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Phase 1 > Neuroanatomy > Flashcards

Neuroanatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What is white matter?

A

Nerve cell axons; appears white due to myelin sheaths.

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2
Q

What is grey matter?

A

Primarily nerve cell bodies (but also consists of other nervous system cells and unmyelinated axons).

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3
Q

Are the deeper parts of the cerebrum mostly white or grey matter?

A

White matter (grey matter is mostly on the outer surface of the cerebrum).

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4
Q

What is the cortex? Is it mainly white or grey matter?

A

Outer part of the cerebrum and cerebellum, mainly grey matter.

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5
Q

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the primary motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex (behaviour, personality, and decision making)?

A

Frontal lobe

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6
Q

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the primary auditory cortex and the hippocampus (formation of memories)?

A

Temporal lobe

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7
Q

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the primary somatosensory cortex (processing sensory information)?

A

Parietal lobe

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8
Q

Which lobe of the cerebrum contains the primary visual cortex?

A

Occipital lobe

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9
Q

Which part of the brain contains the hypothalamus and thalamus?

A

Diencephalon

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10
Q

Which part of the brain helps maintain posture and balance, and corrects fine movements?

A

Cerebellum

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11
Q

What separates the frontal and parietal lobes?

A

The central sulcus

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12
Q

What separates the temporal lobe below from the frontal and parietal lobes above?

A

The lateral sulcus (AKA the Sylvian fissure)

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13
Q

If the lateral sulcus is gently teased apart, what would you be able to see?

A

Part of the cerebral cortex called the insula.

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14
Q

What is the term for the parts of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes that cover the insula like lips around a mouth?

A

Opercula

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15
Q

What large groove separates the two hemispheres?

A

The longitudinal fissure.

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16
Q

What large bundle of white matter (axons) that connects the two hemispheres can be found on gently separating the longitudinal fissure?

A

The corpus callosum

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17
Q

When the brain is upside down, what two sets of nerve fibres are identifiable?

A

Olfactory tracts
Optic nerves

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18
Q

What structure, visible when the brain is upside down, allows for binocular vision by providing a point for some optic nerve fibres to cross over to opposite hemispheres?

A

The optic chiasm

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19
Q

The mammillary bodies, part of the diencephalon, are rounded structures visible just behind the optic chiasm and pituitary gland.

What functions are the mammillary bodies thought to provide?

A

Contributes to memory and learning, and spatial navigation.

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20
Q

What pair of fibre bundles in the midbrain connect the brainstem to the cerebrum?

A

The cerebral peduncles

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21
Q

What part of the cerebral peduncles are visible when the brain is upside down?

A

Crus cerebri

22
Q

Which area of the frontal lobe, found on the dominant hemisphere (normally the left), is important for spoken language production?

A

Broca’s area

23
Q

What area of the temporal lobe has a role in the perception of fear?

A

The amygdala

24
Q

What area of the dominant hemisphere temporal lobe is important in understanding and coordinating spoken language?

A

Wernicke’s area

25
Q

The limbic system is a group of structures in the medial margins of the hemispheres, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and various parts of the cortex and diencephalon.

Name five functions the limbic system is involved in.

A
  1. Emotion
  2. Memory
  3. Behaviour
  4. Endocrine
  5. Sensations of fear/pleasure
26
Q

List the cranial meninges from innermost to outermost.

A

Pia
Arachnoid
Dura

(“PAD out”)

27
Q

Which meninges is fibrous, thick, and does not stretch?

A

Dura

28
Q

Which meninges is thin, flexible, made mostly of collagen fibres, and resembles a spider’s web?

A

Arachnoid

29
Q

Which meninges lines sulci and is so thin it can’t be seen with the naked eye?

A

Pia

30
Q

What do dural venous sinuses lie in between?

A

The endosteal and meningeal layers of the dura.

31
Q

What is the term for the double layer of dura that lies in between the two cerebellum hemispheres?

A

Falx cerebelli

32
Q

What is the term for the double layer of dura that goes down into the longitudinal fissure?

A

Falx cerebri

33
Q

What is the term for the double layer of dura that lies in between the cerebellum and occipital lobes?

A

Tentorium cerebelli

34
Q

What are arachnoid granulations?

A

Calcified bumps that protrude into venous sinuses and help reabsorb CSF.

35
Q

Which dural venous sinuses connect the transverse sinuses to the internal jugular veins outside the skull to drain venous blood from the brain?

A

Sigmoid sinuses

36
Q

What leaves an impression in the internal aspect of the posterior skull and is the site where the straight sinus meets the transverse sinuses and the superior sagittal sinus?

A

Confluence of sinuses

37
Q

Which dural venous sinuses does the internal carotid artery pass through, along with some important nerves?

A

Cavernous sinuses

38
Q

What is the blood-brain barrier formed of?

A

Layer of pia fused to endothelial cells of capillaries.

39
Q

What two pairs of arteries supply the circle of Willis?

A

Internal carotid arteries (80%)
Vertebral arteries (20%)

40
Q

Following an ischaemic stroke, a patient has changes to their vision.

What major artery of the circle of Willis is likely to be affected? Why?

A

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA).

PCA mostly supplies the occipital lobe which contains the visual cortex.

41
Q

Which major artery of the circle of Willis supplies the vast majority of the lateral aspects and deep parts of the hemispheres, including parts of the motor and somatosensory cortices responsible for the face, arms, and trunk?

A

Middle cerebral artery (MCA).

42
Q

Which major artery of the circle of Willis supplies the medial aspects of the frontal and parietal lobes, including parts of the motor and somatosensory cortex responsible for the lower limbs?

A

Anterior cerebral artery (ACA).

43
Q

Disruption of which major artery of the circle of Willis can potentially threaten the function of all ascending and descending fibres, including motor control and sensation from the neck down? Why?

A

Basilar artery.

Basilar artery gives off small branches to supply the pons, which forms part of the pathway between the brain and spinal cord.

44
Q

What three major arteries of the circle of Willis mainly supply the cerebellum and also parts of the brainstem?

A

Anterior inferior, posterior inferior, and superior cerebellar arteries (AICA, PICA, SCA).

45
Q

In four steps, explain how venous blood drains from the brain.

A
  1. Cerebral venous blood drains into internal cerebral veins.
  2. These drain into larger external cerebral veins (can be seen on the surface of the brain).
  3. These drain into the dural venous sinuses.
  4. These drain into extracranial veins.
46
Q

What veins cross the endosteal layer of dura to drain venous blood into the bones of the skull?

A

Emissary veins.

47
Q

Where is CSF primarily produced?

A

In the lateral ventricles by specialised cells called choroid plexus.

48
Q

What connects the lateral ventricles to the third ventricles to allow the flow of CSF from the lateral ventricles?

A

Interventricular foramen (foramen of Monro!)

49
Q

What connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle to allow the flow of CSF from the third ventricle?

A

Cerebral aqueduct

50
Q

Through what structure does CSF leave the ventricular system inferiorly to fill the subarachnoid space around the spinal cord?

A

Central canal

51
Q

Through what two structures does CSF leave the ventricular system posteriorly and laterally to enter the subarachnoid space that surrounds the brain?

A

Median aperture of Magendie
Lateral apertures of Luschka

Phase 1 (17 decks)

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