Neuro - Gross Brain

Question 1

List the 3 meninges.

Answer 1

• dura mater
• arachnoid
• pia mater

Question 2

List and describe the 2 clinically significant potential meningeal spaces.

Answer 2

• epidural space - potential space between the skull and dura mater
• subdural space - potential space between the dura mater and the arachnoid

**subarachnoid space is an actual space, not a potential space (?)

Question 3

What is an epidural hematoma?

Answer 3

result of blood entering the epidural space; often the result of damage to the middle meningeal artery; the expanding hematoma puts pressure on the brain

Question 4

What is a subdural hematoma?

Answer 4

result of blood entering the subdural space; often the result of damage to small veins that cross from the brain to the venous sinuses; the expanding hematoma puts pressure on the brain

Question 5

What is the major blood supply to the dura over the parietal lobe?

Answer 5

the middle meningeal artery and its branches (?)

Question 6

What is the rostral extent of the subarachnoid space along the optic nerve? How is this clinically significant?

Answer 6

meninges cover the optic nerve so the subarachnoid space extends along the optic nerve to the back of the eye; an abnormal increase in CSF pressure (hydrocephalus) is reflected by changes in the optic papilla (choked disk; papilledema)

Question 7

What is the falx cerebri and what does it separate?

Answer 7

• it is a reflection of dura mater
• extends ventrally in the sagittal plane from the skull to the corpus callosum and separates the cerebral hemispheres; the superior sagittal sinus occupies the upper edge of the falx

Question 8

What is the tentorium cerebelli and what does it separate?

Answer 8

• it is a reflection of dura mater
• lies horizontally to separate the cerebellum below from the occipital lobe above; tentorium extends around the brainstem; the opening created by the brainstem is called the tentorial incisure (notch) and is occupied by the midbrain

Question 9

What occupies the supratentorial compartment? The infratentorial compartment?

Answer 9

• supratentorial compartment - cerebrum

- infratentorial compartment - cerebellum

Question 10

What is the origin, course, and point of resorption of cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 10

• cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced by vascular tufts located in the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles
• CSF exits the ventricular system into the subarachnoid space
• CSF is reabsorbed into the superior sagittal siinus through the arachnoid granulations

Question 11

Name the vessels involved in the posterior (vertebral-basilar) blood supply of the brain.

Answer 11

• posterior inferior cerebellar artery
• anterior inferior cerebellar artery
• superior cerebellar artery
• posterior cerebral artery

Question 12

Name the vessels involved in the anterior (internal carotid) blood supply of the brain.

Answer 12

• anterior cerebral artery (with the anterior communicating artery)
• middle cerebral artery (with ophthalmic artery)
• posterior communicating artery (connects ICA with posterior cerebral artery)

Question 13

Name the vessels of the cerebral arterial circle (of Willis).

Answer 13

• anterior cerebral artery
• anterior communicating artery
• middle cerebral artery
• internal carotid artery
• posterior communicating artery
• posterior cerebral artery
• superior cerebellar artery
• basilar artery
• anterior inferior cerebellar artery
• posterior inferior cerebellar artery
• vertebral artery
• anterior spinal artery

Question 14

Name the 3 major vessels that supply the cerebral cortex.

Answer 14

• anterior cerebral artery
• middle cerebral artery
• posterior cerebral artery