Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What is the limbic lobe?
- Anatomical concept
- Composed of fornicate gyrus (cingulate gyrus+ parahippocampal gyrus)
- Cortical mantle of telencephalon
- Surrounds the diencephalon
Briefly describe MacLean: The “triune brain” theory. What does each part is responsible for?
- Primitive –> survival
- Intermediate –> emotional
- Rational –> logical
What is the function of limbic system? Which part is responsible for this function?
- Learning and memory (HIPPOCAMPUS)
- Control of emotions and instinctive behaviour (AMYDALA)
Widely accepted concept of the limbic system is that it:
- Analyses stimuli for _____ significance
- Stores emotional _____
- Tags _____ input with emotional component and impacts cognitive responses that is required for normal social behaviour and survival
emotional
memory
sensory
What is limbic loop? What does it do?
- Motivational state dictated behaviour.
- Looks at somatosensory input, and assigns ‘tags’ and emotional component to it.
- Emotional touching experiences get attention and tends to be remembered
*Joins sensory and motor
(add emotion, importance of input (memories/past experiences)
4 cortices found in the limbic system
- Cingulate gyrus
- Parahippocampal gyrus
- Orbitofrontal cortex
- Subcallosal area
4 nuclei found in the limbic system
- Amydala
- Hypothalamus
- Mammillary bodies
- Anterior nucleus of thalamus
4 major fibre tracts found in the limbic system
- Fornix
- Fornical (hippocampal) commissure
- Cingulum
- Uncinate fascicle
Cingulum and uncinate fascicle are _______ fibres that are related to the limbic system
association
Where is the cingulum fascicle? What is it?
Is located in cingulate and parahippocampal gyri
Connects cortical structures of both gyri
Hippocampus cingulate cortex
(transfers information)
What is the uncinate fascicle?
Connects temporal with frontal lovbe (orbitofrontal cortex)
What is memory?
The acquisition, storage and retrieval of information
The hippocampus plays a critical role in ______ term memory
Short
The __________ mediates short term memory, it contains 3 components of verbal information, visual information and spatial information
Pre- frontal cortex
The _________transfers short-term memory into long-term
Hippocampal formation
Where is short-term verbal information processed?
- Posterior parietal cortext
- Broca’s area
Where is short-term visual information processed?
- Frontal cortex
Where is short-term spatial information processed?
- Prefrontal subregions
What are the types of long-term memory?
Explicit (personally experienced and facts &general knowledge)
Implicit (skills & habits and emotions, classical and operant conditioning, priming)
Where is long-term explicit memory stored?
Cortical association areas
Where is long-term implicit memory of skills and habits stored?
- Motor cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Cerebellum
Where is long-term implicit memory of emotions, classical and operant conditioning, priming (eg. smell) processed?
Amydala
What is the function of entorhinal cortex?
- The hippocampal formation receives major input through the entorhinal cortex
(door to the limbic loop) - The hippocampal formation sends major output to the entorhinal cortex
- Important structure for learning, memory, and spatial navigation
- It is first site to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease
- It provides the largest fibre input to the hippocampus
What cells does entorhinal cortex contain and what is this crucial for?
Contains grid cells, crucial for spatial navigation
So patients first developing Alzheimer’s disease lose spatial navigation first
Where is the entorhinal cortext located?
Most anteriorly of the parahippocampal gyrus
Underneath the uncus is the _______.
Amydala
Underneath the parahippocampal gyrus is the _______.
Hippocampus
The parahippocampal gyrus is located in the _______ temporal lobe and posteriorly it is continuous with the ______.
basal medial
lingual gyrus
What are the 4 structures that make up the hippocampal formation?
- Hippocampus proper
- Dentate gyrus
- Subiculum
- Entorhinal cortex
Hippocampus lies on the floor of the _____ of the lateral ventricle. It is located mediobasal part of the ______ lobe deep inside ______ gyrus.
Inferior horn
Temporal
Parahippocampal
What are 4 functions of the hippocampus?
- Declarative memory
- PLACE neurons (spatial memory, navigation)
3 TIME neurons (flow of events in distinct experiences) - Transfers short term memory into the long term memory
What is anterograde amnesia? What can you do without hippocampus?
