Neuroanatomy

Question 1

What is anatomy?

Answer 1

The science of physical structure of animals/plants by dissection

Question 2

What is the difference between Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes?

Answer 2

Schwann cells myelinate axons in the peripheral nervous system
Oligodendrocytes myelinate axons in the central nervous system

Question 3

Define ventral and dorsal

Answer 3

Ventral = underside
Dorsal = upper side or back

Question 4

Where are axonal tracts found?

Answer 4

In the white matter

Question 5

Define viscera

Answer 5

The internal organs in the main cavities of the body

Question 6

What is the neural tube and how is it formed?

Answer 6

The embryo’s precursor to the nervous system. It is formed by the infolding of endoderm and will go on to form the brain and spinal cord by expanding at the front end

Question 7

What is cerebrospinal fluid? How is it made, where is it found and what does it do?

Answer 7

It’s a clear, colourless fluid found in the brain and spinal cord. It’s produced by filtration of the blood in the chordis plexus in the ventricles of the brain and acts as a form of mechanical and immunological protection for the brain

Question 8

What are the three types of glial cells and what do they do?

Answer 8

Astrocytes - form scar tissue after injury
Microglia - brain macrophages which clear infections
Oligodendrocytes - form insulating myelin sheaths around axons in the CNS allowing for rapid nerve impulse conduction

Question 9

Define ganglion

Answer 9

A collection of neurons in the PNS

Question 10

Define nerve

Answer 10

A bundle of axons in the PNS

Question 11

Define tract

Answer 11

A collection of axons in the CNS with a common origin and destination

Question 12

Define rostral

Answer 12

Situated near the front end of the body

Question 13

Define caudal

Answer 13

Near the tail or posterior part of the body

Question 14

What does expansion of the spinal canal go on to form?

Answer 14

The ventricles of the brain

Question 15

What does the forebrain give rise to? (4)

Answer 15

Cerebral cortex
Basal ganglia
Thalamus
Hypothalamus

Question 16

Where is the substantia nigra?

Answer 16

In the midbrain

Question 17

Describe the meninges

Answer 17

A 3 membrane layer surrounding the spinal cord
From inner to outer:
Pia, arachnoid, dura

Question 18

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 18

The ending of the spinal cord, a bundle of lumbar and sacral nerves

Question 19

What are sulci and gyri?

Answer 19

Sulci are grooves in the brain, gyri are the ridges between them

Question 20

What does the central sulcus do?

Answer 20

Divides the pre and post-central gyri

Question 21

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 21

Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal

Question 22

What are the terms given for cutting the brain along its width and cutting along its length?

Answer 22

Widthways = Coronal sectioning
Lengthways = Saggital secitoning

Question 23

What is another name given to the pre-central gyrus?

Answer 23

The motor cortex

Question 24

How are the four sections of the brain joined together?

Answer 24

The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain
The internal capsule connects the top and bottom

Question 25

What do the ventricles of the brain do?

Answer 25

Control the production of cerebrospinal fluid which adds protection, buoyancy and chemical stability

Question 26

What is another name given for the post-central gyrus?

Answer 26

Somatic sensory cortex

Question 27

What is a cluster of unmyelinated axons called?

Answer 27

A remax body

Question 28

What is the difference between efferent and afferent fibres?

Answer 28

Efferent - away from the spinal cord

Afferent - towards the spinal cord

Question 29

What is the difference between grey and white matter?

Answer 29

Grey matter is the part of the brain controlled by cell bodies. Grey appearance because of the nuclei.
White matter is a neuron of myelinated and unmyelinated fibres. It acts as a means of communication between grey matter areas

Question 30

What regions of the spinal cord do spinal nerves connect to? (In order from top to bottom)

Answer 30

Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral

Question 31

What are the roles of the different sensory fibres in humans?

Answer 31

A-alpha = Skeletal muscle proprioceptor
A-beta = Skin mechanoreceptor
A-delta = Pain and temperature
C = Pain, temperature and itch

Question 32

How can you tell where you’ve been touched?

Answer 32

Neurons in different body parts are linked to different areas of the post-central gyrus / somatosensory cortex

Question 33

What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system? What do they do and what neurotransmitters do they use?

Answer 33

Parasympathetic and sympathetic
Parasympathetic maintains homeostasis at rest using ACh
Sympathetic prepares the ‘flight-or-fight’ response using adrenergic synapses

Question 34

What is the posterior pituitary and are the main hormones it secretes?

Answer 34

An extension of the hypothalamus via the infidibulum

Vasopressin (ADH) and oxytocin

Question 35

What is a motor unit composed of?

Answer 35

An alpha motorneuron and the group of fibres it innervates

Question 36

Input to alpha motor neurons can either be ventromedial or lateral. What is the difference between the two?

Answer 36

Ventromedial pathways control posture and locomotion

Lateral pathways control voluntary movement and are controlled by the cortex (corticospinal tract)

Question 37

Where is the hippocampus and what is it important for?

Answer 37

It is found in the medial temporal lobe and is important for declarative memory i.e. memory of facts and events

Question 38

What areas make up the limbic system and what is the circuit used for?

Answer 38

The cinglulate cortex, hippocampus and amygdala

The circuit is involved in emotions