Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What is the eripheral nervous system made up of?
All parts of the system outside of the bony casings of the skull and spinal column.
What is the central nervous system made up of?
All parts inside the skull and spinal column - the brain and spinal cord
What is the hole at the base of the skull where the brain connects to the spinal cord called?
Foramen magnum
What nerves is the peripheral nervous system composed of?
Cranial, Spinal and Peripheral nerves
What neurones are in the peripheral nervous system?
Sensory and motor neurones
What neurones are in the central nervous system?
Relay neurones
Define afferent and efferent
Afferent = ascending Efferent = descending
What are interneurones?
Small nerves linking other nerves
What is the bundle of spinal nerves that descend inside the spinal column called
Cauda equina
Horses tail
Describe how the spinal nerves are named
Cervical spinal nerves are named after the vertebra immediately below - BUT
There is a C8 spinal nerve that exits above T1
From there on down the spinal nerves are named after the vertebra immediately above
Define dermatomes
The area of skininnervatedby nerves relatedto a particularsegment of thespinal cord.
Define myotomes
Muscles that are innervated by nerves related to a particular segment of the spinal cord.
Name some of the main dermatomes in the body
T1-T12 = trunk of the body L1-L5 = lumbar spine C2-C8 = collar to 5th metacarpal S1 = heel
Name some of the main myotomes in the body
C5-C8 = shoulder to wrist T1 = finger abduction L2 = hip flexion (illiopsoas) L4 = knee extension (quad fem) L5 = dorsiflexion (tibialis anterior) S1 = plantar flexion (gastrocnemius)
What are enlargements of the spinal cord in the lowercervical and lumbosacral area known as
Brachial Plexus
Lumbosacral Plexus
What do the nervesin the brachialplexus innervate.
Afferent and efferent nervesin the brachialplexus innervate theupper extremities
What do the nerves in the lowerlumbosacral plexusinnervate.
Afferent and efferent nerves in the lowerlumbosacral plexusinnervate the lower extremities.
Describe gray matter
A collection of neuron cell bodies appeargray
Areas of thecentral nervous system thatare a large collection of cell bodies are called gray matter
Describe white matter
Someneuron processesarewrapped in insulatinglayers that arewhite soareas of the central nervous system that area large collection ofneuron processes arecalled white matter.
Briefly descibe dorsal roots
Afferent nervesthat come intothe spinal cordare bundled at the backin the dorsal roots.
Thecell bodies of the dorsal rootare outside the spinal cord in the dorsal root ganglia.
Briefly describe ventral roots
Efferentnerves leaving the spinal cord arebundled together at the front in theventral root.
Give some examples of peripheral nerves
Median, ulna and radial nerves
What large divisions can the brain be divided into?
Brainstem
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Cerebral hemispheres orcerebrum
Describe what the brain stem connects and what it is composed of
Links the cerebrum and the spinal cord
Comprises the medullaoblongata, the midbrain, and the pons
Connects to the cerebellum
Source of the cranial nerves.
What is the function of the brainstem
Role incontrollingautonomic functions including breathing, heart rate and level of consciousness
Where is the source of cranial nerves?
Brainstem
How many cranial nerves are in the brainstem?
12 pairs of nerves
What is the role of cranial nerves?
Bring information from the special senses andsomatic senses offace and head.
Involved in hearing, balance, vision, taste, smell
Send messages to the muscles of thehead and neck
What is the diencephalon composed of?
Composed of:
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
What role does the diencephalon play?
Role in the integration of sensory information and the interpretation of pain
Where is the cerebellum?
The cerebellum is located behind the top part of the brain stem where the spinal cord meets the brain
What is the cerebellum involved in?
Involved inmaintaining balance and control
What is the cerebrum?
Cortex ofgray matter
What are the lobes of the cerebrum called?
frontal, parietal,temporal andoccipital
Describe the surface of the cerebrum
Wrinkled with hillocks(gyri) andgrooves(sulci)
Describe the location and role of the frontal lobe
At the front
Responsible for some aspects of movement,behaviour, emotion andhigher executive function,expressive speech
Describe the location and role of the parietal lobe
Behind the frontal.
Responsible for language, sensation, perception of space
Describe the location and role of the occipital lobe
At the back.
Responsible forvision
Describe the location and role of the temporal lobe
At the sides.
Responsible for hearing, receptive speech,and memory
What is responsible for the actual execution of movement
Primary motor cortex
What is involved in the preparation ofsensory triggered movement and guidingcomplete behavioural acts
Premotor cortex
What are is involved in the preparation of self-initiated movement
Supplementary motor area
What role does the somatosensory Cortex play?
This is involved in the complexprocessing of sensory information
What is the basal ganglia made up of?
Made up of5 nuclei in thecerebrum, diencephalon and brainstem
What is the role of the basal ganglia?
Vital in controlling the quality of movement
What is the role of the Hippocampus?
In sylvian fissure, important in memory
What is the role of the Pituitary Gland?
In the brainstem, secretes hormones
What is the role of the Amygdala?
In the temporal lobe and relates to emotions (especially fear)
Describe meninges
3 layers of protective fibrous tissue that surrounds the entire nervous system
3 layers = dura matter, arachnoid matter and pia matter
Describe cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Straw colouredviscous fluid produced in the lateral ventricles
Circulates around the brain and spinal cord in thesubarachnoid space
What is the circle of Willis
To limit thepossibility of loss of blood supply the brain has evolved a circularvascular anatomy.
Made up of 2 blood supplies, so if one fails the other should be able to maintain circulation.
What is the myelin sheath in a neuron made up of?
Schwann cells
How can neurones be classified?
Unipolar = have only one structure Bipolar = has one axon and one dendrite Multipolar = contains one axon and multiple dendrites Pseudounipolar = has a single structure that extends from the soma
What happens at a synapse?
The synapse is where one neuron meets and communicates with another
A chemical messenger (or neurotransmitter)is released fromone axon(presynaptic) and picked up by thedendrites of another neuron (postsynaptic).
