Neuroanatomy Flashcards
Telencephalon
Cerebral hemispheres
Diencephalon
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Mesencephalon
Midbrain
Metencephalon
Pons, cerebellum
Myelencephalon
Medulla oblongata
Role in support, maintaining the BBB, environmental homeostasis
Astrocytes
Importance of the insula
Experience of pain
Importance of the jugular foramen in terms of venous drainage of the brain?
At the jugular foramen:
-The dural venous sinuses drain into the internal jugular vein
What suspends the spinal cord in the canal?
The denticulate ligament
What vertebrae have lateral horns? and what are they for?
T1-L2 have lateral horns
They are for the preganglionic sympathetic neurons
Blood supply to the spinal cord
- 3 major longitudinal arteries (from the vertebral arteries)
- segmental arteries (from the vertebral, intercostal and lumbar arteries)
- Radiuclar arteries (travel along dorsal and ventral roots)
What is the epidural space and what does it contain?
Space between the dura and bone
-contains adipose tissue and the anterior and posterior venus plexuses
Where are the anterior and posterior venous plexuses?
In the epidural space
Where do fibres from the dorsal column/medial lemniscus cross?
The medulla
synapse in the thalamus
Where do the spinothalamic tracts cross?
Segmentally
synapse in the thalamus
Spinothalamic tracts?
Pain, temperature and deep pressure
Difference between the lateral and ventral corticospinal tracts?
Lateral cross at the medulla (85% and this is the decussation of the pyramids)
Ventral cross segmentally (about 15%)
What does the corticospinal tract control?
Fine, precise movements of the distal limb muscles
What happens if you get a CVA of the internal capsule? I.e. which tract is defo going to be affected and what would the symptoms be?
A CVA of the internal capsule can ruin your corticospinal tract
-this results in spastic paralysis with hyperflexion of the upper limbs a.k.a DECORTICATE posturing!
(problems with the cerebral hemisphere could also cause this)
What posture would problems with the midbrain/pons cause?
Decerebrate
What does the tectospinal tract do?
- Inputs mostly to the cervical segments
- thought to mediate reflex head and neck movment due to visual stimuli
What do the reticulospinal tracts do?
Tonnes of stuff including influencing voluntary movement
Function of the pontine reticulospinal tract?
Facilitate extensor movments
Function of the lateral reticulospinal tract?
Facilitate flexor movments
