Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What is dorsal?
Towards back (horizontally)
Superior (brain)
What is ventral?
Towards front (horizontally)
Inferior (brain)
Whta is rostral?
Towards head (spine)
Anterior (brain)
What is caudal?
Towards end of spinal cord (spine)
Posterior (brain)
What planes are these?
How is the nervous system divided?
Central nervous system : brain and spinal ord
Peripheral nervous system: nerves that origionate from CNS
What is the somatic nervous system?
Neurones concerned with detecting changes in external environment
Voluntary
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Made up of neurones which detect changes in viscera and central activity of the viscera (viscera = internal organs)
Non- voluntary
Divided into sympathetic and parasympathtic nervous system
What does the autonomic nervous system innervate?
Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, secretory glands
What are afferent neurones?
Carry information from peripheral receptors to CNS
If information reaches conciousness theyre called sensory neurones
What are efferent neurones?
Carry impulses away from CNS
If they innervate skeletal muscle they’re also called motor neurones
What are interneurones?
Vast majority of neurones
Located within the CNS
What is grey matter?
Regions enriched with cell bodies
What is white matter?
Regions which contain mostly nerve processes which are often myelinated
What are nuclei?
Regions with nerve cell bodies with similar anatomical connections
Nerve processes sharing common connections and functions tend to run in pathways or tracts
What is the cerebral cortex?
Thick layer of brain tissue folded to increase surface area
This forms gyri (a ridge) and sulci (a groove)
What is a foramen?
An opening- can see more gyri and sulci in it
Label the following
Lateral sulcus also known as sylvian fissure
What can be found at the precentral gyrus?
Primry motor cortex- electrical stimulation of this area leads to movement of muscle groups on other side of body
What can be found at the postcentral gyrus?
Primary sensory cortex- responsible for processing somatic sensations on oposite side of the body
What is the role of broca’s area?
Responsible for speech production
Leison of this area leads to inability to produce speech but comprehension remains
What is the role of wernike’s area?
Responsible for comprehension of writen and spoken language
Lesion of this area means they can make sentences but they have no meaning (random words in a sentence)
What are the 3 layers of the meninges?
Dura Mater: divided into periosteal (top) and meningeal (bottom). Thick and inelastic
Arachnoid mater: thin and elastic. Has spiderlike projections
Pia Mater: very thin and delicate
What is found between unfused periosteal and meningeal layers of dura mater?
Forms dural venous sinuses
What space is found between the dura mater and arachnoid mater?
Subdural space
What space is found between the arachnoid mater and pia mater?
Subarachnoid space
This is where cerebrospinal fluid accumulates
What do the 2 layers of the dura mater come together to form?
Falx cerebri
Divides the 2 hemespheres of the brain
What divides the cerebellum from the occipital lobe?
Tentorium cerebelli
What is the most significant bood vessel that supplies the meninges?
Middle meningeal artery
Branches of the maxillary artery
What supplies blood to the brain?
Internal carotid arteries (80%) and vertebral arteries (20%)
They form the circle of willis at base of brain
Label the following
What is the space between the dura of the spinal cord and the bone of the vertebral column called?
Epidural space
Anesthesia and analgesics can be administered here
Where can CSF be drawn from?
Lumbar cistern
The dura mater and arachnoid mater extend several vertebrae below end of spinal cord creating a CSF fluid dilled area with no spinal cord
What does the anterior communicating artery supply?
Middle and superior parts of frontal lobe and anterior parietal lobe
What does the posterior communication artery supply?
Supplies medial thalamic surface and walls of 3rd ventricle
What deos the basilar artery supply?
Directly supplies the brainstem and cerebellum and provides distal flow to thalami and medial temporal and parietal lobes
What does the vertebral artery supply?
Supplies posterior fossa and occipital lobes and provides vertebral column blood supply
What does the posterior inferior cerebellar artery supply?
Provides blood flow to cerebellum
What are the ventricles?
A communicating network of cavities filled with CSF
What are the lateral ventricles?
Right and left
Has 3 lateral horns (inferior [temporal], anterior [frontal], posterior [occipital])
Related to the cerebral hemesphere
What is the foramen of monroe?
Connects lateral and 3rd ventricle
What is the 3rd ventricle?
Narrow cavity of diencephalon
What is the cerebral aqueduct?
Connects 3rd ventricle and 4th ventricle
Related to the midbrain
What is the 4th ventricle?
Fastigium is extension of ventricle into cerebellum
Floor of ventricle is called rhomboid fossa
Laterall recess is extension of ventricle on dorsal inferior cerebellar penduncle
Related to pons and medulla
What is the lateral foramen of Luschka?
Coonects 4th ventricle to subarachnoid space
What is the cerebrum?
Composed of left and right hempeshere which are joined by corpus callosum
What is the midbrain?
Top most part of brainstem
Made up of 3 parts: colliculi, tegmentum and cerebral penduncles
What makes up the diencephalon?
Hypothalamus and thalamus
Label the following
Label the following
What is CSF?
Clear, colouless fluid that surrounds the brain forming a protective layer
Fluid reduces strain forces like gravity on brain
It removes toxins and regulates the extracellular environement of neurones
What happens if CSF circulation is blocked or is abnormally excessive?
Leads to increassed stress and expansion of ventricles
This is know as hydrocephalus- can be life threatening
Label the following
A: anterior cerebral artery
B: middle cerebral artery
C: posterior cerebral artery
What is the role of the anterior cerebral artery?
Supplies motor cortex for foot
What is the role of the middle cerebral artery?
Supplies most cortexes
Motor cortex for face and arm
Sensory cortex for arm
Broca’s and wernicke’s area
What is the role of the posterior cerebral artery?
Supplies primary visual cortex
