Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Block 3 > Introduction To CNS Anatomy > Flashcards

Introduction To CNS Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main aim of the nervous system?

A

Enables the body to react continuously to changes in the internal and external environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 2 sub divisions of the nervous system?

A

CNS

PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) contain?

A

Brain
Spinal Cord
Retina
Optic nerve (CNII)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) contain?

A

Spinal + cranial nerves (except optic nerve (CNII))
ANS (sympathetic + parasympathetic)
Somatic sensory + somatic motor nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 2 main nervous tissue cell types?

A

Neurons (nerve cells)

Neuroglia (glial cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are neurons? What is their function?

A

Structural + functional units of the NS including afferent/efferent neurons + interneurons

They have rapid communication across synapses via neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are neuroglia? What is their function?

A

Non-neuronal/non-excitable cells that support, nourish + insulate neurons so they are 5x more abundant than neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do the different structurally components of neurons do?

A

Dendrites: receptive projections sensitive to neural inputs

Cell body (soma): metabolic input

Axon: signal transmission

Axon terminal: passes signal onto other neurons + body tissues via synapses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the different types of neuroglia cells?

A 
CNS:
Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal cells

PNS:
Satellite cells
Schwann cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What do oligodendrocytes do?

A

Myelinate axons in the CNS and provide a structural framework

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What do astrocytes do?

A

Maintain the BBB and help preserve the chemical environment by recycling ions and neurotransmitters in the environment itself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What do microglia do?

A

Help to remove debris, waste and pathogens via phagocytes so they are essentially a type of macrophage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What do ependymal cells do?

A

Line the ventricles/spaces in the brain or in the spine, mainly the central spinal canal

Help produce CSF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What do satellite cells do?

A

Help to regulate nutrient and neurotransmitter levels around the neurons and the ganglia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do schwann cells do?

A

Myelinate axons in the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What neurons are sensory afferents?

A

Somatic sensory: sensations from somatic tissue

Visceral sensory: sensations from organs

Special visceral sensory: e.g. taste

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are spinal nerves?

A

Mixed nerves containing motor + sensory neurons (some contain autonomic nerves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What neurons are motor efferents?

A

Somatic motor: skeletal muscle

Branchio-motor: pharyngeal arch muscle

Visceral/autonomic motor: organs + vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does the neural tube fold in embryology?

A

Neural ectoderm folds to form the neural tube by thickening, elevating + lifting away from the rest of the ectoderm approaching eachother at the midline, moving together + fusing

This occurs in the head to feet direction so the cranial neuropore closes at day 25 + the caudal neuropore closes at day 27

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What can go wrong with the neural tube folding?

A

Failure of cranial neuropore closure = anecephaly (complete failure to form) or meroancephaly (herniation through the head)

Failure of caudal neuropore closure = spina bifida is most common - mild (incomplete neural arches of lumbar or sacral vertebra) or severe (malformations of meninges or spinal cord tissues)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What supplement prevents 70% of neural tube defects?

A

Folic acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does the brain look like at week 4 of development?

A

Primary brain vesicles x 3:

  • Prosencephalon
  • Mesencephalon
  • Rhombencephalon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What does the brain look like at week 6 of development?

A

Secondary brain vesicles x 5:

  • Telencephalon + diencephalon (from prosencephalon)
  • Mesencephalon
  • Metencephalon + myelencephalon (from rhombencephalon)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What do the 5 secondary brain vesicles go onto form in the adult brain?

A

Telencephalon: cerebral hemispheres

Diencephalon: thalamus/hypothalamus

Mesencephalon: midbrain

Metencephalon: cerebellum + pons

Myelencephalon: medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the flexure in the human brain?

A

Between the cerebral hemispheres/thalamus (forebrain) + the brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Why does the brain flexure develop? What is the relevance of this?

A

Because of the upright posture adopted by humans because we are bipedal resulting in different use of dorsal + ventral terminology depending on whether forebrain or brainstem structures are being described

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

If the brains flexure did not form, where would our eyes point?

A

Towards the ceiling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What does the cerebrum consist of?

A

2 lateral hemispheres (L + R) separated by a longitudinal fissure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What does the cerebrum look like structurally?

