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NPTE Study Practice > Neuro Anatomy > Flashcards

Neuro Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What structures are included in the frontal lobe

A
  • Precentral gyrus: primary motor cortex for voluntary control
  • Prefrontal cortex: controls emotions & judgements
  • Broca’s area: controls motor aspects of speech
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2
Q

What structures are included in the parietal lobe

A
  • Postcentral gyrus: primary sensory cortex for integration of sensation
  • Receives fibers conveying touch, proprioception, pain, and temperature sensations from opposite side of body
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3
Q

What structures are included in the temporal lobe

A
  • Primary auditory cortex: receives/processes auditory stimuli
  • Associative auditory cortex: processes auditory stimuli
  • Wernicke’s area: language comprehension
  • Primary vestibular area: head position & movement, perception of vertical
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4
Q

What structures are included in the occipital lobe

A
  • Primary visual cortex: receives/processes visual stimuli
  • Visual association cortex: processes visual stimuli
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5
Q

Where is the insula lobe located

A
  • Located deep within lateral sulcus, associated with visceral functions
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6
Q

Functions of the limbic system

A
  • Oldest part of the brain
  • Feeding, aggression, emotions, & endocrine aspects of sexual response
  • Critical role in memory, motivation, & learning
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7
Q

Define white matter

A
  • Myelinated nerve fibers located centrally
  • Includes transverse, projection, and association fibers
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8
Q

Define grey matter

A
  • Composed of gyri (crests) and sulci (fissures)
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9
Q

Define transverse (longitudinal) fibers

A
  • Interconnect the 2 hemispheres including the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, and hippocampal commissure
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10
Q

Define projection fibers

A
  • Connect cerebral hemispheres with other portions of the brain & spinal cord
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11
Q

Define association fibers

A
  • Connect different portions of the cerebral hemispheres allowing cortex to function as an integrated whole
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12
Q

What are the parts of the basal ganglia (BG)

A
  • Striatum: caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens, putamen
  • Globus pallidus: external and internal
  • Subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra: reticular part
  • Lenticular nucleus: putamen and globus pallidus
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13
Q

Describe the oculomotor circuit (caudate loop) of BG

A
  • Originates in frontal & supplementary motor eye fields
  • Projects to caudate
  • Functions with saccadic eye movements
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14
Q

Describe the motor loop (putamen loop) of BG

A
  • Originates in pre central motor and postcentral somatosensory areas
  • Projects to & excites putamen neurons
  • Putamen cells inhibit globes pallidus neurons which in turn boosts activity in the ventral lateral nucleus & supplemental motor area
  • Functions to scale amplitude & velocity of movements
  • Reinforces selected pattern and suppresses conflicting patterns
  • Preparatory for movement
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15
Q

Describe the limbic circuit of BG

A
  • Originates in prefrontal & limbic areas of cortex
  • Functions to organize behaviors & for procedural learning
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16
Q

What structures are part of telencephalon

A
  • Cerebral hemispheres
  • Basal ganglia (BG)
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17
Q

What structures are part of diencephalon

A
  • Thalamus
  • Subthalamus
  • Hypothalamus
  • Epithalamus
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18
Q

Function of thalamus

A
  • Sensory: integrate & relay sensory info from body, face, retina, cochlea, & taste receptors to cerebral cortex & subcortical regions
  • Motor: relay motor info from cerebellum & globus pallidus to precentral motor cortex
  • Does NOT do smell (olfaction)
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19
Q

Function of subthalamus

A
  • Involved in control of several functional pathways for sensory, motor, and reticular function
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20
Q

Function of hypothalamus

A
  • Maintains body homeostasis
  • Integrates & controls the functions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) & the neuroendocrine system
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21
Q

Function of epithalamus

A
  • Habenular nuclei: integrate olfactory, visceral, & somatic afferent pathways
  • Pineal gland: secretes hormones that influence the pituitary gland & several other organs; influences circadian rhythm
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22
Q

What does the midbrain connect

A
  • Connects pons to cerebrum
  • Superior peduncle connects midbrain to cerebellum
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23
Q

What does the tegmentum (posterior peduncle) contain

A
  • Contains all ascending tracts & some descending tracts
  • Red nucleus receives fibers from cerebellum
  • Origin of rubrospinal tract: important for coordination
  • Contains cranial nerve nuclei: oculomotor & trochlear
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24
Q

What does the substantia nigra (anterior peduncle) connect

A
  • Large motor nucleus connecting with the basal ganglia & cortex
  • Important in motor control and muscle tone
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25
Q

Functions of the superior and inferior colliculus

A
  • Superior: relay station for vision and visual reflexes
  • Inferior: relay station for hearing & auditory reflexes
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26
Q

