Neuro 1 Flashcards
Nerve cell bodies
Nucleus, ganglion
Axons in the central nervous system
Tract
Lemniscus
Peduncle
All bundles of white fibers and axons going in one direction or the other.
Axons in the peripheral nervous system: nerve
Sagittal plane
midline
Parasagittal plane
parallel to midline
Coronal/frontal
parallel to long axis of body
Transverse/ horizontal
perpendicular long axis of body
Monoamines
reticular formation of brainstem. Very excitatory and important clinically.
Acetylcholine – either or.
Neuropeptides
more of a modulatory function. Can make downstream neuron more or less sensitive
Substance P
prominent in spinal cord (pain)
Ridges
Gyri
Grooves
Sulci - deep = fissure
Postcentral gyrus parietal lobe
is primary somatosensory cortex, concerned with initial processing of tactile and proprioceptive information
Inferior parietal lobule of one hemisphere (typically left) involved with language comprehension, part of Wernike’s area
Rest of parietal cortex: complex aspects of spatial orientation and directing attention – finding car in parking lot.
Primary auditory cortex Temporal lobe
superior surface of temporal lobe, part of superior temporal gyrus
medial temporal lobe
Learning & memory
other; Language comprehension, part of Wernike’s area in posterior aspect of one hemisphere (usually left)
Higher order visual processing- much of temporal lobe
Primary visual cortex
in banks of calcarine sulcus and a bit of surrounding cortex
Rest of lobe consists of visual association cortex, involved in higher order visual processing
Some visual association areas extend into temporal lobe
Insula
Some taste and vestibular function, but not well understood.
The Thalamus
Ovoid gray matter mass consists of multiple nuclei
Massa intermedia or interthalamic adhesion
area of thalamic fusion across midline (not seen in all brains)
Thalamic functions
Significantly important in most CNS functions
No sensory information except olfaction reaches the cerebral cortex without a stop in the thalamus
Involved in motor system neural circuits, which are loops that involve the cerebellum and basal ganglia
Limbic system projections to cortex also stop in thalamus first
Infundibular stalk
connects hypothalamus with pituitary
Hypothalamus
Major visceral control center also has limbic functions
Inferior surface visible on base of the brain
Mammillary bodies
Very important, because it can control pituitary gland. Controls autonomic nervous system.
Caudate, putamen & globus pallidus
involved in movement control
Olfactory nerve
Olfactory nerve consists of a bundle of axons that terminate in olfactory bulb at anterior end of olfactory tract
Right to cortex – dodges the thalamus.
Optic nerve
Join to form optic chiasm where half of the fibers cross the midline giving rise to the optic tract
Optic tract ends in thalamus
Embryologically part of diencephalon so part of CNS, not PNS
Oculomotor
emerges from interpeduncular fossa
Trochlear
emerges from dorsal aspect of brainstem, the only one to do so All others come ventrally.
Vestibulocochlear
Emerges from cerebellopontine angle
Accessory
Emerges from upper cervical spinal cord, ascends into skull then reverses and goes back into neck
Gyri
folia. Has vestibular functions (fleca lobular lobe).
Lateral = complex motor functions in humans
Septum pelucidum
separates lateral ventricles
CSF flow
CSF is formed by choroid plexus in the lateral (and 4th and 3rd) ventricles. From the atrium, lateral and (less so) third ventricles CSF flows down the cerebral aqueduct (in the midbrain) to 4th ventricle and out the median (foramen of Magendie) and lateral (Luschka) apertures (one lateral aperture on each side) down the brainstem and spinal cord or around the brain surface to the arachnoid granulations and into the superior sagittal sinus.
Arachnoid villi
Major sites of CSF reabsorption into the venous system
CSF > venous pressure, bulk flow, but exact mechanism unknown
Goes right into superior sagital sinus to venous system.
Falx cerebri
between cerebral hemispheres
tentorial notch or incisure
Space in tentorium were brainstem passes thru
Supratentorial
cerebrum
Infratentorial space
cerebellum & brainstem a.k.a posterior fossa structures
Tentorium cerebelli
b/w cerebrum & cerebellum
Epidural tear
due to tear of meningeal arteries so blood between skull & dura
subdural tear
Subdural due to tear of bridging veins so blood in inner most dural layer, near dura-arachnoid interface
Superior sagittal sinus (SSS)
The superior sagittal sinus is located at the site where the falx cerebri attaches to the dura overlying the cerebral convexities. Blood flows posteriorly to the confluence.
Falx cerebelli (FC)
This is a small structure that partially separates the two cerebellar hemispheres.
Transverse sinus (TS)
The transverse sinuses are paired structures located at the line of attachment of the tentorium to the dura covering the brain surface.
Confluence of sinuses (CS)
The location of the confluence could be seen on the previous slide, but here is it more readily apparent and you can see how the transverse and superior sagittal sinus drain into it.
Where sinuses meet.
Superficial & deep venous systems
Superficial: on cerebral surface, most empty into superior sagittal sinus
Deep: drain internal structures, empties into straight sinus
Anterior cerebral artery
Runs medially and enters longitudinal fissure
then it arches posteriorly and follows corpus callosum
Supplies medial parts of frontal and parietal lobes, note some branches extend over the dorsolateral surface
Middle Cerebral Artery
Runs laterally into lateral sulcus, divides into many branches
Supplies most of lateral cerebral hemispheres
SCA
supplies superior cerebellum, caudal midbrain and rostral pons
AICA
supplies anterior portions of the inferior surface of cerebellum (flocculus) and caudal pons
Posterior cerebral artery
Branches supply medial & inferior surfaces of temporal and occipital lobes
Branches also go to rostral midbrain and posterior diencephalon