Inability to transfer short into long term memories
CAN DO :
- Form short term memory
- Can form skilled memory
- Long term memory intact
- Skilled memory intact
CAN’T DO:
- Retain new memories, transport short term memory into long term memory
The ______ and the dentate gyrus form two interlocking U-shaped laminae
Hippocampus proper
Hippocampus proper (Cornu ammonis) can be divided into 4 section (CA1-CA4)
Fibre tracts from the alveus of the hippocampus enter into the fimbria of hippocampus that later becomes the cornix.
Hippocampal sector CA1 is very sensitive for ______.
Hypoxia
- affected in people with CVD or CRD
eg. cardiac infarction or stroke
Hippocampal CA2 subfield is involved in ______.
seizures (epilepsy) generation
The ________ is the only site in the human CNS where adult neurogenesis takes place.
Dentate gyrus
What is neurogenesis?
Generation of cells
What are 2 factors that promote neurogenesis?
- Exercise
2. Enriched environment (interactions with other human -beings, part of society, challenge oneself)
What are 4 factors that inhibit neurogenesis?
- Disease
- Inflammation
- Stress
- Aging
What structures does the limbic circuit involve?
- Hippocampus
- Fornix
- Mamillary body (part of hypothalamus)
- Thalamus (anterior nucleus)
- Cingulate gyrus
- Parahippocampal gyri (entorhinal cortex- including the fibre tract cingulum)
How does information from working memory get passed onto long term storage?
Via the Limbic (Papez) circuit
Explain the Limbic (Papez) circuit.
Entorhinal cortex –> Perforant pathway –> Dentate gyrus –> Mossy fibre tract –> Hippocampus –> Fornix –> Hypothalamus (mammillary bodies) –> Mamillo-thalamic tract –> Thalamus (anterior nucleus) –> thalamo-cortical tract –> cingulate gyrus –> cingulum —> entorhinal cortex
The fornix stretches as a C- shaped bundle of neuronal fibres below the “A”
The fornix connects each hippocampus with one “B” (of the hypothalamus)
The two fornices are interconnected by the “C”
The septum pellucidum spans between the “D” and the corpus callosum.
Septum pellucidum is a vertically orientated membrane that seprates two “E”
A- Corpus callosum B- Mammillary body C- Fornical commissure D- Fornix E- Lateral ventricles
What are mammillary bodies?
A pair of small round bodies on the basal surface of the brain
-Are considered as part of the limbic system
Were are the mammillary bodies found?
Posterior part of the hypothalamus
What is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome? What is the cause of these disease?
Damage of the mammillary bodies = Papez circuit is no longer intact = = memory loss = individuals cannot store new information and have difficulty learning
Caused by
- Vit-B1 deficiency = chronic alcoholism, severe malnutrition
Where is the amydala located? (3)
- Medial portion of the temporal lobe
- Rostral to the hippocampus
- Inside the uncus (semilunar gyrus)
What are the 2 functions of the amydala?
- Analyses environmental stimulus for significance –> appropriate response
Eg. friendly = develop emotional attachment
hostile = perception of fear, “fight or flight” response (via hypothalamus) - Stores emotional memories of fear
What 3 structures have input into Amygdala?
- Thalamus (sensory stimulus for threat assessment)
- Olfactory (smell)
- Cerebral cortex (emotional content of experience
What does the amydala have a direct connection with? What is a result of that?
Involuntary emotional responses (eg fear, joy, anger) looks at sensory info received to the cortex, assign ‘tags’ (emotional weighing) .
Also have a direct connection with the hypothalamus and therefore can have an effect on respiration etc as the thalamus controls homeostasis (via endocrine and autonomic systems) –> Physiological body response to emotions such as change in heart rate or respiration.
What are symptoms of a Hemi-section (Brown-Sequard syndrome)?
- Total loss of all sensations
- Loss of tactile discrimination, vibratory and proprioceptive sensation
- Loss of pain and temperature sensations, impaired tacile sense
What are the 8 general somatosensory modalities? State them in the groups that they travel together in.
- Nociception
- Temperature
- Crude touch
(Think of getting hit by a big, hot hand) - Discriminative touch
- Pressure
- Vibratory sense
- Conscious proprioception
(Think of two little vibrating sticks, deep inside your skin, very close to eachother and having to use your joint position sense to balance on that two little sticks) - Subconscious proprioception (body to cerebellum: Spinocerebellar tract)
How many neurons do pathway to the cerebral cortex use? Name the 8
3 neurons
- Receptors
- Afferent neurons
- Spinal cord
- Brainstem
- Thalamus
- Internal capsule
- Corona radiata
- Cerebral cortex
How many neurons do pathways to the brain stem or cerebellum use? Name the 4
2 neurons
- Receptors
- Afferent neurons
- Spinal cord
- Brainstem +/- cerebellum
What are the 3 main ascending pathways from body?