A

Wrinkled appearance where hemispheres have raised bumps (gyrus’) and valleys (sulcus’) with the majority of the cortex being hidden within sulci

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

A distinct white matter tract linking the L + R cerebral hemispheres interconnecting various brain regions

Also intersects with the corona radiata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How do the cerebral hemispheres interconnect?

A

Via the corpus callosum and connect to the brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is the corona radiata?

A

Another great white matter tract that carries ascending and descending fibres between the cerebral cortex, spinal cord and even the thalamus via radiating fibre arrangement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How is the cerebrum divided?

A

Into lobes based on anatomical location and by using sulci + fissures

Lobes correspond roughly to overlying bones of the cranial vault

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What are fissures?

A

Deep sulci of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What are the lobes of the brain?

A

Parietal
Frontal
Temporal
Occipital

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What lobes the central sulcus divide?

A

Frontal and parietal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What lies adjacent to the pre-central gyrus?

A

Primary motor cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the post-central gyrus?

A

Primary somatosensory cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What lobe is bound by the lateral sulcus (Sylvian Fissure)?

A

Temporal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What are the 3 gyri of the temporal lobe?

A

Superior
Middle
Inferior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is the insula? Where is it?

A

Important lobe for higher pain processing and other parts of language processing + emotion deep in the lateral sulcus (Sylvian Fissure)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What are the names of the regions the cerebral cortex is arranged into?

A

Brodmann areas (44+ areas)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What are Brodmann areas based on?

A

The cyto-architecture/histological structure of the cerebral cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

A

Controls contralateral body motor functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

A

Receives contralateral sensory input from the body including taste

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What is the function of the primary visual cortex?

A

Receives contralateral visual field information from both eyes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What is the function of the auditory cortex?

A

Receives bilateral auditory sensory input

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is the function of the pre-motor cortex?

A

Motor program retrieval

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What is the function of the pre-frontal cortex?

A

Executive function

50
Q

What would an injury in the premotor and supplementary motor cortex cause?

A

Ideomotor apraxis (patient cant act out movement)

51
Q

What would an injury in the primary motor cortex lead to?

A

Contralateral UMN weakness/paralysis

52
Q

What would an injury in the primary somatosensory cortex lead to?

A

Contralateral paresthesia i.e. patient cannot assess or perceive stimulus (asterognosia)

53
Q

What would an injury in the primary visual cortex lead to?

A

Central scotoma

54
Q

What would an injury in the primary auditory cortex lead to?

A

Reduction in hearing acuity on contralateral side

55
Q

What would an injury to the superior temporal gyrus cause?

A

Inability to recognise sounds e.g. speech versus a door opening

56
Q

What would an injury to the prefrontal cortex cause?

A

Changes in emotional behaviour/processes e.g. ‘flat’ personality or memory problems

57
Q

What does the left hemisphere of the brain look after?

A

R sided: motor functions, sensory functions, stereognosis, body image + visual fields

Bilateral audio
Speech
Writing
Language

58
Q

What does the right hemisphere of the brain look after?

A

L sided: motor functions, sensory functions, sterognosis, body image + visual fields

Bilateral audio
Spatial perception
Facial recognition

59
Q

What is the homuncules?

A

Mapping of the sensory and motor functions onto specific cortical regions according to body region where size represents the amount of the cortex dedicated to that body region

60
Q

What is the cortex?

A

Outer covering of grey matter (cell bodies) i.e. the bark

61
Q

What is white matter?

A

Groups of myelinated axons that connect to other regions/spinal cord

62
Q

What are ventricles?

A

CSF filled chambers (CSF produced via choroid plexus) within the subcortical regions of the brain situated in proximity to multiple nuclei and functional regions of the brain

63
Q

What are nuclei?

A

Collection of neuronal cell bodies with similar functions and projections, normally found in subcortical areas at points of synapse

64
Q

What are the 3 important white matter tracts?

A
  1. Corpus callosum
  2. Corona radiata
  3. Internal capsule
65
Q

What is the internal capsule?

A

Narrow area of white matter fibres projecting to and from the cerebral cortex, blending into and becoming the corona radiata

Also has a mapping where certain regions of the body are looked after by defined parts of it

66
Q

Where are the important nuclei?

