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Anatomy > L12: Brain and Meninges > Flashcards

L12: Brain and Meninges Flashcards

1
Q

What are the major parts of the brain?

A
  • Cerebrum - Cerebellum - Brainstem
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2
Q

What separates the hemispheres from each other? What holds them together?

A
  • Separated by falx cerebri at the longitudinal fissure - Held together/ connected by corpus callosum
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3
Q

What separates the cerebellum from the remaining brain structures? What unites the two hemispheres of the cerebellum?

A
  • Tentorium cerebelli lies above the cerebellum, separating it from the cerebrum - Vermis unites the two hemispheres
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4
Q

What are the parts of the brainstem?

A
  • Midbrain - Medulla oblongata and pons
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5
Q

What arteries supply blood to the brain?

A
  • Vertebral arteries - Internal carotid arteries
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6
Q

Course of vertebral arteries. Branches

A
  • Vertebral artery is first branch off of subclavian. - Travels through transverse foramina of cervical vertebrae - Enters into the cranium through the foramen magnum. - Gives off posterior inferior cerebellar artery laterally, anterior spinal artery, posterior spinal artery - Unites at lower border of pons to form the basilar artery
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7
Q

Course and branches of basilar artery.

A
  • Arises from vertebral artery at lower border of pons - Lies in median groove of the pons - Gives rise to: Anterior inferior cerebellar arteries Pontine arteries Superior cerebellar arteries Posterior cerebral arteries (terminal branches)
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8
Q

What are the major arteries that supply blood to the cerebellum?

A
  • posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA) from vertebral arteries - anterior inferior cerebellar arteries (AICA) from basilar artery - superior cerebellar arteries (SCA) from basilar artery
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9
Q

Course and branches of internal carotid arteries.

A
  • Common carotid branches into internal and external carotids at the superior level of thyroid cartilage (~ C5). - Internal carotid arteries enter the skull through the carotid canal and gives rise to its branches: Posterior communicating Middle cerebral Anterior cerebral – become joined with anterior communicating artery and disappear in median longitudinal fissure
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10
Q

Draw the Circle of Willis

A
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11
Q

What is the pontomedullary junction?

A
  • Area where vertebral arteries join and become the basilar artery
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12
Q

List 3 cranial meninges. Describe

A
  • Dura mater (tough, outer layer) - Arachnoid mater (thin, avascular intermediate layer) - Pia mater (vascular inner layer)
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13
Q

How is dura mater different in cranium than in spinal canal?

A
  • Called cranial dura in cranium as it has two layers. - External layer = external periosteal layer (aka endocranium) continuous with periosteum - Internal layer = internal meningeal layer continuous at foramen magnum with spinal dura
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14
Q

What are dural folds? List dural folds present and explain.

A
  • Dural folds refers to internal layer of dura that separates from external periosteal layer to form folds/partitions separating regions of brain. Falx cerebri: lies in longitudinal fissure separates two cerebral hemispheres Tentorium cerebelli: separates occipital lobe from cerebellum Falx cerebelli: partly separates the cerebellar hemispheres Diaphragma sellae: circular sheet of dura suspended bw ant and clinoid processes of sphenoid bone forming roof over hypophyseal fossa allows hypophyseal stalk/infundibulum to penetrate through.
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15
Q

Where is CSF generated? What are the chambers of the ventricular system of the brain?

A
  • Chroid plexus in the ventricles - Chambers: 2 x lateral ventricles (in each cerebral hemisphere) 3rd midline ventricle 4th inferior posterior ventricle
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16
Q

Function of CSF?

A
  • Cushioning brain and spinal cord - Transportation of chemicals - Clearing waste
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17
Q

Explain CSF circulation.

A
  • CSF generated in lateral ventricles travel to 3rd ventricles via interventricular foramen of Monro - CSF generated and accumulated in 3rd ventricle (from lateral ventricles) travel to 4th ventricle via cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius - CSF generated and accumulated in 4th ventricle (from lateral and 3rd ventricles) travel to subarachnoid space via median aperture (aka foramen of Magendie) or lateral apertures (aka foramina of Luschka) - CSF moves into subarachnoid space in spinal cord in cranium
18
Q

Large fissures in brain.

