telencephalon means
“End” “brain”
The diencephalon is separated into R + L by:
III ventricle
The diencephalon forms the majority of _____ matter and some ______ matter
Gray; white
The diencephalon is divided into 4 parts
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Subthalamus
The thalamus is a relay center for what kind of information
Sensory
The thalamus is involved in what kind of control
Motor
The thalamus influences what kind of brain activity:
Behavior
Judgement
Emotion
Consciousness
The hypothalamus is located
Beneath thalamus
What is the main autonomic center of the brain?
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus aids in control of the:
Pituitary gland (endocrine system)
Where is the epithalamus located?
Dorsomedial to thalamus
The epithalamus contains this gland:
Pineal gland. Aka “epiphysis”
The pineal gland secretes _____ and plays a role in:
Melatonin; circadian rhythm
The subthalamus is located:
Inferior to thalamus and posterior to hypothalamus
The subthalamus includes a nucleus with what kind of function? And what is the name of the nucleus?
Motor function; subthalamus nucleus
The telencephalon consists of R+L hemisphere separated by
Longitudinal cerebral fissure
Gray matter of the telencephalon is located here:
Cerebral cortex, aka found on the surface
Define corpus striatum
‘Body’ ‘striped/striated’
Where is the white matter of the telencephalon found?
Medullary center
The 3 fiber types of white matter in the telencephalon are:
- Association fibers
- Commissural fibers
- Projection fibers
What are association fibers?
Connect different cortical areas in the same hemisphere
What are commissural fibers?
Connect opposite hemispheres (R and L sides)
Commissural fibers decussate.
What are projection fibers?
Connect cortical region to subcortical region
Right occipital lobe connecting to Right frontal lobe.
What is that an example of?
Association fibers
Corpus callosum
What is that an example of?
Commissural fibers
Thalamus-cortico fibers OR internal capsule
What is that/are those an example of?
Projection fibers
Why is the internal capsule important?
Major sensory and motor pathway
The internal capsule is sensitive to:
Ischemia (stroke)
The telencephalon has folds called
Gyri
Grooves between adjacent gyri are called
Sulci
Deeper grooves of the telencephalon are called
Fissures
Name the 5 anatomical lobes
Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal Insula (Island of Reil)
What is the ventricular system?
Series of fluid-filled cavities (not actual spaces) within brain
Where is the ventricular system derived from in development?
Neural canal of embryonic neural tube
What is included within the ventricular system?
Choroid plexus
What does the choroid plexus do and where is it?
Produces and secretes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricular system
What is the flow of CSF?
Produced and secreted in choroid plexus
Enters the subarachnoid space around brain and spinal cord
Absorbed by arachnoid villi
What does CSF function to do?
Shock absorber
Circulate nutrients
Metabolic waste removal (aid)
Name the ventricles of the ventricular system in order:
Lateral ventricles - 2 paired L+R
III ventricle
IV ventricle
What are the parts of the lateral ventricles?
Anterior (frontal) horn Body (central part) Posterior (occipital) horn Inferior (temporal) horn Collateral trigone
Where is the anterior (frontal) horn of the lateral ventricle located?
Projects into frontal lobe
Where is the body (central part) of lateral ventricle located?
Area of pre- and post-central gyri
Where is the posterior (occipital) horn of lateral ventricle located?
Projects into occipital lobe
Where is the inferior (temporal) horn of lateral ventricle located?
Projects (because its a horn) into the temporal lobe
Where is the collateral trigone of the lateral ventricle?
Communication intersection of 3 parts (body, post and inf horns)
Describe the III ventricle
Unpaired chamber between two halves of diencephalon
What contains choroid plexus?
Ventricles
How do the lateral ventricles communicate with III ventricle?
Interventricular Foramina (of Monro)
What is the interventricular foramina (of Monro) and how does it connect ventricles?
Pair structure that connects anterior horn of each lateral ventricle to the III ventricle
What connects the III ventricle to the IV ventricle?
Cerebral Aqueduct (of Sylvius)
What is the Cerebral Aqueduct (of Sylvius), where is it located and how does it connect ventricles?
Single canal located in the midbrain that connects III ventricle to IV ventricle.
