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6. Nervous (Neuro & Psych) > Neuroanatomy > Flashcards

Neuroanatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What constitutes the brainstem?

A

The midbrain, pons, and medulla

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2
Q

Name and describe the types of glial cell.

A

Astrocytes - maintains BBB
Oligodendrocytes (CNS) and Schwann cells (PNS) - produces myelin
Microglia - similar to macrophages, immune function and antigen presentation
Ependymal cells - ‘neuroepithelium’ lines ventricles

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3
Q

What is grey and white matter?

A

Grey - neurones, cell processes, synapses, support cells

White - axons and their support cells

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4
Q

Where are the motor and somatosensory cortices located?

A

Motor - precentral gyrus

S’sensory - postcentral gyrus

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5
Q

Describe the blood supply of the brain.

A

ICA: gives MCA and ACA, as well as anterior choroidal arteries
Vertebral: combines to give basilar artery, which gives PCAs

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6
Q

Name the layers from skin to spinal cord.

A 
Skin and subcut fat
Supraspinous ligament
Interspinous ligament
Ligamentum flavuum
Dura & arachnoid
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7
Q

What are the two primary anatomical concerns associated with LP?

A

Raised ICP - may cause herniation

Epidural fat contains venous plexuses - rupture can cause epidural haematoma

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8
Q

Describe the formation of a spinal nerve.

A

Anterior root (motor) + posterior root (sensory; has ganglia). Gives off anterior and posterior rami (mixed) and grey and white rami.

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9
Q

Describe the dorsal column pathway.

A
  • Lower limb (fasciculus gracilis) central; upper limb (fasciculus cuneatus) ‘added on’
  • synapses in medulla as nucleus gracilis / cuneatus
  • decussates via internal arcuate fibres to VPL nucleus of thalamus

FG/FC -> medulla (nuclei) -> VPL -> X internal arcuate -> cortex

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10
Q

Describe the spinothalamic tract.

A
  • nociceptors to dorsal horn
  • decussates via Lissauer’s tract
  • travels via medulla to VPL nucleus of thalamus
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11
Q

Describe the corticospinal tract.

A

Motor tract

  • motor cortex, to posterior limb of internal capsule, cerebral peduncles, and basis pontis
  • decussates in medullary pyramids
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12
Q

Name the lobes and features of cerebellum.

A

Anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes
Vermis (‘worm’) splits into lateral hemispheres, which supply lateral body.
Vermis supplies midline

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13
Q

Name the inputs to the cerebellum.

A
  • spinal cord (proprioceptors)
  • cerebral cortex (pons)
  • vestibular apparatus
  • inferior peduncle: vestibulocerebellar, spinocerebellar, olivocerebellar
  • middle peduncle: corticopontocerebellar fibres, motor neurons via anterior pons
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14
Q

Name the outputs of the cerebellum.

A

Solely from PURKINJE cell layer to

  • inferior peduncle (to vestibular system)
  • superior peduncle (contralateral to origin to red/VLN of thalamus)
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15
Q

Name and describe the 3 functional divisions of the cerebellum.

A
  • vestibulocerebellum (flocculonodular node - vestibular and eye movement)
  • spinocerebellum (central, midline)
  • pontocerebellum (lateral, communicates with pons)
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16
Q

Name the components of the basal ganglia, and their collective names.

A
  • caudate nucleus
  • putamen [striatum]
  • globus pallidus [+ putamen = lenticular nucleus]
  • [corpus striatum]
  • subthalamic nucleus
  • substantia nigra
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17
Q

Describe the function of the basal ganglia.

A

Facilitates purposeful movement, prevents unwanted movement, has a role in muscle tone and posture.
Lesions affect the contralateral side (‘talks’ to ipsilateral cerebellum).

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18
Q

Describe CN I’s course through the brain.

A

Directly to olfactory area (anteromedial temporal, posteroinferior frontal), bypassing the thalamus

19
Q

Name the modalities of CN V.

A
  • somatosensation (discriminative touch, vibration, pain, temp)
  • proprioception (TMJ, mastication)
  • motor (mastication, tensor tympani, mylohyoid, ant belly of digastric, tensor veli palatini)
20
Q

Describe the sensory pathways associated with CN V.

A
  • V1 ophthalmic: upper eyelid, cornea, conjunctiva, skin of root, bridge, and tip of nose
  • V2 maxillary: lower eyelid, maxilla, ala of nose, upper lip
  • V3 mandibular: skin over mandible/TMJ

Then travels to nuclei:

  • mesencephalic (proprioception)
  • pontine/principal (discriminative touch, vibration)
  • spinal (/spinothalamic; pain and temperature)

Then travels to thalamus via the ventral trigeminothalamic tract; most fibres cross. Lower spinal pathology = perioral sparing

21
Q

Name and describe the nuclei of CN VII.

A

Salivatory nucleus - parasympathetic (to submandibular and pterygopalatine ganglion)
Solitary - taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue; conveyed by chorda tympani
Spinal trigeminal - somatosensation associated with pinna/EAM
Geniculate nucleus - sensory nerve cell bodeis

22
Q

Describe the motor supply of CN VII.

A

To Zanzibar By Motor Car:

  • temporal [frontalis, orbicularis oculi]
  • zygomatic [orbicularis oculi]
  • buccal [buccinator, zygomaticus]
  • mandibular [orbicularis oculi]
  • cervical [platysma]
23
Q

Name and describe the nuclei of CN IX.