Function of the periaqueductal grey

A
  • Contains endorphin producing cells and descending tracts that are important for pain & reflex modulation
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27
Q

What does the pons connect

A
  • Connects the medulla oblongata to the midbrain allowing passage of important ascending & descending tracts
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28
Q

What cranial nerve nuclei does the tegmentum contain

A
  • Abducens
  • Trigeminal
  • Facial
  • Vestibulocochlear
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29
Q

The midline raphe nuclei is important for

A
  • Modulating pain and controlling arousal
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30
Q

What does the medulla oblongata connect

A
  • Connects spinal cord with pons
  • Contains relay nuclei of dorsal columns; fibers cross to give rise to medial lemniscus
  • Contains important centers for cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers
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31
Q

What is the medial longitudinal fasciculus important for

A
  • Important for control of head movements and gaze stabilization (vestibulo-ocular reflex)
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32
Q

What cranial nerve nuclei are in the medulla oblongata

A
  • Hypoglossal
  • Dorsal nucleus of vagus and vestibulocochlear
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33
Q

Function of the reticular activating system (RAS)

A
  • Anterior most segment of brainstem
  • Includes 4 nuclei that produce key neurotransmitters that assist with attention, arousal, & modulation of muscle tone
  • Damage to RAS result in dysregulation of sleep-wake cycles, impaired arousal, and ability to focus
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34
Q

Parts of the cerebellum and their fucntions

A
  • Archicerebellum (flocculonodular lobe): connects with vestibular system & concerned with equilibrium & regulation of muscle tone; helps coordinate vestibulo-ocular reflex
  • Paleocerebrellum (spinocerebellum/anterior lobe): concerned with modifying muscle tone & synergistic actions of muscles; important in maintenance of posture & voluntary movement control
  • Neocerebellum (cerebrocerebellum/posterior lobe): concerned with smooth coordination or voluntary movements; ensures accurate force/direction/extent of movement
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35
Q

Describe the anterior (ventral) horns of the central grey matter in the spinal cord

A
  • Contains cell bodies that give rise to efferent (motor) neurons
  • Alpha motor neurons to affect muscles
  • Gamma motor neurons to affect muscle spindles
36
Q

Describe the posterior (dorsal) horns of the central grey matter in the spinal cord

A
  • Contain afferent (sensory) neurons with cell bodies located in the dorsal root ganglia
37
Q

Describe the lateral horn of the central grey matter in the spinal cord

A
  • Found in thoracic and upper lumbar segments for preganglionic fibers of the ANS
38
Q

What are the 4 sensory/ascending pathways in the white matter of the spinal cord

A
  • Dorsal column medial lemniscus
  • Spinothalamic
  • Spinocerebellar
  • Spinoreticular
39
Q

Describe the DCML pathway

A
  • Conveys proprioception, vibration, and tactile discrimination
  • Fasciculus cuteatus: carries upper extremity sensations and located laterally
  • Fasciculus gracilis: carries lower extremity sensations and located medially
  • Ascends to medulla where fibers cross and ascend to thalamus then to somatosensory cortex
40
Q

Describe the spinothalamic tract

A
  • Conveys pain and temperature (lateral tract) and crude touch (anterior tract)
  • Ascends 1-2 spinal cord segments then crosses within spinal cord
  • Continues to ascend to the thalamus
41
Q

Describe the spinocerebellar tract

A
  • Conveys proprioception info from muscle spindles and GTOs (Golgi tendon organs), tough and pressure receptors to cerebellum
  • Ascends to ipsilateral inferior cerebellar peduncle
42
Q

Describe the spinoreticular tract

A
  • Conveys deep and chronic pain to reticular formation of brainstem via diffuse, polysynamic pathways
43
Q

What are the 5 motor/descending pathways of the spinal cord

A
  • Corticospinal
  • Vestibulospinal
  • Rubrospinal
  • Reticulospinal
  • Tectospinal
44
Q

Describe the corticospinal tract

A
  • Arises in primary motor cortex
  • Crosses in medulla and descends in lateral corticospinal tract to ventral gray matter (anterior horns)
  • 10% of fibers don’t cross & travel in anterior corticospinal tract to cervical and thoracic segments
  • Important for voluntary motor control
45
Q

Describe the vestibulospinal tract

A
  • Arises in vestibular nucleus
  • Descend uncrossed in lateral tract
  • Descend crossed in medial tract
  • Important for muscle tone, antigravity muscles, & postural reflexes
46
Q