- Anterolateral (spinothalamic)
- Dorsal column- medial leminiscus
- Spinocerebellar pathways
How many neurons does the anterolateral pathway use and what information does it carry?
3 neurons (conscious)
Nociception, temperature, crude touch
What is a deccusation?
When neuron pathways crosses the midline
What are type Ia and Ib fibres?
Large diameter of neurons
Myelinated
Ia Muscle spindles (proprioception)
Ib
Golgi tendon organs (proprioception) and ruffini endings (pressure)
Fastest to slowest fibre types?
Ia Ib II III (A delta) IV (C fibres
What are fibre III (A delta)?
Myelinated
Free nerve endings for fast ‘pain’ and temperature
What are fibre IV (C fibres)?
Unmyelinated
Free nerve endings for slow ‘pain’ and temperature
What are type II fibres?
Skin receptors
For Anterolateral pathway, name the receptors and first order neuron.
Receptors:
- Nociceptors
- Thermoreceptors
- Mechanoreceptors
First order neurons:
- A delta
- C fibres
Cell body in dorsal root ganglion
Relatively slow
What is Lissaur’s tract?
White matter between the tip of the dorsal horn and the spinal cord.
Tip of the dorsal horn does not make it to the very edge, area of white matter is called Lissauer’s tract.
A delta and C fibres comes into the spinal cord and goes up and down, rarely does it synapse in that level. That forms Lissaur’s tract (white matter)
Where does the first neuron of anterolateral pathway synapse in?
1st order neurons (A delta and C fibres) synapse in laminae I and II (substantia gelatinosa) with either second order neuron or interneurons
When does the second neuron decussate for anterolateral pathway?
Ventral white commissure
Quite straight away! Within one or so spinal segments!
Describe how the anterolateral pathway travels in the central nervous system
The sensation comes in from sensory root ganglion. The A delta and C fibres decussate at ventral white commissure. (decussates in midbrain)
Crosses over to anterolateral region/area of the white matter and ascends anterolaterally (contralaterally). It then goes through the tegmentum of the brainstem. Since it is somatosensation from the body it will go to VPL of the thalamus and then posterior internal capsule to post central gyrus (which is for sensation!)
Describe the somatotopic organisation of the anterolateral tract.
As the fibres come in from the order that they come in, they line up laterally. Neurons that join later, line up medially. So fibres from sacral region is lateral and fibres from cervical region is medial.
Face will be a different thalamic nucleus. Which one would it be?
VPM
Ascending pathways go through the _______of the brainstem.
Tegmentum
Why is this pathway called the anterolateral pathway, not the spinothalamic pathway? (you shouldn’t call it spinothalamic, why?)
Anterolateral fibres is a bundle of fibres containing these 4 fibres!
So the tract gets smaller as it ascends as some terminate in the brainstem.
There are more tracts:
Spinothalamic (post central gyrus) - conscious awareness of pain
Spinorecticular- arousal/attention
Spinomesencephalic- intrinsic pain control mechanism
Spinohypothalamic- autonomic responses to nociception
Where do the 2nd order neurons in the anterolateral pathway decussate?
Via the ventral white commissure, within 1-2 spinal segments
Then ascends contralaterally in the anterior 1/2 of the lateral column
Nociception is the ______ not the pain! You can injure yourself and not be aware of it.
stimulus
Dosal column, medial leminiscus: what information does this pathway carry and what are the receptors and 1st order neurons?
Discriminative touch, pressure, vibrations and proprioception
Receptors:
Skin receptors and mechanoreceptors
- Proprioception uses info from mechanoreceptors and skin receptors (eg. muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, nerve endings in joint capsules, mechanoreceptors in joint connective tissue)
1st order neurons
Ia and Ib (fast- myelinated afferents)
Cell body in dorsal root ganglion
Explain how the pathways of the dorsal column medial leminiscus travels (just 1st order neuron)
1st order neuron enters the dorsal funiculus and ascends to medulla (ipsilaterally- not crossing) as successive rostral levels new fibres are added to the lateral edge of the existing tract.