A
  • solitary [gustatory/posterior 1/3 taste tongue; commissural/baro- and chemoreceptors]
  • spinal trigeminal [pinna/EAM]
  • inferior salivatory [parasympathetic to parotid gland]
  • nucleus ambiguus [stylopharyngeus]
24
Q

Name and describe the nuclei of CN X.

A
  • dorsal (motor) [parasympathetic except to heart]
  • solitary [gustatory, commissural]
  • spinal trigeminal [pain from dura, pinna/EAM]
  • nucleus ambiguus [motor to pharynx / larynx, para to heart]
25
Describe the auditory pathway.
- spiral ganglion to ventral/dorsal cochlear nucleus / superior olivary complex - to lateral lemniscus - to inferior coliculus then the medial geniculate body of the thalamus - primary auditory cortex and secondary (Herschel's) gyrus
26
Describe the vestibular pathway.
- NB: no agreed primary cortex - vestibular ganglion to vestibular nuclei (dorsolateral medulla) then 3 main pathways - to cerebellum (via inferior peduncle) - to vestibulospinal tract and nuclei of CN III, IV, and IV (via medial longitudinal fasciculus, superior / inferiorly) - to thalamus [and then cortex] by VPM nucleus (following medial lemniscus)
27
What and where are Broca's and Wernicke's areas?
- Broca's area: dominant frontal lobe; concerned with production of speech - Wernicke's area|: superior temporal gyrus, concerned with understanding speech`
28
Describe the differences in Broca's, Wernicke's, and global aphasias.
[Broca - production; Wernicke - understanding] - Broca's aphasia: can understand speech, but has trouble producing/repeating it - Wernicke's aphasia: can produce speech, but cannot understand/repeat it - Global aphasia: cannot produce, understand or repeat language
29
Describe transcortical motor, transcortical sensory, and mixed transcortical aphasias.
- TC motor: cannot produce, but can understand and repeat - TC sensory - cannot comprehend, but can produce and repeat - mixed TC - can repeat, but cannot understand/ produce
30
Describe the visual pathway.
- optic nerves - optic chiasm, where nerves cross - LGN - optic tracts - primary visual cortex, via Meyer's loops
31
Describe the pupillary light reflex.
- pretectal nuclei (project bilaterally, - Edinger-Westphal nucleus (CN III) - parasympathetic fibres to ciliary ganglia - short ciliary nerves constrict the pupils
32
Draw out the optic nerve/tracts and describe the visual defects seen in pathology in each area.
- optic nerve (1st part): monocular blindness - optic chiasm: bitemporal hemianopia - tract/LGN: homonymous hemianopia
33
Name the boundaries and landmarks of the back.
- neck (superior) - gluteal region (inferior) - upper and lower limbs (peripherally) - T1 process, scapular spine, iliac crests, sacrum, coccyx
34
Name the main muscles of the back, and their position relative to the spinal cord.
- lateral (psoas major) - immediately posterior (transversospinalis) - posterior (erector spinae) - posterolateral (quadratus lumborum, then latissimus dorsi most dorsal)
35
Name the components of the typical vertebrae.
- vertebral body - vertebral arch (consisting of pedicles, then laminae) - transverse processes - superior and inferior articular processes - spinous process
36
Describe the ligaments seen in the spinal cord.
- ligamentum flavuum: short ligaments, posterior to spinal cord, connects adjacent laminae - posterior longitudinal ligament: anterior to spinal cord; narrow and weak, prevents over-flexion - anterior longitudinal ligament: broad and strong, helps prevent over-extension - supraspinous ligament: connects tips of the spinous processes - interspinous ligament: runs inbetween the spinous processes themselves.
37
Describe the transduction of sense from dermatomes.
- AP produced in axons of stimulated receptors - synapse within dorsal root ganglion then travel via dorsal root to spinal cord - nerves that have >1 spinal nerve root (and therefore cross >1 dermatome) are given names
38
Describe the transduction of motor impulses to myotomes.
- AP generated in primary somatocortex, then conducted via UMN axons of the CST - impulse reaches anterior horn - stimulates LMN at level of necessary vertebrae - passes through anterior/posterior rami to arrive at NMJ
39
Describe the reflex arc (e.g., with the patellar reflex).
- patellar ligament tapped - quadriceps fibres stretched, initiates AP - conducted via femoral nerve to dorsal horn of L4 - axons pass into dorsal horn, synapses on LMNs - AP conducted via femoral nerve to reach quadriceps NMJ - muscle contracts
40
Name the layers of the scalp.
``` Skin Connective tissue Aponeurosis Loose connective tissue Pericranium ```
41
What is the name of the meeting of sutures in the skull? What are the names of the regions superior and inferior to this?
Pterion - thinnest part of the skull, middle meningeal artery runs directly deep ('God's little joke') - superior: calvaria (skull cap) - inferior: skull base
42
Name the main infoldings of the dura.
- falx cerebri (separates cerebral lobes in midline) - tentorium cerebelli (separates cerebellum in midline) - diaphragma sellae (forms roof of pituitary fossa)
43
Name the main herniation types in the brain, from superior to inferior.
- transcalvarial (through skull) - cingulate [subfalcine] (under falx cerebri) - central [transtentorial] (across tentorum cerebelli) - upward cerebellar [transtentorial] - uncal - downward cerebellar [tonsillar]
44
Why may tonsillar herniation be particularly dangerous?
Compresses on vital centres in the medulla/pons (e.g., respiratory, cardiac)

6. Nervous (Neuro & Psych) (8 decks)

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