Lecture 19: Support and Protection of the Nervous System

Question 1

What are the divisions of the vertebra?

Answer 1

Cervical (7)
Thoracic (12)
Lumbar (5)
Sacrum 
& Coccygeal

Question 2

What are the 3 cranial sutures and which parts of the skull do they divide?

Answer 2

Coronal: Frontal -parietal
Lambdoidal: Occipital - parietal
Squamous: Temporal - parietal

Question 3

What are fontanelles?

Answer 3

Gaps between sutures, which allow the brain to grow after birth.

Question 4

What are the 7 external bones of the face?

Answer 4

Zygomatic (2) //cheek
Maxillary (2) //face
Mandible (1)
Nasal (2)

Question 5

What is the meninges?

Answer 5

The protective covering for the brain.

Question 6

What are the 3 layers of the meninges?

Answer 6

Dura mater, Arachnoid, Pia mater.

Question 7

Describe the Dura mater and its two main features.

Answer 7

‘Tough Mother’. Dense and fibrous, two layers. Inner layer forms DURAL REFLECTIONS, outer layer forms VENOUS SINUS.

Question 8

What are the 3 Dural reflections?

Answer 8

1. Falx cerebri. Separates cerebral hemispheres, median plane.
2. Falx cerebelli. Separates cerebellar hemispheres, median plane.
3. Tentorium cerebelli. Separates the cerebrum from cerebellum, horizontal plane.

Question 9

What is the purpose of the Venous sinus?

Answer 9

Venous drain from the brain.

Question 10

Describe the Arachnoid mater.

Answer 10

Beneath dura mater, contains blood vessels, does not extend into sulci.

Question 11

What is the subarachnoid space?

Answer 11

The space between the arachnoid and the pia mater which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Question 12

What is the purpose of the Arachnoid granulations?

Answer 12

The perforate the dura mater, transporting old CSF from the subarachnoid space into the venous sinus.

Question 13

Describe the pia mater.

Answer 13

Transparent, delicate, adheres to the brain and follows the gyri and sulci.

Question 14

What is the purpose of Cerebrospinal fluid, and where is it produced?

Answer 14

To protect and nourish the brain. Produced by the CHOROID PLEXUS.

Question 15

What route does CSF follow?

Answer 15

Lateral ventricle → 3rd Ventricle → Cerebral aqueduct → 4th Ventricle → Subarachnoid space → Venous sinus via arachnoid villi/granulations.

Question 16

What is Hydrocephalus?

Answer 16

When abnormal accumulation of CSF in the ventricles of the brain leads to increased pressure, which enlarges the head and results in convulsions, tunnel vision and mental disability.