*Only decussates once at the specific spinal level
Not the same pattern as the anterolateral pathway because this is still the 1st order neuron and we are still on the same side of the stimulus.
Briefly explain how the pathways of the dorsal column medial leminiscus travels
Fasciculus gracilis if T6
The 1st order neuron synapses with the 2nd order neuron in nucleus gracilis/ nucleus cuneatus
2nd order neuron decussates in medulla (called internal arcuate fibres)
Ascend through brainstem as the medial leminiscus (just ventral to anterolateral pathway, through the tegmentum of the brainstem –> VPL thalamus –> internal capsule –> post central gyrus
2nd order neurons decussate!
What is the somatotopic organisation of the posterior limb of the internal capsule?
Fibres from head and neck –> genu
Non-conscious proprioception receives a ________ (copy) from dorsal column medial leminiscus pathway. Initially it is all the same.
collateral
What are the 5 parts of the internal capsule?
- Anterior limb
- Genu
- Posterior limb
- Retrolenticular part
- Sublenticular part
Describe the function and pathway of posterior spinocerebellar tract.
FUNCTION
- Non conscious proprioception
- Info from skin, muscles and joints to cerebellum for coordination and movement
- Posterior spinocerebellar tract trunk and LL
PATHWAY
- Collaterals of dorsal column afferent fibres (fasciculous gracilis)
- Travels in fasciluous gracilis until it
- Synapse with second order neuron in clarke’s nucleus (C8-L2)
- Axon then travels to posterior part of the lateral funiculus
- Go to the medulla
- Through the inferior cerebellar peduncle
- Cerebellum
What is cuneocerebellar tract?
- UL equivalent of posterior spinocerebellar tract.
- Afferents coming in above C8 (no clarke’s nucleus) so there’s accessory cuneate nucleus in the medulla.
- Through inferior cerebellar peduncle to ipsilateral cerebellar cortex.
What is the anterior spinocerebellar tract?
HELP!!!
- Unique 1st order neurons usually synapse in the dorsal horns but in anteripr spinocerebellar tract, it comes in and synapse in the ventral horn.
- 2nd order neuron will then decussate and ascend in the anterior part of the lateral funiculus.
- At the same time as posterior sensory info coming in and synapsing in the ventral horn, you also have descending neurons coming down and synapsing to the second order neurons.
- This tract is a quick way of integrating and getting feedback to the cerebellum for proprioceptive info.
- Coming in and motor command coming down to lower motor neurons (in motor pathway you have 2 neurons, the upper motor neuron have cell body in the cortex, synapses in the ventral horn, lower motor neuron innervates the skeletal muscles)
It doesn’t show it here but when you go to the pons, it goes back to the original side. Superior cerebellar peduncle to cerebellum.
What is rostral spinocerebellar tract?
UL equivalent of Anterior spinocerebellar tract.
State the 3 main ascending somatosensory pathways from the body and head. Associate the similarities.
from BODY
- Anterolateral (spinothalamic) (conscious- 3 neurons)
- Dorsal column medial lemniscus (conscious- 3 neurons)
- Spinocerebellar (subconsicous- 2 neurons)
from HEAD
- Spinal trigeminothalamic (3 neurons)
- Chief sensory trigeminothalamic (3 neurons)
- Mesencephalic trigeminothalamic (2 neurons)
Name the 4 pathways for non-conscious proprioception
- Posterior spinocerebellar tract (trunk & LL)
- Cuneocerebellar tract (trunk & UL equivalent)
- Anterior spinocerebellar tract (trunk & LL)
- Rostral spinocerebral tract (UL equivalent)
How many trigeminal nuclei do we have?
Three sensory and 1 motor trigeminal nuclei
Mesencephalic (trigeminal nuclei): name the pathways it originates, function and what body pathway it correlates to
PATHWAY:
Mesencephalic pathway
FUNCTION:
Subconscious proprioception
BODY PATHWAY CORRELATE- HOMOGENOUS AS:
Spinocerebellar pathway
`
Chief sensory (trigeminal nuclei): name the pathways it originates, function and what body pathway it correlates to
PATHWAY:
Chief sensory pathway
FUNCTION:
Discriminative touch, pressure, conscious proprioception
BODY PATHWAY CORRELATE- HOMOGENOUS AS:
Dorsal column medial leminiscus
Spinal (trigeminal nuclei): name the pathways it originates, function and what body pathway it correlates to
PATHWAY:
Spinal pathway
FUNCTION:
Nociception and temperature
BODY PATHWAY CORRELATE- HOMOGENOUS AS:
Dorsal column medial leminiscus
What are the differences between body ascending pathway and trigeminal ascending pathway?