Describe the rubrospinal tract

A
  • Arises in contralateral red nucleus
  • Descends in lateral columns to spinal grey matter
  • Assist in motor function
47
Q

Describe the reticulospinal tract

A
  • Arises in reticular formation of the brainstem
  • Descends ventral (crossed) and lateral (uncrossed)
  • Terminates both on dorsal gray (modifies pain) and on ventral gray (spinal reflexes)
48
Q

Describe the tectospinal tract

A
  • Arises from superior colliculus (midbrain)
  • Descends to ventral gray
  • Assists in head turning responses to visual stimuli
49
Q

Describe the ANS

A
  • Includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
  • Concerned with innervations of involuntary structures: smooth muscle, heart, glands; helps maintain homeostasis
50
Q

Describe the sympathetic NS

A
  • T1-L2
  • Prepares body for fight or flight, emergency responses
  • Increases HR and BP
  • Constricts peripheral blood vessels (vasodilators skeletal muscles)
  • Redistributes blood
  • Inhibits peristalis
  • Pupils dilate
51
Q

Describe the parasympathetic NS

A
  • CN 3, 7, 9, 10 and pelvic nerves
  • Conserves & restores hemostasis
  • Slows HR and reduces BP
  • Increases peristalis (moving things along in stomach)
  • Glandular activity
52
Q

Which cranial nerves are apart of the ANS

A
  • Visceral (organs) afferent sensations via glossopharyngeal & vagus nerves
  • Efferent outflow via oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal, & vagus nerves
53
Q

What are the 3 membranes that make up the meninges of the brain

A
  • Dura mater: outer, tough, fibrous membrane attached to inner surface of cranium
  • Arachnoid: delicate, vascular membrane
  • Pia mater: thin, vascular membrane that covers the brain surface
54
Q

Describe the subarachnoid space

A
  • Formed by arachnoid and Pia mater
  • Contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) & cisterns, major arteries
55
Q

Describe the lateral ventricles

A
  • Large, irregularly shaped with anterior, posterior, and inferior horns
  • Communicates with 3rd ventricle through foramen of Monro
56
Q

Describe the 3rd ventricle

A
  • Located posterior & deep between the 2 thalami
  • Communicates with 4th ventricle through cerebral aqueduct
57
Q

Describe the 4th ventricle

A
  • Pyramid shaped cavity located in pons and medulla
  • Foramina of Luschka and Magendie communicate with 4th ventricle through subarachnoid space
58
Q

Describe cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

A
  • Provides mechanical support, controls brain excitability by regulating ionic composition, aids in exchange of nutrients & waste products
  • Produced in choroid plexuses in ventricles
59
Q

Synapses allow communication between neurons via

A
  • Chemical NTs are released (chemical synapse)
  • Electrical signals pass directly from cell to cell (electrical synapse)
60
Q

Describe the different neuron groupings/types

A
  • Nuclei: compact groups of nerve cell bodies in PNS (ganglia)
  • Projection: carry impulses to other parts of the CNS
  • Interneurons: short relay neurons & assist in the inhibition/excitation of projection neurons and/or alpha neurons
  • Axon bundles: tracts/fasciculi in the spinal cord
61
Q

Function of neuroglia

A
  • Support cells that do NOT transmit signals
  • Important for myelin production (oligodendrocytes CNS; Schwann PNS) and neural support
  • Maintenance of K+ levels, form tight junction for blood brain barrier, & reuptake of NTs after neural transmission at synapses
62
Q

What is the resting membrane potential

A
  • Positive on outside
  • Negative on inside (~-70 mV)
63
Q

Define action potential

A
  • Increased permeability of Na+ and influx into cell with outflow of K+ results in polarity changes and depolarization
  • Generation of action potential in all or none
64
Q

Conduction velocity is proportional to

A
  • Axon diameter and the degree of myelination
65
Q

Repolarization results from activation of

A
  • K+ channels
66
Q

What is saltatory conduction

A
  • Action potential jumps from one node (node of Ranvier) to the next
  • Myelin functions to increase speed of conduction & conserve energy
67
Q

Describe the A nerve fiber types

A
  • Large, myelinated, and fast conduction
  • Degree of myelination & fiber size decreases from A-alpha to A-delta
  • Alpha: proprioception, somatic motor
  • Beta: touch, pressure
  • Gamma: motor to muscle spindles
  • Delta: fast/sharp/localized pain, temperature, & crude touch
68
Q

Describe the B nerve fiber types

A
  • Small, myelinated, conduct less rapidly
  • Preganglionic autonomic
69
Q

Describe the C nerve fiber types

A
  • Smallest, unmyelinated, slowest conducting
  • Polymodal fibers that respond to mechanical, chemical, & thermal stimuli
  • Dorsal root: pain, temperature, & reflex response
  • Sympathetic: postganflionic sympathetics
70
Q

