Neuro Flashcards
what part of the brain encompasses the rhombencephalon
hindbrain = medulla oblongata/pons/cerebellum
what is white matter
a collection of nerve fibres with few/no neural cell bodies = forms deeper parts of brain = myelinated
what is grey matter
aggregations of neuronal cell bodies and local processes = forms surface of cerebral hemispheres = non-myelinated
what is the neuropil
space between neuronal cell bodies in grey matter
which parietal lobe is normally dominant
left
where is the primary sensory area located
post central gyrus
what is the parietal lobe responsible for (4)
perception
interpretation of sensory info
complex, meaningful motor response
language
what is the non dominant parietal lobe responsible for
visuospatial functions
what is the frontal lobe responsible for (5)
higher intellect mood personality social conduct language
what is the temporal lobe responsible for (4)
short term memory
equilibrium
emotion
primary auditory cortex
what is wernicke’s area responsible for
understanding spoken word
what is the occipital lobe responsible for
vision = contains primary visual/visual association cortex
what is the limbic system involved in (4)
emotion
memory
behavior
olfaction (smell)
name 2 systems that the limbic system influences
endocrine system
autonomic NS
name the 3 layers of the cranial meninges
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
what are the 2 layers of the dura mater
inner meningeal layer
outer endosteal layer
what are the falx cerebri
the dura mater between 2 cerebral hemispheres
what are the falx cerebelli
the dura mater between the cerebellar lobes
what are the sinuses
non-fused spaces between 2 layers of dura mater
what does the subarachnoid space contain
CSF
blood vessels
what are the zonula occludentes
tight junctions linking cells of the arachnoid mater together
what binds the pia mater to the brain
astrocytes
where is the motor cortex located
posterior precentral gyrus
where is the foramen of Lushka
lateral sides of 4th ventricle = pontine cisterna
where is the foramen of Magendie
medial side of 4th ventricle = cerebellomedullary cisterna
where do external cerebral veins drain
into sagittal sinus and down into jugular vein
what structures does the cavernous sinus contain
O TOM CAT oculomotor nerve trigeminal - opthalmic, maxillary internal Carotid artery abducens nerve trochlea nerve
what is CSF formed by
choroid plexus by ependymal cells
where is CSF reabsorbed
arachnoid villi mainly along sagittal sinus
what are arachnoid granulations
arachnoid villi become calcified and form granules
what is the role of CSF
- cushioning/protection
- removes toxins
- creates CSF/blood barrier at choroid plexus to prevent contact of external things with ventricles
- buoyancy = suspends brain
where does the CSF lie in the brain
between pia and arachnoid mater
what is Broca’s area responsible for
language production
what is the corpus callosum
large bundle of white matter connecting 2 cerebral hemispheres
what is the fornix
white matter connecting hippocampus with diencephalon and precommisural septum
what 3 things make up the midbrain
tegmentum
tectum
cerebral peduncles
what are the superior colliculi associated with
visal system
what are the inferior colliculi associated with
auditory system
where are the colliculi located
directly inferior to the pineal gland
what structure separates the colliculi of the midbrain
cruciform sulcus
what structure separates the cerebral peduncles
interpeduncular fossa
what do the superior cerebellar peduncles do
connect cerebellum to midbrain
what do middle cerebellar peduncles do
connect cerebellum to pons
what to inferior cerebellar peduncles do
connect cerebellum to medulla
what 3 layers make up the blood-brain barrier
- endothelial cells
- pericytes
- astrocytes
name 5 features of the blood brain barrier
- endothelial tight junctions
- astrocyte end feet
- pericytes
- continuous basement membrane lacking fenestrations
- requires specific transporters for glucose
what does the vertebral artery supply
= 20%
posterior cerebrum
contents of posterior cranial fossa
what does the internal carotid artery
=80%
anterior cerebrum
middle cerebrum
diencephalon
what is the blood supply of the frontal lobe
anterior cerebral artery
middle cerebral artery
what level does the common carotid artery bifurcate
c4
what is the blood supply of the parietal lobe
anterior cerebral artery
middle cerebral artery
what is the blood supply of the temporal lobe
middle cerebral artery
posterior cerebral artery inferior portion
what is the blood supply of the occipital lobe
posterior cerebral artery
what is a berry aneurysm
congenital sac-like out pouching of an inter-cranial artery progressively enlarging until rupture
what does a rupture of a berry aneurism cause
subarachnoid or intracerebral haemorrhage
where does a berry aneurysm most commonly occur
around circle of willis commonly anterior communicating artery
what is a stroke
ischaemic or haemorrhagic leading to intracerebral/subarachnoid haemorrhage = 3rd most common cause of death worldwide
where does the superior brachium nerve pathway do
conveys visual information from lateral geniculate body to superior colliculi
what does the inferior brachium nerve pathway do
conveys auditory information from medial geniculate body to inferior colliculi