BODY ASCENDING:
- VPL of thalamus
- Axon of third order neuron going from Posterior limb of the internal capsule
- Different area of post central gyrus (sensory homunculus)
TRIGEMINAL ASCENDING:
- VPM of thalamus (cell body of third body neuron)
- Axon of third order neuron going from Genu
- Different area of post central gyrus (sensory homunculus)
What is so different/special about mesencephalic trigeminothalamic pathway (non-conscious proprioception)?
Cell body of the first order neuron is in the CNS.
Explain the spinal trigeminothalamic pathway
- Free nerve endings
- A delta and C fibres
- 1st order neuron cell body in TRIGEMINAL GANGLION
- 1st order neuron enters pons & descends to spinal nucleus
- 2nd order neuron cell body in SPINAL NUCLEUS (pon, medulla, cervical spine- extends to C3)
- Blends with substania gelatinosa & dorsolateral tract
- 2nd order nurosn decussate & join ANTEROLATERAL PATHWAY
- Synapse in VPM thalamus + collaterals to brainstem
- 3rd order neuron ascends via POSTERIOR LIMB INTERNAL CAPSULE
- POST CENTRAL GYRUS, PARIETAL LOBE
Explain the chief sensory pathway
- Skin, proprioceptors & mechanorecpetors from msucles of mastication, facial &extraocular; TMJ; periodontal ligaments
- 1st order neuron cell body in trigeminal ganglion
- 2nd order neuron cell body in chief sensory nucleus (pons)
- Most 2nd order neurons decussate & join MEDIAL LEMNISCUS
- Synapse in VPM thalamus
- 3rd order neuron ascends via POSTERIOR LIMB INTERNAL CAPSULE
- POST CENTRAL GYRUS, PARIETAL LOBE
Explain the mesencephalic trigeminothalamic pathway
- Proprioceptors, mechanoreceptors from muscles of mastication, gums, teeth, hard palate
- 1st order neuron cell body in mesencephalic nucleus (midbrain)
- Sends processes to:
- Ipsilateral cerebellum via superior cerebellar peduncle
- Trigeminal motor nucleus (reflexes)
- Brainstem reticular formation
Conscious pathways
Head = \_\_\_\_\_\_ nerve Body = \_\_\_\_\_\_ nerve
Trigeminal
Spinal
Conscious pathways
Head = \_\_\_\_\_\_ nerve Body = \_\_\_\_\_\_ nerve
Trigeminal
Spinal
Olfactory nerve (CN I)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Cribriform plate
Olfactory bulb, telencephalon
Optic nerve (CN II)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Optic canal
Diencephalon
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Superior orbital fissure
Ventral midbrain- emerge from interpeduncular fossa
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Superior orbital fissure
Dorsal midbrain (ONLY ONE)
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- Ophthalmic
- Maxillary
- Mandibular
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
O: Superior orbital fissure
M: Foramen rotundum
M: Foramen ovale
Coming out of the pons at its junction with the middle cerebral peduncle
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Superior orbital fissure
Basal pons, superior brainstem, on top of pyramid
Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Internal acoustic meatus
Superior to olive, base of pons
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Jugular foramen
Posterolateral sulcus
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Jugular foramen
Posterolateral sulcus
Accessory nerve (CN XI)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Jugular foramen
Posterolateral sulcus
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Site of exit/extry and site of attachment to brain
Hypoglossal canal
Anterolateral sulcus
The retina perceives visual information from the environment and relays this information via the “A” nucleus of the thalamus to the primary visual cortex (also called Brodmann Area 17) for conscious perception. There are also projections from the eye to the superior colliculus which is located in the “B” - these connections are involved in visual reflexes.