A

Thalamus (L +R): collection of nuclei with multiple functions

Basal ganglia: putamen, caudate + globus pallidus

Brainstem: contains multiple nuclei for CNs + the cerebellum

67
Q

What makes up the lentiform nucleus?

A

Putamen + globus pallidus

68
Q

What makes up the striatum?

A

Putamen + caudate

69
Q

What does primary cortical regions allow?

A

Perception of vision, sensation and sound

70
Q

What do secondary and association areas of the cortex allow?

A

Interpretation, visualization and relation of information to previous experiences by integrating things like memory, texture, smells, emotions etc.

71
Q

What is synaesthesia?

A

Combination of senses that provides an unusual interpretation e.g. hearing Mozart feels like wool

72
Q

What is prosopagnosia?

A

Inability to recognise faces i.e. see faces as objects

73
Q

What can loss of an association area or the connections between them lead to?

A

Specific, sometimes strange symptoms e.g. synaesthesia or prosopagnosia

74
Q

What fibres connect the cortex to other cortical and sub-cortical areas?

A

Association: within a hemisphere

Commisural: between hemispheres

Projection: to brainstem/spinal cord

75
Q

What is fasciculus?

A

Bundle of fibres sharing a similar function and route of travel e.g. arcuate between Wernicke’s and Broca’s area

76
Q

What are the functions of Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas?

A
  1. You will first visually see some text and understand the writing/letters
  2. Wernicke’s areas helps you to understand/interpret heard, spoken or written word
  3. This area communicates to Broca’s area via the arcuate fasciculus
  4. Broca’s area is involved in motor planning speech i.e. talk about what you have seen
77
Q

What are the 12 paired cranial nerves (CN)?

A 
Olfactory bulb (I)
Optic nerve (II)
Oculomotor (III)
Trochlear (IV)
Trigeminal (V)
Abducens (VI)
Facial (VII)
Vestibulocochlear (VIII)
Glossopharyngeal (IX)
Vagus (X)
Accessory (XI)
Hypoglossal (XII)
78
Q

How do cranial nerves (CN) I and II arise?

A

Directly from the forebrain

79
Q

How does cranial nerve (CN) III, X and XII arise?

A

From their nuclei in the brainstem e.g. CNIII from interpeduncular fossa of midbrain

80
Q

How does cranial nerve (CN) XI arise?

A

From the brainstem and spinal cord (C1-5)

81
Q

What is special about cranial nerve (CN) IV?

A

Only nerve that arises from the posterior aspect of the midbrain in the brainstem, below the inferior colliculus and swoops round to come up the front

82
Q

How do cranial nerves (CN) exit the cranium?

A

Via a number of foramen in the skull base

83
Q

What are the 3 regions that make up the brainstem?

A
  1. Midbrain
  2. Pons
  3. Medulla
84
Q

What are cerebral peduncles?

A

Significant structures allowing a passageway of multiple different tracts in the midbrain

85
Q

What are cerebellar peduncles?

A

Connections between the brainstem and cerebellum behind

86
Q

What are olives?

A

Nuclear mass on the anterior part of the medulla important for learning motor skills

87
Q

Where does cranial nerve (CN) V come off of?

A

Lateral belly of pons

88
Q

Where do cranial nerves (CN) VII, VIII and IX come off of?

A

Pontomedullary junction

89
Q

What are pyramids?

A

Contain descending corticospinal tracts (pyramidal-tracts) important for motor function

90
Q

What does the posterior aspect of the midbrain present?

A

Superior and inferior colliculi: relay nuclei for visual reflexes (particularly saccadic eye movement) and auditory reflexes (e.g. startle response + vestibular-ocular reflex)

91
Q

Where does the fourth ventricle lie?

A

Between the pons and upper medulla and cerebellum

92
Q

What does the posterior aspect of the pons present?

A

Superior, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles which connect the cerebellum with the midbrain, pons and medulla (brainstem) respectively

93
Q

What does the dorsal aspect of the medulla present?

A

4 raised bumps which are tracks and nuclei associated with ascending sensory fibres (fasciculus cuneatus + gracilis) of the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway

94
Q

What are the functions of the cerebellum?