which 2 cranial nerves originate from the cerebrum
olfactory and optic
how do you test the occulomotor III, trochlear IV and abducens nerve VI
tested together = external occular muscles
make patient follow your finger and make H shape
each eye separately then both together
how do you test the trigeminal nerve V
sensory = all sensory modalities of 3 main branches motor = ask patient to clench teeth = temporal and masseter muscles
how do you test the facial nerve VII
shut eyes as tight as possible raise eyebrows smile whistle taste sensation anterior 3rd tongue
how do you test the vestibulocochlear nerve VIII
whisper in each ear then ask patient to repeat
tuning fork
how do you test for the glossopharyngeal nerve IX and vagus nerve X
tickle back of pharynx = IX sensory
note if reflex contraction occurs = X motor branch
how do you test the accessory nerve XI
test function of trapezius by asking patient to shrug shoulders against resistance
test sternocleidomastoid by asking patient to turn head on each side against resistance
how do you test the hypoglossal nerve XII
ask patient to push tongue out as far as possible = straight or one side
which spinal vertebrae have foramen transversium
cervical
what is the upper most palpable spinous process
c7
at what level is the highest point of the iliac crest
in line with L3-L4
what movements do cervical vertebrae provide
flexion
extension
lateral flexion
rotation
what movements do thoracic vertebrae provide
small amount forward flexion
lateral flexion
rotation = MOST ROTATION OF ALL
what movements do lumbar vertebrae provide
flexion
extension
lateral bending
rotation
what is the nucleus pulposus made of
well hydrated gel protoglycan/collagen
what is the annulus fibrosus made of
10-12 concentric layers of collagen
where is the epidural space
space between vertabrae and dura mater of spinal cord
how many vertebrae does each spinal section have
cervical = 7 thoracic = 12 lumbar = 5 sacrum = 5 fused coccyx = 4 fused
what fibres do the dorsal roots carry
sensory = afferent
what fibres do the ventral roots carry
motor = efferent
where does the spinal cord end
between L1 and L2
what is the conus medullaris
tapering end of spinal cord
what is the filum terminale
fibrous strand extending from conus medullaris to coccyx
what is the cauda equina
formed from lumbar and sacral nerve roots hanging obliquely down from below conus medullaris
describe the interaction between c1 and c2
c1 = atlas
c2 = axis
odontoid peg of c2 becomes vertebral body for c1
name the conscious tracts
dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway
anterolateral system
name the unconscious tracts
spinocerebellar tracts
where do the spinal nerves leave the cervical vertebrae
1 vertebra higher than corresponding vertebra except c8 below by 1 vertebra
where do spinal nerves leave the thoracic, lumbar, sacral vertebrae
below the corresponding vertebrae
name the dorsal/medial lemniscal columns in the brainstem and in the spinal cord
cuneate and gracile nucleus in brainstem
cuneate and gracile fasciculus in spinal cord
the cuneate fasiculus carries information from where
upper body ascending in lateral tract
the gracile fasciculus carries information from where
lower body ascending in medial tract
describe the path of the dorsal column medial lemniscal pathway
- first order from limbs to medulla through dorsal column
- second order in gracile/cuneate nucleus in medulla decussate then travel in medial lemniscus to contralateral thalamus
- third order from thalamus to internal capsule to sensory cortex
what information does the dorsal/medial lemniscal columns carry
fine touch
vibration
proprioception
name the corticospinal tracts and what direction are they
descending
lateral/anterior
describe the pathway of corticospinal tract
originate from motor/premotor cortex
descend through internal capsule
pass through crus cerebri to pons to medulla
describe the lateral corticospinal tract
decussate in the medullary pyramids - contralateral innervation 85%
descend to spinal cord
terminate in ventral horn for LMN
motor innervation for limbs/digits
describe the anterior corticospinal tract
remains ipsilateral - 15%
decussate at spinal cord level of innervation
terminate in ventral horn for LMN
motor innervation of trunk
what information do corticospinal tracts carry
motor control of voluntary muscles
lateral = limbs
anterior = axial
name the spinothalamic tracts, which direction they travel and what information they carry
ascending
anterior = crude touch/pressure
lateral = pain/temperature
describe the path of the spinothalamic tract
- first order neurons from peripheral nerves to synapse in substantia gelatinosia
- second order decussate in spinal cord then travel up via lateral/anterior spinothalamic tract to thalamus
- third order neurons from thalamus to internal capsule to sensory cortex
what are the pyramidal tracts responsible for
corticospinal = musculature of body corticobulbar = musculature of head/neck
name the extra-pyramidal tracts
= all descending tectospinal rubrospinal = non decussating vestibulospinal reticulospinal
name the 3 neurones in the dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway
- dorsal root ganglion
- cuneate and gracile nuclei
- ventral posterolateral nucleus of thalamus