Intro to the Brain Flashcards
what are the 2 main components of the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
What are the names given to the anterior and posterior poles of the brain?
Frontal and Occipital
Which can you live without: cerebral hemispheres or brainstem?
Cerebral hemispheres. The brainstem controls breathing and consciousness
What is the name of the line between the right and left cerebral hemispheres?
Great longitudinal fissure
The surface of the brain is highly folded, what are the folds and grooves called?
Fold = GYRUS (pl. gyri) Groove = SULCUS (pl. sulci)
Which lobe is anterior to the central sulcus?
Frontal lobe
What is the function of the pre-central gyrus?
Major motor centre of the brain
What is the function of the post-central gyrus?
Major somatic centre of the brain
Which lobe of the brain is below the lateral sulcus?
Temporal lobe
What are the main functions of the main 4 lobes?
Frontal - decision making
Parietal - sensory cortex and intergration of sense with previous memories
Temporal - hearing and part of memory
Occipital - sight
What 3 things make up the brainstem?
Midbrain + Pons + Medulla
What space lies between the brainstem and the cerebellum?
IVth ventricle
What are the thalamus and hypothalamus part of?
Diencephalon
Which part of the brain uses sensory information to coordinate the body?
Cerebellum
What is the function of the thalamus?
important relay station between the brainstem and spinal cord and the cerebral cortex
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
controls the ANS
Name the 3 swellings the neural tube develops and state which region of the brain they are equivalent to
PROSENCEPHALON - forebrain
MESENCEPHALON - midbrain
RHOMBENCEPHALON - hindbrain
Which end of the neural tube develops into the spinal cord?
Caudal
How many swellings do the 3 initial neural tube swellings develop into and what are their names?
5
telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, metencephalon and myelencephalon
Which primary and secondary brain vesicles do the cerebral hemispheres develop from?
- Prosencephalon
2. Telencephalon
Which primary and secondary brain vesicles does the diencephalon develop from?
- Prosencephalon
2. Diencephalon
Which primary and secondary brain vesicles do the pons and cerebellum develop from?
- Rhombencephalon
2. Mesencephalon
Which primary and secondary brain vesicles does the medulla oblongata develop from?
- Rhombencephalon
2. Myelencephalon
Which is the most superficial of the meninges?
Dura
What is the space between the dura and arachnoid layers called?
subdural space (it is a potential space which is only apparent pathologically)
What is the name of the space between the arachnoid and pia? What does it contain?
subarachnoid space containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Which is the thinnest of the meninges?
Pia
Describe the dura matter?
tough, fibrous membrane, ensheathing brain loosely, adhered to the underside of the skull
What are the 2 layers of Dura called?
periosteal (outer) and meningeal
Approximately what percentage of O2 consumption does the brain require?
20%
Which 2 pairs of arteries supply the brain?
Vertebral and internal carotid
Name the 3 pairs of cerebellar arteries
Posterior inferior
Anterior inferior
Superior
Name the 3 pairs of cerebral arteries
Posterior
Middle
Anterior
What do the posterior communicating arteries complete? Why is this useful?
Arterial circle of Willis - allows a collateral circulation in event of arterial damage to brain (however, very small so not very effective)