A

Essential for coordination + planning of movement:

Involved in stabilisation of body (trunk/limbs), memory, cognitive functioning, language processing + logical reasoning

Automates many processes e.g. motor skills + language

Involved in prediction of sensory consequence of movements by comparison to experience

Frees cerebral cortex for higher level functions

95
Q

What is the structure of the cerebellum?

A

2 hemispheres connected by a vermis

Primary + horizontal fissures

96
Q

What can happen if the cerebellum is dysfunctional?

A 
Ipsilateral symptoms:
Ataxia
Hypotonia
Dysdiadochokineasia
Pendular reflexes
Wide-based gate (gait ataxia)
Slurred speech
Imbalance
Nystagmus
Intention tremor
97
Q

What can happen to the cerebellum if there is increased intracranial pressure?

A

Tonsils of posterior lobe may descend towards/herniate through foramen magnum compressing the medulla

98
Q

What are the 3 main lobes of the cerebellum?

A

Anterior
Posterior
Flocculonodular

99
Q

What are the 2 major vessels that supply the brain and brainstem?

A

Internal carotid artery (x2)

Vertebral artery (x2)

= come together to create circle of willis

100
Q

What is the golden rule regarding the brains blood supply?

A

If a vessel runs past a structure, it likely supplies it

101
Q

What are the 3 cerebral arteries?

A

Anterior
Middle
Posterior

102
Q

What are the 3 meningeal layers?

A
  1. Pia mater (thin + adherent to cortex
  2. Arachnoid mater (thin + web/lace-like)
  3. Dura:
    - Meningeal
    - Periosteal (thick, fibrous + leathery)
103
Q

The 2 dura layers are pressed together except for when there is?

A

Dural venous sinuses running between them

104
Q

What are dural venous sinus’s?

A

Blood from CNS drains into these sinuses

They are valveless and endothelial-lined

105
Q

Where is Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) located?

A

Sub-arachnoid space between pia mater and arachnoid mater

106
Q

What different types of meningeal haemorrhages can you have?

A

Extradural
Subdural
Subarachoid

All have different bleeding patterns

107
Q

What is inflammation of the meningeal layers called?

A

Meningitis

108
Q

What are the venous sinuses called?

A 
Superior sagittal
Inferior sagittal
Straight
Transverse
Sigmoid
Right cavernous
109
Q

What can happen if a venous sinus is blocked?

A

Cerebral infarction

110
Q

Where do venous sinuses drain?

A

Internal jugular veins on either side

111
Q

What are the double-layered inward projecting folds of the meningeal layer of the dura called?

A

Falx celebri
Tentorium cerebelli
Falx cerebelli
Diaphragm sellae

112
Q

What is the function of the double-layered inward projecting folds of the meningeal layer of the dura?

A

Reflections help to stabilise and support CNS structures

113
Q

What is the function of the falx cerebri?

A

Prevents left and right cerebral hemispheres moving excessively during axial head rotation

114
Q

What is the function of the diaphragm sellae?

A

Forms protective pocket for pituitary protecting it from structures above it

115
Q

What is the function of the tentorium cerebelli?

A

Prevents occipital lobe compressing the cerebellum especially during neck/head flexion + extension

116
Q

What is the function of the falx cerebelli?

A

Prevents left and right cerebellar hemispheres from moving excessively during axial rotation

117
Q

What are the lateral, 3rd and 4th ventricles lined with? What is their function?

A

Choroid plexus including ependymal cells that produces CSF that circulates around the CNS

118
Q

What is the function of the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)?

A

Protects and nourishes the brain, cushions it and gives it buoyancy

119
Q

How can the central nervous system (CNS) become damaged?

A

Trauma/disease/inflammation/ischaemia
Neurons lose ability to produce neurotransmitters
Effector organs fail to respond to transmitter
Overproduction of neurotransmitters by neurons
Non-responsiveness of neurons to neurotransmitters

120
Q

What effects can ensue if there is central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction?

A

Loss of function: sensory/motor + temporary/permanent

Gain of function (exaggerated): tremor/twitch

Change of function: altered behaviour/personality or changes in perception

Block 3 (40 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions