Neuroanatomy

Question 1

What are the 3 divisions of the brain (+subdivisions)

Answer 1

Forebrain (prosencephalon)

• telencephalon (anterior)
• diencephalon (posterior)

Midbrain (mesencephalon)

Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

• metencephalon
• myelencephalon

Question 2

What does diencephalon consist of?

Answer 2

• 2 x thalami (thalamus)
• hypothalamus
• pineal gland

The diencephalon sits on top of the midbrain

Question 3

What does the thalamus do?

Answer 3

Processes and relays sensory information (+pain)

Question 4

What does hypothalamus do?

Answer 4

Secretes hormones (stimulates pituitary) and controls temperature, sleep, thirst and circadian rhythm

Question 5

What does the pineal gland do?

Answer 5

Makes melatonin from serotonin which is involved in sleep and circadian rhythm

Question 6

What is the difference between nuclei and ganglia?

Answer 6

Nuclei = cell bodies in CNS

Ganglia = cell bodies in PNS

Question 7

What is brainstem composed of?

Answer 7

Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata

10 cranial nerves arise from brainstem

Question 8

What tracts run through the brainstem to the body?

Answer 8

1. Corticospinal tract (one of the pyramidal tracts)
   - motor
2. Spinothalamic
   - info of pain to thalamus
   Lateral tract = pain and temperature
   Anterior tract = crude touch and pressure
3. Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
   - fine touch, vibration
   Posterior column is in the spinal cord
   Medial lemniscus is in brain

Question 9

What does the midbrain do?

Answer 9

Controls vision, hearing, temperature, sleep and motor control

Dopamine is made in the substantia niagra

Midbrain sits on top of the tectum and has cerebral peduncles (anteriorly) and colliculi (posteriorly)

Question 10

What does the pons do?

Answer 10

Links medulla oblongata and midbrain.

Pneumotaxic centre - controls breathing, sleeping, bladder, taste, hearing

Cranial nerves 5, 6, 7 and 8 arise in pons

Question 11

What does the medulla oblongata do?

Answer 11

Controls respiration, cardio and vomiting, blood pressure and heart rate

Question 12

Describe the ventricle system

Answer 12

4 ventricles filled with CSF produced by choroid plexus in the lateral ventricle

• 2 lateral ventricles (1st and 2nd ventricles)
• 3rd ventricle (drains CSF from laterals)
• 4th ventricle (drains CSF from third via the cerebral aqueduct)

CSF drains into central canal (spinal cord cavity) and enters sub-arachnoid space

Question 13

What structures are within the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 13

Basal ganglia
- cell bodies in white matter

Limbic system
- emotion, behaviour, memory and motivation

Ventricle system

Question 14

What are the basal ganglia?

Answer 14

Caudate nucleus 
Putamen
Globus paladus
Substantia niagra
Hypothalamic nucleus

Question 15

What is the limbic system?

Answer 15

Emotion, behaviour, memory and motivation

Consists of:

• hippocampus
• fornix
• mammillary bodies
• amygdala (aggression and rage)

Question 16

What two structures make the neostriatum?

Answer 16

Putamen and caudate nucleus

Question 17

What 2 structures make the lentiform nucleus?

Answer 17

Putamen and globus palladis

Question 18

Cerebral hemisphere lobes and function (long)

Answer 18

Outer cortex (grey matter) = neocortex
—> language, conscious thought 

Frontal lobe

• decision making, problem solving, planning
• motor cortex and personality

Parietal lobe
- sensory information

Temporal lobe
- memory, language, emotion, hearing and learning

Occipital lobe
- visual cortex

Question 19

Specific cerebral cortexes and function

Answer 19

• Pre-motor cortex (frontal lobe)
  = planning movement
• primary motor cortex (frontal lobe)
  = plan and execute movement
• somatosensory cortex (parietal lobe)
  = sense of touch
• broca’s area (frontal lobe)
  = speech
• primary auditory cortex (temporal lobe)
  = hearing
• primary visual cortex (occipital lobe)
  = sight
• pre-frontal cortex (frontal)
  = executive function, social skills, personality
• Wernicke’s area (temporal lobe)
  = speech interpretation