What divides anterior midbrain from posterior midbrain (tectum)?
Cerebral Aqueduct
What is the IV ventricle?
Unpaired ventricle, contains some choroid plexus
What are the borders of IV ventricle?
Roof = Cerebellum Floor = Pons + Medulla = rhomboid fossa
What is the floor of the IV ventricle called?
Rhomboid fossa
Name the 3 openings for CSF to exit IV ventricle
- & 2. Paired R+L lateral apertures (foramina of Luschka)
- Median aperture (foramen of Magendie)
Where do the lateral apertures (foramina of luschka) extend and what does it do?
Extends around the sides of medulla and connects the IV ventricle to subarachnoid space
Where does the median aperture (foramen of Magendie) extend and what does it do?
Between cerebellum and medulla and connects IV ventricle to subarachnoid space through cisterns magna
What is the cisterns magna (cerebellomedullary cistern) and what aperture communicates with it?
Reservoir between cerebellum and medulla; median aperture (foramen of Magendie)
What aperture flows directly into IV ventricle?
Lateral apertures (foramina of Luschka)
What happens if production and resorption of CSF is unbalanced?
Hydrocephalus
What is hydrocephalus>
Excess CSF, increased pressure of CSF
What causes hydrocephalus?
Excess secretion, poor resorption or blockage of CSF
What are the 3 classifications of Hydrocephalus?
- Non-communicating (obstructive) hydrocephalus
- Communicating hydrocephalus
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
What is non-communicating hydrocephalus?
Blockage of CSF circulation exiting the ventricles (excess CSF upstream of blockage)
What is a common cause of non-communicating hydrocephalus?
Aqueductal stenosis
What is communicating hydrocephalus?
Excess CSF through entire ventricular system.
Why might communicating hydrocephalus happen?
Dysfunctional CSF resorption
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)?
Abnormal CSF level increase that might result in enlarged ventricles
What kind of “activities” does NPH sometimes follow?
Trauma, surgery, infection
What are the potential negative effects of hydrocephalus?
Mechanical damage to nervous tissue
What 3 types of mechanical damage might hydrocephalus cause?
- Neurological deficits
- Headaches
- Papilledema - optic disc edema due to increased pressure on optic nerve
What’s a potential treatment for hydrocephalus?
Ventriculoatrial shunt to resorb CSF into cardiac atrium.
Also, ventricuoperitoneal shunt to pleural space
What 4 structures border the ventricular system? Which ones are grey matter and which ones are white matter?
Caudate nucleus
Amygdaloid
Hippocampus
Fornix - white matter, all others are grey matter
Where are the 3 parts of the caudate nucleus located?
Head - lateral wall of anterior (frontal) horn of lateral ventricle
Body - lateral wall of the body (central part) of lateral ventricle
Tail - roof of inferior (temporal) horn of lateral ventricle
Where is the amygdala located?
Anterior to the tip of the inferior (temporal) horn of the lateral ventricle and tail of the caudate nucleus
Where is the hippocampus located?
Floor of inferior (temporal) horn of lateral ventricle
What is the function of hippocampus?
Memory and emotions (limbic system)
Where is the fornix located?
Fiber tract connecting hippocampus to diencephalon (so, white matter). Forms arch over thalamus
The corpus striatum is made up of:
Caudate nucleus and
Lenticular (lentiform) nucleus
The Lenticular (lentiform) nucleus is made up of 2 parts. Name the parts and any directional (lateral/medial, ant/post, etc) significance.
Globes pallidus - medial part
Putamen (like forAMEN) - lateral part
The internal capsule is made up of _____ fibers which do what?
Projection fibers; [sub]cortical region to [sub]cortical region communication
So, white matter (because: fibers.)
Name the 3 regions of the internal capsule:
Anterior limb
Genu
Posterior limb
What does the anterior limb of internal capsule do?
Separates lenticular nucleus from head of caudate nucleus
What does gene (knee) of internal capsule do?
Connects anterior limb to posterior limb
What does posterior limb of internal capsule do?
Separates lenticular nucleus from thalamus
How does CSF exit IV ventricle?
Apertures