Neuroanatomy 1 - Brain Divisions Flashcards
what structures separate and connect the two cerebral hemispheres?
separated by longitudinal fissure
connected by corpus callosum
functions of cerebrum (3)?
- conscious thought processes and intellectual function
- memory storage, processing and retrieval
- conscious & subconscious regulation of skeletal muscle contraction
what is the cerebral cortex?
surface layer of the cerebrum as an aggregation of neuronal cell bodies located as grey matter
what are the layers of the cerebrum?
outer grey matter - neuronal cell bodies
inner white mater - neuronal axons
innermost grey matter - deep nuclei
functions of the cerebellum?
- helps postural muscles & maintain balance
- refines learned movements & co-ordination & balance
what structures does the brainstem consist of?
midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
functions of the brainstem?
- processing and relay centre for information passing to and from the cerebellum and cerebrum
- contains reflex centred associated with resp & CV functions
- houses cranial nerve nuclei
what is the diencephalon? what structures does it contain?
diencephalon - part of the cerebrum, contains deep nuclei
structures - thalamus and hypothalamus
function of thalamus?
relay and processing centre
function of hypothalamus?
hormone production
emotional & biological control and homeostasis
describe the grey-white matter layers of the spinal cord
outer white matter
inner grey matter
which two cranial nerve don’t emerge from the brainstem?
CN1 (olfactory) - from olfactory bulb
CN2 (optic) - from optic chiasm
what are the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN5)?
ophthalmic
maxillary
mandibular
which cranial nerves are involved in eye movements?
CN3/ oculomotor
CN4/ trochlear
CN6/ abducens
what 8 bones form the neurocranium?
frontal
parietal (2)
ethmoid
sphenoid
occipital
temporal (2)
what is the viserocranium?
bones that make up the jaw/ facial skeleton
what is the neurocranium?
protective case of flat bones encasing the brain
what bones make up the viscerocranium?
maxilla
mandible
palatine
zygomatic
nasal bones
inferior nasal concha
lacrimal
vomer
what bones form the cheekbones?
zygomatic
what is the largest bone of the viscerocranium?
mandible
of which bones are there only 1 of in the viscerocranium?
mandible
vomer
what does the vomer form?
the nasal septum between the two nasal openings
what are cranial sutures?
fibrous joints - mark the adherence between the bones and the growth & closure of the cranial fontanelles
list the three cranial sutures - where are they found?
coronal suture - between frontal and parietal bones
sagittal suture - between the two parietal bones
lambdoid suture - between the parietal and occipital bones
what are the 4 suture junctions?
bregma
lambda
pterion
asterion
what is the name of the suture junction of the frontal, parietal, temporal and sphenoid bones?
pterion
what is the name of the suture junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures?
bregma
suture junction of the parietal, occipital and temporal bones?
asterion
what are fontanelles? what are they usually covered by?
membranous gaps/ soft spots in the skull of a new-born as the bones haven’t grown and fused yet - covered by a soft, fibrous membrane
what are the 4 main fontanelles in order of closure timeline - relative to their suture junction?
posterior - lambda
sphenoid - near pterion
mastoid - near asterion
anterior - bregma
what do bulging fontanelles indicate?
raised intracranial pressure
what do sunken fontanelles indicate?
dehydration
differentiate between foramen, fossae and fissures
foramen - opening/ hole in bone, allows for the passage of structures
fossae - shallow depression in bone to accommodate structures
fissures - narrow slit-like openings in bone
what type of joints are cranial sutures?
fibrous joints
what bones contribute to the anterior, middle & posterior cranial fossae?
anterior - frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid
middle - sphenoid and temporal
posterior - sphenoid, temporal, occipital
what is the frontal lobe primarily responsible for?
motor functions - e.g. speech (Broca’s area)
what is the parietal lobe primarily responsible for?
processing somatosensory/touch information
what is the temporal lobe primarily responsible for?
mainly auditory processing
speech, vision, memory
what is the occipital lobe primarily responsible for?
visual processing
what does the central sulcus separate?
frontal and parietal lobes
the thalamus acts as a relay centre for most sensory information. what sensory information does it NOT relay?
smell/ olfactory information
what structure joins the two hemispheres of the cerebellum?
vermis
what structures pass through the jugular foramen?
jugular vein
CN9, 10 & 11
through what foramen foes the middle meningeal artery pass through?
foramen spinosum
through what cranial foramen do eye-related cranial nerves (3,4,6) pass through?
superior orbital fissure
contents of the foramen magnum?
medulla oblongata transitions into spinal cord
meninges surrounding the spinal cord
vertebral arteries
spinal part of CN11
the internal carotid artery passes through the carotid canal. what foramen does it pass OVER to enter the cranial cavity?
foramen lacerum
what structure does the hypophyseal fossa contain?
pituitary gland