A- Lateral Geniculate
B- midbrain
Note that light is perceived by specialised _______ cells which then transmit the information via the bipolar cells to the _________ . RGCs are the output (i.e. projection) neurons of the retina and their axons form the optic nerve.
photoreceptor
retinal ganglion cells
The major projection output from the retina is to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) which is located at the lateral posterior end of the thalamus. After synapsing, 2nd order neurons sweep around the lateral ventricle and course via the optic radiations to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe. The upper visual field is detected by the lower retina. Colour code the arrows, fibres from the retina to the LGN and fibres of the optic radiations according to their corresponding visual field. The upper fibres of the optic radiations travel through the _______ lobe. The lower fibres of the optic radiations (Meyer’s loop) travel through the ________ lobe.
Parietal
Occipital
What are 2 types of photoreceptors?
- Rods
2. Cones
Where are photoreceptors found?
Retina
–> light stimulates photoreceptors –> impulses thorugh 3 neurons –> primary visual cortext
What are the 1st and 2nd order neurons in the optic nerve?
1st order neurons: Bipolar cells (special sense)
2nd order neurons
Ganglion cells
Axons of ganglion cells = _______ nerve
Optic
Explain the visual pathway
1st order neurons: bipolar neurons
2nd order neurons: ganglion cells (axons of ganglion cells = optic nerve)
- Lateral ganglion cells synapse in ipsilateral lateral genticulate nucleus LGN (thalamus)
- Medial ganglion cells synapse in contralateral lateral genticulate nucleus LGN (thalamus)
3rd order neurons: travels from LGN via optic radiations to calcerine sulcus
- Have cell bodies in retro-lenticular part of internal capsule (part behind basal ganglia)
- Lower visual fields travel via parietal optic radiations
- Upper visual fields travel via Meyer loop (temporal lobe).
Primary visual cortex:
Banks of calcerine sulcus
- Some projections to superior colliculus (visual reflexes)
- Visual association area is adjacent to primary visual cortex
Collaterals to MIDBRAIN (not visual pathways- reticular formation level of arousal)
Areas of synapse
- Superior colliculus
- Pretectal area
What does lateralisation of the visual field mean?
Binoccular vision
- Area of visual field when looking with 2 eyes
Each eye can see a different field area
Explain lateralisation of the visual field
Retinal ganglion cells –> Contralateral side (optic chiasm) –> synapse at LGN –> contralateral optic radiation –> contralateral primary visual cortex
The lateral (temporal) visual field projects onto the ________ retina
medial (nasal)
Fires from the medial (nasal) retina decussate at the _________.
optic chiasm
The optic tract carries information from the_______ visual eye field. Ipsilateral or contralateral?
Contralateral
Lower visual field travels through the _________ optic radiation.
Parietal
*It stays superior
Upper visual field travels via the Meyer loop through the ______ lobe/
Temporal
Once visual neurons travel to the LGN, explain the pathway briefly.
Synapse with 3rd order neurons that will maintain that relationship –> around lateral ventricle –> superior bank of visual cortex above calcerine sulcus
Light focuses on the ______.
Fovea
Has very detailed information and densely packed cones
It is important so has a back-up supply of blood (posterior and middle cerebral artery- possibly anterior)
Axons from nasal (medial) are ________.
Contralateral
They cross at optic chiasm
Axons from the temporal area ________.
Ipsilateral
Describe a left retinal lesion
- Monocular vision loss
- Loss of complete vision in L eye
Describe a left optic nerve lesion
- Monocular vision loss
- Loss of complete vision in L eye
Describe a left optic chiasm lesion
- Contralateral hemianopia
- i.e if chiams is being compressed by a tumour on left side of chiasm
- Compresses temporal fibres from left eye
- Takes out right visual field from the left eye
Describe a central optic chiasm lesion
- Bitemporal hemianopia
- Loss of nasal retinal fibres from both eyes
- Loss of peripheral visual field in both eyes
Describe a left optic tract lesion
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Nasal fibrous from contralateral eye and temporal fibres from ipsilateral eye
- Loss of contralateral visual field in both eyes
Describe a left parietal optic radiation lesion
- Contralateral inferior quadrantanopia
- Parietal optic radiation carries inferior visual field
- Loss inferior visual field in contralateral eye
- if lesion is in BOTH sides, lose entire inferior visual field
Describe a left temporal optic radiation (Meyer Loop)
- Contralateral superior quadrantanopia
- Temporal fibres carry superior visual field
- Lose superior visual field in contralateral eye
Describe a left primary visual cortex lesion
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Loss of contralateral visual field in both eyes
The Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus (MLF) interconnect with 4 nuclei. What are they?
