Lab 7: The Brain Flashcards
the brain
- control center of the CNS
- occupies the endocranial cavity of the skull and is continuous through the foramen magnum with the spinal cord
- peripheral nerves of the brain are known as cranial nerves
- brain is enclosed by the same 3 layers of meninges that are continuous around the spinal cord (dura, arachnoid, pia mater)
- CSF occupies the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord -> produced and circulates in hollow, interconnected ventricles within the brain
- brain has myelinated and unmyelinated neurons (clusters of nerve cell bodies) and support cells (neuroglia)
- 3 components:
- rhombencephalon
- mesencephalon
- prosencephalon
grey matter
-consists of neuron cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers that occupy the outer, convoluted layer of the cerebrum and cerebellum
white matter
- comprises myelinated axons that form fiber tracts deep to the cortex
- basal nuclei (clusters of grey mater) are formed by nerve cell bodies and lie deep within the white matter
basal nuclei
- cluster of grey mater
- formed by nerve cell bodies
- lie deep within the white matter
rhombencephalon
- aka hindbrain
- comprises the medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum, tegmentum
- houses the fourth ventricle
- has the metencephalon
mesencephalon
- aka the midbrain
- a stalk of white matter connecting the rhombencephalon and prosencephalon
- contains:
- superior and inferior colliculi
- cerebral peduncles (crura cerebri)
- cerebral aqueduct- connects the third and fourth ventricle
- tegmentum
prosencephalon
- aka the forebrain
- contains: cerebral cortex, white matter, basal ganglia, lateral ventricle
- comprises the diencephalon and cerebrum (telencephalon)
- diencephalon comprises the thalamus and surrounds the third ventricle
- cerebrum is composed of 2 large hemispheres connected to one another by the corpus callosum
- each hemisphere has a cortex of gray matter abundant in white matter, a core basal nuclei, and a lateral ventricle
Rhombencephalon: medulla oblongata
- myelencephalon
- contains: pyramids, pyramidal decussation, cuneate and gracile fasiculus
- one of the 3 parts of the brain stem (other 2 are pons and midbrain)
- all cranial nerves except 1 and 2 emerge from the brain stem
- medulla oblongata is continuous with the spinal cord and contains the cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory nerve centers
- regulates vomiting, breathing, sneezing, coughing, and swallowing and monitors the level of carbon dioxide in the blood
- continuous with the pons superiorly
- connected to the cerebellum by the inferior cerebellar peduncle
- lateral surfaces of the medulla are swollen to form the olives
olives
- lateral surfaces of the medulla that are swollen
- mediate impulses that pass from the forebrain and midbrain to the cerebellum by way of the inferior cerebellar peduncles
pyramids
- the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata that is elevated into the 2 parallel ridges
- carry motor nerve fibers from the prosencephalon to the spinal cord
- almost all these fibers cross over (decussate) just distal to the pyramids at the pyramidal decussation
- this decussation is responsible for the face that the left side of the brain controls body movements on the right side (vice versa)
rhombencephalon: pons
- bridge between the medulla oblongata and the midbrain
- dorsal surface forms the floor of a space known as the fourth ventricle of the brain
- connected to the cerebellum by the middle cerebellar peduncle
rhombencephalon: cerebellum
- makes up a large part of the brain
- wedged between the brain stem and the back of the cerebrum
- functions relate to balance, timing and precision (coordination) of movements, and body posture
- divided into 3 parts: midline vermis, two small flocculonodular lobes (involved in the maintenance of skeletal muscle tone), and 2 large lateral loves (corpus cerebelli) that synchronize the precise timing of skeletal muscle contractions
- cerebellar cortex consists of a surface layer of gray matter and is corrugated, with numerous parallel ridges (folia cerebelli) separate by shallow fissures
- underlying white matter of cerebellar cortex has a branching arrangement known as the arbor vitae
- cerebellum is connect to the medulla oblongata by the inferior cerebellar peduncle, pons by middle cerebellar peduncle, and midbrain by the superior cerebellar peduncle
mesencephalon: midbrain
- short section of the brain stem that connects the rhombencephalon and prosencephalon
- passes through the notch in the dural sheet known as the tentorium cerebelli
- comprises 2 ventrolateral halves called the crura cerebri
- ventral portion of the crura are known as the cerebral peduncles
- these masses of white matter serve as the fiber tracts that convey all somatic motor impulses between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord
- between the slightly posterior to the cerebral peduncles runs a hollow, fluid-filled canal called the cerebral aqueduct -> connects the third and fourth ventricles
- dorsal surface of the midbrain is known as the tectum -> has 4 bumps called the colliculi which are nerve reflex centers
- midbrain contains the substantia nigra, a nucleus that is functionally connected to the basal nuclei
colliculi
- on the dorsal surface of the midbrain (tectum)
- 4 small bumps
- nerve reflex centers
- 2 superior colliculi are related to the eyes -> involved in the coordination of eye movements as well as focusing and pupillary response
- 2 inferior colliculi are related to the ears/auditory reflex
- 4 colliculi together constitute the corpora quadrigemina
prosencephalon: diencephalon
- lies deep within the prosencephalon, forming the walls and floor of the third ventricle
- comprises the:
- thalamus
- epithalamus (pineal gland)
- hypothalamus
- subthalamus
- optic chiasm
- mammillary bodies
- 3rd ventricle
prosencephalon: diencephalon: thalamus
- egg shaped mass of gray matter
- constitutes most of the lateral wall of the third ventricle
- left and right thalami are joined by the interthalamic adhesion
- thalami serve as relay points and processing center for all sensory impulses (except olfaction)
prosencephalon: diencephalon: hypothalamus
- lies directly below and somewhat anterior to the thalamus, forming the floor and lower walls of the third ventricle
- has a number of nuclei, including the 2 mamillary bodies
- mammillary bodies project inferiorly between the cerebral peduncles of the midbrain and the optic chiasm (limbic system)
- the hypophysis (pituitary gland) extends inferiorly from the hypothalamus by the infundibulum
- the pituitary gland functions largely in the regulation of other endocrine glands
- hypothalamus is important in a number of functions, including the modification of autonomic responses (blood pressure, heart beat), body temperature regulation, maintenance of electrolyte balance, and the expression of emotional behaviors
prosencephalon: diencephalon: subthalamus
- located below the thalamus and behind the mamillary body
- regulates and modulates the output of the basal nuclei
prosencephalon: diencephalon: pineal gland
- occupies the caudal part of the roof of the third ventricle
- this is an endocrine gland of regulatory (generally inhibitory) importance
prosencephalon: cerebrum
- telencephalon
- the largest part of the brain, accounting for 85% of its tissue
- comprises of 2 cerebral hemispheres that are connected to one another by the corpus callosum, a narrow band of transverse fibers
- each hemispheres has a cortex of gray matter, abundant white matter comprising the fiber tracts, and a deep core of gray matter called the basal nuclei
prosencephalon: cerebral cortex
- a thin layer of gray matter that is convoluted by ridges (gyri) and shallow grooves (sulci)
- divided into 5 lobes (4 are named according to the skull bone that covers them): temporal, frontal, parietal, occipital, limbic lobe
- several gyri and sulci are important enough to be named
- frontal lobe is separate from the parietal lobe by the central sulcus
- frontal and parietal lobes are separated from the temporal lobe by the lateral (sylvian) sulcus
- occipital lobe is separated from the parietal and temporal by arbitrary lines that meet dorsally at the parietooccipital sulcus
- parietal lobe is involved in the sensation of taste
cerebral cortex: frontal lobe
- frontal lobe is separate from the parietal lobe by the central sulcus
- frontal and parietal lobes are separated from the temporal lobe by the lateral (sylvian) sulcus
- precentral gyrus is apart of the frontal lobe
- precentral gyrus is located immediately anterior to the central sulcus
- precentral gyrus contains the primary motor cortex which controls all voluntary skeletal muscles movement
- frontal love is also involved in speech
cerebral cortex: parietal lobe: postcentral gyrus
- in the parietal love
- located immediately behind the central sulcus
- contains the primary sensory motor cortex -> receives sensory information from receptors throughout the body
- parietal lobe is involved in the sensation of taste
temporal lobe
-involved in hearing and equilibrium
occipital lobe
-processes visual information and is related to our understanding of the written word
insula
-a small region of cortex located within the lateral sulcus
limbic lobe
- comprises several gyri surrounding the corpus callosum and third ventricle on the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere
- these gyri are the cingulate gyrus, isthmus, parahippocampal gyrus, and uncus
white matter
- the mass of the cerebrum is composed of myelinated fibers that create a core of white matter
- these nerves fibers follow numerous tracts that lead from one place to another
- 3 types of fiber tracts:
- association fibers- connect area of the cerebral cortex to one another within the same hemisphere
- commissural fibers- connect corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex between the two hemispheres -> these traverse the corpus callosum
- projection fibers- connect areas of the cerebral cortex to other regions of the brain and to the spinal cord
- corticospinal tract, which runs from the precentral gyrus through the crura cerebri of the midbrain and medullary pyramids of the medulla oblongata into the spinal cord, is composed of projection fibers
basal nuclei
- aggregations of neuron cell bodies within the white matter of the cerebrum
- functionally associated with other parts of the cerebrum in the production and control of motor responses
- initiate voluntary movements and are involved in the slow skeletal muscle contractions, such as those employed in posture and balance (arm swinging, while walking)
- some also seem to be involved in cognitive functions
- lesions to these nuclei result in a variety of motor dysfunctions, such as parkinsons disease and huntingtons disease
- structures that are functionally linked to basal nuclei are: substantia nigra (midbrain nucleus), the subthalamic nucleus, and red nucleus
- 3 main components of basal nuclei that comprise the corpus striatum:
- caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus
basal nuclei: caudate nucleus
- curved like a C
- superior part is known as the head
- inferior part is the tail
- a component that comprises the corpus striatum
basal nuclei: putamen and globus pallidus
- constitute the lentiform nucleus
- putamen comprises its lateral portion
- globus pallidus makes up its medial portion
- lentiform nucleus lies along the dorsolateral side of the tail of the caudate nucleus
ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid
- brain and spinal cord are protected against physical injury by the CSF -> serves to buoy and cushion them
- CSF circulates in the subarachnoid space (space between pia and arachnoid mater)
- CSF is produced in the hollow ventricles within the brain by a network of capillaries and epithelial tissue called the choroid plexus
ventricular system
- 4 ventricles
- 2 lateral ventricles occupy space within the cerebrum: C shaped
- anterior part is separated from its opposite by a thin vertical partition, the septum pellucidum
- the upper part runs below the corpus callosum and above the thalamus, and it extends as a posterior horn into the occipital love of the cerebrum
- inferior part of the C extends anterolaterally into the temporal lobe
- the caudate nucleus forms the lateral wall of the lateral ventricle
- the two lateral ventricles communicate by the interventricular foramen with the midline third ventricle
- this occupies a narrow cleft between the left and right thalami
- choroid plexus on the roof of the third ventricle is continuous with that on the floor of the lateral ventricles
- third ventricle is connected by the narrow cerebral aqueduct to the midline fourth ventricle -> occupies the space between the dorsum of the pons and medulla and the overlying cerebellum
- at the junction of the pons and medulla there are 2 lateral apertures, and below the cerebellum there is a midline median aperture in the roof of the fourth ventricle
- it is through these apertures that the ventricular system becomes continuous with the subarachnoid space
- fourth ventricle is continuous distally with the central canal of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord
CSF production, circulation, and resorption
- CSF is produced by aggregates of the choroid plexus in the roof of the temporal limb of the lateral ventricle, the floor of the parietal limb of the lateral ventricle, the roof of the third ventricle, and the roof of the fourth ventricle
- form the lateral ventricles, the CSF passes through the interventricular foramina into the third ventricle
- from the third ventricle, the CSF passes through the cerebral aqueduct into the fourth ventricle
- from the fourth ventricle, the CSF flows out into the subarachnoid space via the lateral apertures and the median aperture
- CSF circulates around the brain and spinal cord in the subarachnoid space
- it is gradually reabsorbed from this space into the vascular system by means of the arachnoid villi -> finger-like extensions of the arachnoid mater that project into the superior sagittal sinus
cranial nerves
- 12
- peripheral nerves that emanate directly from the brain
- numbers based on exit the brain from anterior to posterior
- all emerge from the brain stem except 1 (olfactory) and 2 (optic) which derive from the cerebrum
1. olfactory
2. optic
3. oculomotor
4. trochlear
5. trigeminal
6. abducens
7. facial
8. vestibulocochlear
9. glossopharyngeal
10. vagus
11. accessory
12. hypoglossal
purely sensory cranial nerves
- olfactory
- optic
- vestibulocochlear