Lecture 2: Regional CNS Flashcards
what are the contents of the cerebral cortex (aka gray matter)?
neuron bodies, dendrites, and axon terminals
what are nuclei?
local accumulations of neurons that have a largely similar connection and functions
what is a cortex?
a sheet-like array of nerve cell nuclei
what is a ganglion?
structure containing a number of neurons typically linked together with one another with synapses
majority of local ____ happens in the cerebral cortex
synaptic communication
most gray matter is found on the ____ of the cerebrum and the ____ of the spinal cord
outside, inside
majority of ____ happens in the cerebral white matter
signal transmission
what are the contents of the cerebral white matter?
neuron axons and axon bundles
association fibers
connect different regions within the same hemisphere
commissural fibers
connect different regions on opposite hemispheres
projection fibers
connect the cerebrum to the rest of the body
what are the 3 main functions of the cerebrum?
- conscious sensation
- voluntary motor activity
- higher brain functions (cognition, memory, language, abstract thought)
what functions are associated with the left hemisphere?
- analytical thought
- logic and reasoning
- language centers (in most brains)
what functions are associated with the right hemisphere?
- perceptual integration
- imagination
- insight
- intuition
- creativity
- emotional drive
contents of the anterior fossa of the skull
frontal lobe
contents of the middle fossa of the skull
temporal lobe
contents of the posterior fossa of the skull
cerebellum and brainstem
what are the 2 layers of the dura mater?
- periosteal: adheres to skull
- meningeal: goes down into brain tissue
falx cerebri
- part of meningeal layer of dura mater
- separates right and left hemispheres
tentorium cerebelli
- part of meningeal layer of dura mater
- separates occipital lobe from cerebellum
what are the 4 main functions of the dura mater?
- envelop and protect brain
- limit rotational displacement of the brain
- regulate generation and migration of neural progenitors
- regulate proliferation and survival of radial glial cells
what are the arachnoid villi and what is their function?
- projections of arachnoid mater into dura mater
- allow for CSF transport
what are the 3 main functions of the arachnoid mater?
- envelop and protect brain
- combat shearing of the brain
- aid in circulation of CSF
what are the contents of the subarachnoid space?
- delicate CT trabeculae and intercommunicating channels containing CSF
- superficial branches of cerebral arteries and veins
what are the 4 main functions of the pia mater?
- envelop and protect brain
- aid in production of CSF
- serves as a separation b/w neural tissue and blood vessels
- contributes to degradation of NTs
what is the normal amount of CSF found in adults?
- 150 cc
- 20 cc/hr
- 500 cc/day
what are the 4 main functions of CSF?
- support and protect brain and SC
- pressure maintenance (7-15 mmHg)
- nutrition
- waste
what is the main function of the ventricles?
production and distribution of CSF (via choroid plexus)
where are the lateral ventricles found?
within the cerebral hemispheres
where is the third ventricle found?
within the thalamus and hypothalamus
where is the fourth ventricle found?
within the pons, medulla, and cerebellum
what are the circumventricular organs?
- pituitary gland
- pineal gland
- portion of the hypothalamus
what is significant about circumventricular organs?
- they allow communication b/w nervous system and CV system regarding Na and H2O balance, CV regulation, energy metabolism, immunomodulation, and important noxious stimuli
- their blood vessels are not protected by the BBB
describe the location of the frontal lobe
- rostral to central sulcus
- medial to sylvian fissure
prefrontal cortex
- most rostral part of the frontal lobe
- responsible for higher executive functions (emotional regulation, planning, reasoning, attention, problem solving)
frontal eye fields
- coordination of eye movements
- conjugate gaze
Broca’s Area
- found on frontal lobe, in dominant hemisphere (usually left)
- supplemental speech area
- coordination of motor speech
describe the location of the parietal lobe
- caudal to central sulcus
- rostral to parieto-occipital sulcus
- medial to sylvian fissure
what is significant about the inferior parietal lobule?
- multimodal association area
- visual and auditory processing and integration
- lies at junction of occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes
Wernicke’s Area
- found on parietal and temporal lobes, in dominant hemisphere (usually left)
- supplemental speech area
- speech comprehension
describe the location of the temporal lobe
lateral to sylvian fissure
what is found on the superior temporal gyrus?
primary auditory center and auditory association cortex
what is found on the middle temporal gyrus?
visual processing regions
what is found on the inferior temporal gyrus?
- memory
- also found on the parahippocampal gyrus and uncus
describe the location of the occipital lobe
caudal to the parieto-occipital sulcus
what two things on the occipital lobe does the calcarine fissure separate?
central and peripheral visual fields
what is significant about the occipital pole?
- receives bilateral vascularization
- this allows macular vision to be preserved when the occipital lobe is damaged
what structures are connected by the anterior commissure? (RAM)
- R and L olfactory bulbs
- amygdaloid nuclei
- medial and inferior temporal lobes
what structures are connected by the posterior commissure?
R and L occipital lobes
contents of the limbic cortex
“My great uncle Frank has a temper and gets hyper when he sees Amy the hippo”
- parahippocampal, medial orbitofrontal, and cingulate gyri
- uncus
- fornix
- temporal poles
- hypothalamus
- amygdala
- hippocampus
5 main functions of the limbic cortex (HOMED)
- homeostasis
- olfaction
- memory
- emotions
- drive
the thalamus is the relay station for ____
-sensory inputs (also refines motor outputs)
role of the hypothalamus as an autonomic system structure
regulates body temp, water balance, metabolism, emotional behavior, eating/drinking, circadian rhythm, etc.
role of the hypothalamus as a limbic structure
- emotions
- endocrine (attached to pituitary gland)
3 main functions of the epithalamus
- houses the pineal gland
- emotional response to smell (habenular nuclei)
- forms roof of 3rd ventricle and contains its choroid plexus
basal ganglia functions
- movement initiation, execution, and refinement
- proper timing and grading of movement
- also play roles in cognitive and emotional functions
cerebellum functions
- movement coordination
- posture and balance
- motor learning and control
- muscle tone
brainstem
- connection b/w brain and SC
- midbrain, pons, medulla
- contains pathways b/w brain, SC, and cerebellum
- houses critical nuclei essential for survival and effective cognitive and motor functioning
prosencephalon (forebrain) subdivisions
- telencephalon
- diencephalon
telencephalon contents
- cerebral hemispheres
- cerebral cortex
- subcortical white matter
- basal ganglia
- basal forebrain nuclei
mesencephalon (midbrain) contents
- cerebral peduncles
- midbrain tectum
- midbrain tegmentum
rhombencephalon (hindbrain) subdivisions
- metencephalon
- myelencephalon
metencephalon contents
pons and cerebellum
myelencephalon contents
medulla