Where do peripheral nerve/lower motor neurons originate from

A
  • Motor (efferent) fibers originate from motor nuclei (cranial nerves) or anterior horn cells (spinal nerves)
  • Sensory (afferent) fibers originate in cells outside of brainstem or spinal cord with sensory ganglia (cranial nerves) or dorsal root ganglia (spinal nerve)
71
Q

Describe the ventral and dorsal roots of spinal nerves

A
  • Ventral (anterior): efferent (motor) fibers to voluntary muscles & to viscera, glands, & smooth muscles
  • Dorsal (posterior): afferent (sensory) fibers from sensory receptors from skin, joints, & muscles; each dorsal root possesses a dorsal root ganglion; no dorsal root for C1
72
Q

What level does the spinal cord end at

A
  • Spinal cord ends at the level of L1
  • In the lumbosacral region the nerve roots descend almost vertically below the cord to form the cauda equina
73
Q

Where do the cervical, brachial, lumbar, and sacral plexuses arise from

A
  • Cervical arises from C1-C4
  • Brachial arises from C5-T1
  • Lumbar arises from T12-L4
  • Sacral arises from L4-S3
74
Q

Describe the stretch (myotactic) reflexes

A
  • Stimulus: muscle stretch
  • Reflex: afferent Ia fiber from muscle spindle to alpha motor neurons projecting back to muscle of organ (monosynaptic)
  • Functions for maintenance of muscle tone, support agonist muscle contraction, & provide feedback about muscle length
75
Q

Define reciprocal inhibition and innervation

A
  • Inhibition: Via an inhibitory interneuron, the same stretch stimulus inhibits the antagonist muscle
  • Innervation: describes the effects of a stretch stimulus on agonist (autogenic facilitation), antagonist (reciprocal inhibition), & synergistic muscles (facilitation)
76
Q

Describe the inverse stretch reflex

A
  • Stimulus: muscle contraction
  • Reflex: multiple sensory receptors & corresponding fiber types activate inhibitory interneuron to muscle of organ (polysynaptic)
  • Functions to provide agonist inhibition, diminution of force of agonist contraction, stretch-protection reflex
77
Q

Describe the gamma reflex loop

A
  • Stretch reflex forms part of this loop
  • Allows muscle tension to come under control of descending pathways
  • Descending pathways excite gamma motor neurons. causing contraction of muscle spindle & in turn increased stretch sensitivity & increased rate of firing from spindle afferents, impulses are then conveyed to alpha motor neurons
78
Q

Describe the flexor withdrawal reflex

A
  • Stimulus: cutaneous sensory stimuli
  • Functions as a protective withdrawal mechanism to remove body part from harmful stimuli
79
Q

Describe the crossed extension reflex

A
  • Stimulus: noxious stimuli & reciprocal action of antagonists; flexors of one side are excited, causing extensors on same side to be inhibited; opposite responses occur in opposite limb
  • Function: coordinates reciprocal limb activities such as gait
80
Q

Functions of the brainstem

A
  • Controls flow of info between cortex and spinal cord/peripheral nervous system
  • Breathing, swallowing, HR, BP, consciousness, & arousal
81
Q

Functions of the brainstem and motor control

A
  • Critical for maintaining autonomous rhythmic movements (walking, chewing, swallowing)
  • Critical cranial nerve reflexes to include pupillary light reflex, corneal blink reflex, & gag reflex
  • Head/neck control and postural stability
  • Assists in unconscious integration of visual, vestibular, & somatosensory info with trunk and proximal muscle activation
82
Q

Functions for cortex

A
  • Higher thought processes such as design making & language
  • Processes info from the 5 senses
  • Memory
  • Personality
  • Executive funciton
83
Q

Functions of the cortex and motor control

A
  • Controls purposeful, goal oriented, learned voluntary movements
  • Utilizes feedback & feed forward mechanisms
84
Q

Define neuroplasticity

A
  • Defined as a change in the molecular profile, structure, and/or function of neurons/neural pathways
85
Q

PNS neuroplasticity mechanisms

A
  • Remyelination: Schwann cells
  • Axonal regeneration: ~1-3mm a day or 1-3in a month
  • Collateral sprouting
86
Q

CNS neuroplasticity mechanisms

A
  • Remyelination: Oligodendrocytes
  • Collateral sprouting
  • Recovery of synaptic effectiveness
  • Synaptic hypereffectiveness
  • Denervation hypersensitivity
  • Functional reorganization

NPTE Study Practice (18 decks)

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