- Oculomotor
- Trochlear
- Abducens
- Vestibular
What are 3 characteristics of the Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus (MLF)?
- Heavily myelinated
- Near midline of tegmentum
- Anterior to 4th ventricle and periaqueductal grey/cerebral aqueduct
In a spinal cord/brainstem, from medial to lateral, what are the nuclei responsible for?
Medial —> Lateral
Motor –> Sensory –> special senses
What are the 3 cranial nerves that control the msucles of the eye?
- Oculomotor
- Trochlear
- Abducens
What are the 6 structures that the oculomotor nerve innervates?
Innervates: 1. Levator palpebrae superioris 2. Superior rectus 3. Inferior rectus 4. Medial rectus 5. Inferior oblique 6. Parasympathetic function CN III fribres --> cilliary ganglion --> synapse with cilliary nerve --> innervate constrictor pupillae and cilliary muscle
What is the function of constrictor pupillae?
Controls amount of light entering the eye
What is the function of ciliary muscle?
Rounding of lens for near vision
What is the 1 structure that the trochlear nerve innervates?
- Superior oblique
What is the 1 structure that the abducens nerve innervates?
Lateral rectus
What are 5 characteristics of the somatic motor nucleus of the occulomotor nuclei?
- Tegmentum of rostral midbrain
- Near midline
- Anterior to cerebral aqueduct and PAG
- Rostral end of medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)
- Fibres travel anteriorly to emerge in interpeduncular fossa
What is another name for the parasympathetic nucleus of the oculomotor nuclei?
Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW)
What are the 2 types of neurons in the oculomotor nuclei?
- Somatic motor nuclei
2. Edinger-Westphal nucleus (preganglionic)
What are 3 characteristics of the Edinger-Westphal nuclei in the oculomotor nuclei?
- Posterior to somatic nucleus
- IN peraqueductal grey
- Travel with somatic axon
The parasympathetic axons are located superficially in the CN III nerve. This means that:
- They are more susceptible to compression
dilated pupil = early sign of CN III compression
Where is the pretectal area?
Rostral to superior colliculus @ midbrain/diencephalon junction
3 characteristics of the trochlear CN IV nucleus
- Midbrain @ level of the inferior colliculus
- Near midline
- Axons exit dorsally
3 characteristics of the CN VI nucleus
- Caudal pons @ level of the facial colliculus
- Near midline
- Contains:
- Somatic motor nucleus: neurons innervate lateral rectus
- Interneurons- coordination of horizontal eye movements
What are the 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve CN V? What is their function?
- Ophthalmic –> sensory forehead, eyelids, eye upper nasal
- Maxillary –> sensory midface, upper teeth, lower nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses
- Mandibular –> Sensory lower face + motor muscles of mastication
What are the 4 parts of the trigeminal nerve?
- Chief sensory nucleus
- Spinal trigeminal nucleus
- Mesencephalic nucleus
- Motor trigeminal nucleus
- there is a lot of information and discrimination –> extensive no. of nuclei
Function of the chief sensory nucleus (Trigeminal nuclei)
- Main discriminative touch nucleus
- Same as dorsal column medial lemniscus
Function of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Trigeminal nuclei)
- Crude touch, nociception, temperature
- Same as anyerolateral pathway
- Long nucleus that extends to C3
Function of the mesencephalic nucleus (Trigeminal nuclei)
- Proprioceptive, non-conscious proprioceptive nucleus (in mesencepalon)
4 characteristics of the facial nerve CN VII
- Large motor component to all muscles of facial expression
- Small sensory component = taste anterior 2/3 tongue
- Into internal acoustic meatus, out through stylomastoid
- Parasympathetic:
- Lacrimal gland (tears)
- Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
What are the 5 cranial nerve interactions?
- Corneal blink reflex
- Pupillary light reflex
- Gaze
- Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)
- Accommodation
What are the 2 protective reflexes (cranial nerve interactions)
- Corneal blink reflex
2. Pupillary light reflex
What are the 3 coordination of eye (cranial nerve interactions)?
- Gaze
- Vestibulo-ocular refelx (VOR)
- Accommodation
What is the function of corneal blink reflex?
Protective reflex to remove foreign particles and lubricate the eye