A
  • Lateral fissure (sulcus of Sylvius) is large sulcus that separates frontal/parietal lobes from temporal - Central fissure/sulcus separates frontal from parietal lobes
19
Q

What is the insula?

A
  • Large portion of cerebral cortex folded deep within lateral sulcus.
20
Q

Through what fissures do branches from the internal carotid travel?

A
  • Middle cerebral arteries travel through lateral fissures - Anterior cerebral arteries travel through longitudinal fissures
21
Q

What is the major blood supply to the dura?

A
  • Minor by meningeal arteries (anterior and posterior) - Major by middle meningeal artery (from maxillary artery branch of external carotid artery)
22
Q

Over what cranial landmark does one find the middle meningeal artery?

A
  • Pterion
23
Q

Why would injury to pterion be dangerous? What type of bleed can it lead to?

A
  • Pterion overlies the middle meningeal artery, which overlies and supplies blood to the dura. - It could lead to an epidural bleed/hematoma.
24
Q

What are venous sinuses of brain? List them and explain where they are located.

A
  • Endothelial lines spaces between the periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura. Large veins from around the brain empty here and blood returned to venous circulation 1.) superior sagittal sinus: upper border of falx cerebri 2.) inferior sagittal sinus: inferior edge of falx cerebri 3.) straight sinus: junction of falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli 4.) transverse sinuses: continuation of superior and straight sinuses 5.) sigmoid sinuses: at petrous bone, transverse sinuses end and become sigmoid sinuses which empty at jugular foramen 6.) occipital sinus: lies in attached border of falx cerebelli 7.) cavernous sinuses: located bilaterally on each side of sella turcica 8.) sphenoparietal sinuses: course along lesser wing of sphenoid bone 9.) superior petrosal sinuses: stretch between cavernous and transverse sinuses 10.) inferior petrosal sinuses: commence at cavernous sinus and drain into jugular foramen - Confluence of sinuses: junction between superior sagittal, straight, occipital and transverse is at the confluence of sinuses located at the internal occipital protuberance
25
Q

How is CSF volume maintained? Where is it absorbed or drained to?

A
  • CSF is drained into superior sagittal sinus via arachnoid granulations. This is one-directional flow from subarachnoid space into venous circulation.
26
Q

What are arachnoid granulations?

A
  • They are one-way valves between the arachnoid space and venous sinuses that move CSF into venous drainage. Largest granulations lie in the superior sagittal sinus.
27
Q

What are the attachments for the falx cerebri?

A
  • Crista galli of ethmoid bone anteriorly - Internal occipital protuberance of occipital bone posteriorly - Joins with tentorium cerebelli on posterior aspect, holding tentorium cerebelli up like tent
28
Q

Attachments for tentorium cerebelli?

A
  • Clinoid process of sphenoid bone anteriorly - Petrous ridge of temporal bone laterally - At occipital bone posteriorly
29
Q

Attachment of falx cerebelli?

A
  • occipital bone
30
Q

What are emissary veins?

A
  • connect venous dural sinuses with veins outside of skull
31
Q

Course of middle meningeal artery.

A
  • Branches of maxillary artery of external carotid artery and enters skull through foramen spinosum
32
Q

What is the nerve supply to the dura mater?

A
  • Largely by CN V - Some by CN X and XII
33
Q

What does the superior sagittal sinus drain into?

A
  • confluence of sinuses
34
Q

What does the inferior sagittal sinus drain into?

A
  • straight sinus and then into confluence of sinuses
35
Q

What does the transverse sinuses drain into?

A
  • confluence of sinuses and into sigmoid sinus
36
Q

What do the confluence of sinuses drain into?

A
  • into sigmoid sinuses
37
Q

What do sigmoid sinuses drain into?

A
  • Internal jugular veins
38
Q

Through what foramen does the sigmoid sinus travel?

A
  • Jugular foramen
39
Q

What cranial nerves would be impacted if venous drainage backed up at sigmoid sinuses? Why?

A
  • CN IX, X and XI - Sigmoid travels through jugular foramen with these cranial nerves.
40
Q

What is problematic with venous sinus in comparison to veins?

A
  • Sinuses do not have valves. Infections can move in a backward direction

Anatomy (19 decks)

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