Introduction and basic topography

Question 1

What are the basic components of the central nervous system?

Answer 1

• Cerebral hemispheres
• Brainstem and cerebellum
• Spinal cord

Question 2

What are the basic components of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 2

• Dorsal and venral roots
• Spinal nerves
• Peripheral nerves
• Cauda Equina

Question 3

How does the cell type that myelinates neurones differ in the CNS vs PNS?

Answer 3

CNS: oligodendrocites myelinate - cannot regenerate - multiple neurones myelinated by one cell

PNS: Schwaan cell - have some capacity to regenerate

Question 4

What makes up grey matter?

Answer 4

Cell bodies and dendrites

Highly vascular

Question 5

What makes up white matter?

Answer 5

White matter is composed of axons and their supporting cells

Question 6

How does grey matter communicate with white matter?

Answer 6

Grey matter contains axons allowing it to communicate with white matter

Question 7

Why does white matter appear white?

Answer 7

Due to presence of fatty myelin

Question 8

What is the PNS equivalent of grey matter and white matter?

Answer 8

Grey matter = a Ganglion

White matter = peripheral nerve

Question 9

How is white and grey matter arranged in the spinal cord?

Answer 9

Grey matter is central with an outer layer of white matter

Question 10

How many segments of the spinal cord are there?

Answer 10

31

Question 11

What is a funiculus?

What are the 3 divisions

Answer 11

A segment of white matter containing multiple distinct tracts

Impulses travel in multiple directions

3 divisions: Dorsal, Lateral and Ventral

Question 12

What is a tract?

Answer 12

An anatomically and functionally defined white matter pathway that connects two distinct regions of grey matter

Impulses travel in one direction

Question 13

What is a fasciculus?

Answer 13

A subdivision of a tract supplying a distinct region of the body

Question 14

How is grey matter in the spinal cord organised?

Answer 14

Organised in cell columns (Rexed’s Laminae)

Question 15

What is a nucleus (grey matter)?

Answer 15

A collection of functionally related cell bodies

Question 16

What is the cortex (grey matter)?

Answer 16

A folded sheet of cell bodies found on the surface of a brain structure

Typically 1-5 mm thick

Question 17

What is a fibre (white matter)?

Answer 17

A term relating to an axon in association with is supporting cells

Question 18

What are the 3 types of fibre (white matter)?

Answer 18

• Association - connect cortical regions within the same hemisphere
• Commissural- connect left and right hemispheres or cord halves
• Projection - connect cerebral hemispheres with the cord/ brain stem and vice versa

Question 19

What are the 3 components of the brainstem and the basic functions of each?

Answer 19

• Midbrain (misencephalon)
  
  • Eye movement and reflex responses to sound and vision
• Pons
  
  • Feeding and sleep (particularly REM)
• Medulla
  
  • ​Cardiovascular and respiratory centres
  • Contrains major motor pathways (medullary pyramids)

Question 20

What components make up the Diencephalon?

Answer 20

Thalmus and Hypothalmus

Question 21

What are colliculi?

Answer 21

Reflex centres giving rapid response at the back of the midbrain

Question 22

Identify the central sulcus

Answer 22

Question 23

Locate the pre central gyrus and post central gyrus and give the function of each

Answer 23

Precentral- primary motor cortex

Postcentral- primary sensory cortex

Question 24

Identify the lateral/ sylvian fissure

Answer 24

Question 25

Identify the parieto-occipital sulcus

Answer 25

Question 26

Identify the calcarine sulcus. What surrounds this?

Answer 26

Surrounded by the primary **visual** cortex

Question 27

What is the uncus? What is its clinical significance?

Answer 27

Part of the temporal lobe that can **herniate** and compress the midbrain (squashing cranial nerve III) Important olfactory role- site of pimrary olfactory cortex

Question 28

Locate the parahyppocampal gyrus. What is its function?

Answer 28

Key cortical region for **memory encoding**

Question 29

Identify the corpus coallosum. What is its function?

Answer 29

Fibres connecting 2 cerebral hemispheres

Question 30

Identify the Thalamus. What is its function?

Answer 30

**Sensory Relay** station projecting the sensory cortex

Question 31

Identify the cingulate gyrus. What is its function?

Answer 31

Cortical area important for **emotion** and **memory**

Question 32

Identify the hypothalmus. What is its function?

Answer 32

Essential centre for homeostasis

Question 33

Identify the fornix. What is its function?

Answer 33

Major output pathway from the hippocampus

Question 34

Identify the tectum. What is its function?

Answer 34

Dorsal part of the midbrain involved in **involuntary responses** to auditory and visual stimuli

Question 35

Identify the cerebellar tonsil. What is its clinical significance?

Answer 35

Part of cerebellum that can herniate through the foramen magnum and compress the medulla

Question 36

Where is CSF made? How much is made each day?

Answer 36

In the ventricles in cells called **choroid plexus** 600-700ml of CSF per day

Question 37

Where is CSF resorbed?

Answer 37

CSF circulates through ventricles and subarachnoid space before it is resobed at the **arachnoid granulations**

Question 38

Identify the ventricles and associated features

Answer 38

Question 39

In a monosynaptic reflex (e.g. knee jerk), where is the synapse found?

Answer 39

In the **ventral horn**