Introduction to brain structure and function Flashcards
What are the wrinkles in the brain called
sulci
What are the outward folds in the brain called
gyri
What are the outermost layers of the brain
Scalp
Periosteum
Bone
Whta are the meninges of the brain
Dura mater (outermost) Arachnoid mater Pia mater (innermost)
What is the Pia mater
tiny delicate membrane which follows all the contours of the brain
What is the dura mater
Provides protection. It Is hard
What are the three folds or reflections of the dura mater
Falx cerebri
Tentorium cerebelli
Falx cerebelli
What are the tectorial tumours
INfratentorial (inside the tentorium cerebelli)
Supratentorial (on top of the tentorium cerebelli)
Where are the arachnoid granulations located close to and why
Longitudinal fissure (line which divides the two hemispheres)
Because it is close to massive draining vein and their main job is to reabsorb CSF back into venous circulation
What is a subarachnoid haemarrhage and what is the issue
Bleed inside arachnoid mater.
Blood accumulates and so the brain is being compressed
What is a subdural bleed and what is the issue
Leak in a vein outside the meninges and it is causing compression of the brain downwards
What is an epidural bleed and what is an advantage of it
Bleed above the dura
Blood has a way of exiting the brain so there is no compression of the brain
What does the falx cerebri do
Separates hemispheres
What does the tentorium cerebelli do
Separates cerebellum from occipital lobes
What does the falx cerebelli do
Separates cerebellar hemispheres
What does the arachnoid mater contain
Blood vessels, cerebral spinal fluid and granulations to drain CSG back into venous system
What are the different sulci of the brain on outside
Lateral sulcus (runs from anterior to posterior)
Precentral sulcus
Central sulcus
Parieto-occipital sulcus
What are the different sulci in the medial aspect of the brain
what is an easy way of identifying cingulate sulcus
Cingulate sulcus (runs parallel with the white matter tract).
Perieto-occipital sulcus
Calcarine sulcus
Can identify it using the marginal sulcus which is an upwards curve continuous with the cingulate sulcus
What does the central sulcus do
Separates frontal lobe from parietal lobe
What does lateral fissure divide
Temporal lobe from frontal lobe and parietal lobe
What does perito-occipital sulcus divide
Parietal lobe from occipital lobe
What does the frontal lobe have a role in
Personality
Attention
Motivation
Planning movement
What does the parietal lobe have a role in
Integrating sensory info
Language processing
What does the temporal lobe have a role in
Memory
Sensory processing
Language comprehension
What does the occipital lobe have a role in
Vision
What are the 3 parts of brain
Hindbrain
MIdbrain
Forebrain
What is the hindbrain divided into and in turn what parts of the brain do these include
Metecephalon: pons+cerebellum
Myelencephalon-medulla oblongata
What is the part of the midbrain
Mesencephalon: tectum+ tegmentum+cerebral peduncles
What is the forebrain divided into and what doe this include
Diencephalon: thalamus+hypothalamus
Telencephalon: basal ganglia and cortex
role of cerebellum
balance
what are the 3 parts of the brainstem (from bottom to top_
medulla
pons
Midbrain
Where is thalamus located
above the midbrain and it looks like a walnut
Where is hippocampus and what does it do
Memory
stretches over the thalamus
What is the giant white matter in the middle of the brain called
Corpus callosum
What are the bumps on the midbrain called when looking at the brain from an inferior aspect
tectum: superior (top 2) and inferior (bottom 2) colliculi
Involved in vision and hearing
If you look at a transverse section of the midbrain, you can see Mickey Mouse.
What are the ears called
What is the mouth area called
what is the gray matter around the mouth called
What is the headband called
What are the eyes called
Cerebral peduncles
cerebral aqueduct
Pariacqueductal gray
Substantia nigra (source of dopamine)
red nucleus
What does medulla have a role in
respiration
heart rate
vomiting
sneezing
What does the hippocampus have a role in
Memory and spatial navigation
What does the caudate nucleus and putamen (basal ganglia) have a role in
Planning movement, cognition and emotion
How does the CSF travel through the ventricular system
From the lateral ventricles (in frontal lobe)
Then through inter ventricular foramen into Third Ventricle
travels inferiorly to cerebral aqueduct (mickeys mouth)
Then goes down to the Fourth ventricle
role of CSF
Assists circulating substances, provides cushioning and absorbs shock
Where is cSF produced and what does this also act as
Choroid plexus
Choroid plexus also acts as a medium of exchange between the extracellular fluid and the blood stream
What is the cisterna magna
Its between the brain stem and the cerebellum and its where CSF accumulates sometimes
What is the large vein going around the brain
Superior saggiata sinus (in close contact with the arachnoid granulation)
What is hydrocephalus
When does it normally occur
-How do you treat
Accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid (the lateral ventricles would be enlarged in MRI due to build up of CSF)
–>Occurs commonly during birth
-Receive a shunt which takes CSF out and probably deliver it to the stomach
How can you assess CSF and why is it done this way
In the lumbar spine (L3/5)
in subarachnoid space. Less likely to damage Spinal cord because there are loose Cauda equina
What arteries supply the anterior aspect of the brain
The two carotid arteries
What arteries supply the posterior aspect of the brain
Two vertebral arteries
What arteries supply the cerebellum
Inferior posterior cerebellar
Inferior anterior cerebellar
Superior cerebellar
What does the basilar artery supply and what does it look like
Has lots of little branches
Supplies Pons
What does posterior cerebral artery supply
Posterior aspect of the temporal lobes
Inferior aspect of temporal lobes
HIpoccampus
Medial aspects of occipital lobes
What does the posterior and anterior circulation connect by
Circle of Willis (posterior communicating artery)
What is largest artery that comes off the internal carotid artery
Middle cerebral artery
What does the middle cerebral artery supply
Portion of frontal lobe
Lateral surface of temporal and parietal lobes
What do the lenticular-striate arteries supply
Basal ganglia
What vein round along outside of brain
Superior sagittal sinus
What does the different l sinuses drain into
Confluence
What other sinuses drain into confluence
Inferior sagittal sinus
Straight sinus
Occipital sinus
where does venous drainage go to after draining into confluence
Transverse sinus then sigmoid sinus then external jugular vein
What does the blood brain barrier do
Is an interface that ensures the circulatory system blood is kept separate from csf
What are blood vessels in the BBB composed of
What surrounds the endothelial cells
Endothelial cells which have tight junctions
Basement membrane
What molecules are allowed to pass in the brain and which aren’t
Are: smack molecules like o2, co2, glucose, or select amino acids
aren’t: pathogens and larger molecules like antibodies
What also play a role in maintaining the BBB
Pericytes and astrocytes
What do pericytes do
Communicate with endothelial cells and contribute to debris removal
In capillaries they control blood flow
What do astrocytes do
Stabiliz the blood Brian barrier contain water channels that allow water to enter the brain
Where is the interpeduncular cistern
Between the cerebral peduncles in the midbrain
Where is the cisterna pontis
Between the pons and the medulla
Where is the cisterna magna
Below the cerebellum and medulla
Where is an alternative place to obtain CSF if lumbar punctures fail
Cisterna magna
Which is the biggest cistern
Cisterna pontis
What do the anterior cerebral arteries supply
Corpus callosum
Frontal lobe
What do the inferior posterior cerebellar arteries supply
Posterior cerebellum
What does the basilar artery supply
Brain stem
What does the inferior anterior cerebellar artery supply
anterior cerebellum
What does the superior cerebellar arteries supply
Cerebellum
