Neuroanatomy and Histology Flashcards
The central nervous system consists of?
Brain + spinal cord.
The peripheral nervous system consists of?
The 12 pairs of cranial nerves + the 31 pairs of spinal nerves and all their branches.
The brain stem is made up of which components?
Midbrain + pons + medulla oblongata.
Another name for the hypothalamus is?
Diencephalon.
Function of neurons in the CNS?
Receive information via synapses to be integrated and transmitted as electrical impulses to another neuron/ effector cell.
Describe the structure of most neurons in the CNS?
Most are multipolar with many dendrites and one axon.
What cells outnumber neurons in the CNS?
Glial cells.
The cell body of a neuron is known as the?
Soma.
Which cells of the retina have no axons?
Neurons.
What exists in place of connective tissue within the CNS?
Astrocytes.
What are the roles of astrocytes in the CNS?
- Support (instead of connective tissue).
- maintaining BBB.
- environmental homeostasis.
What type of glial cell is often described as “star-shaped”?
Astrocyte.
What cells produce myelin in the CNS (NOT the PNS)?
Oligodendrocytes.
What is a node of Ranvier?
Gap in the myelin sheath between adjacent Schwann cells.
What is the function of a node of Ranvier?
Facilitates rapid conduction of nerve impulses.
Name 4 types of Glial cell within the CNS?
- Astrocytes
- Oligodendrocytes
- Microglia
- Ependymal
What is the function of microglia within the CNS?
Immune monitoring and antigen presentation.
Describe ependymal cells of the CNS?
Form ciliated cuboidal/columnar epithelium that lines the ventricles.
What type of cells line the ventricles of the CNS?
Ependymal
What is white matter of the brain composed of?
Mostly myelinated axons and their support cells.
What is grey matter of the brain composed of?
Many neurons, cell processes, synapses and support cells.
What type of matter is generally found on the outside of the brain tissue?
Grey matter.
What type of matter is generally found on the inside of the brain tissue?
White matter.
The horn of the spinal cord is composed of which type of matter?
Grey.
The column of the spinal cord is composed of which type of matter?
White.
The anterior horn of the spinal cord is responsible for which function?
Motor.
The posterior horn of the spinal cord is responsible for which function?
Sensory.
Lentiform nucleus is made up of what?
Putamen + Globus Pallidus.
The Corpus Callosum connects what?
The two hemispheres of the brain.
What is the interthalamic adhesion?
The touching point of the two thalami in the midline.
What lobe of the brain is found anterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral sulcus?
Frontal lobe.
What lobe of the brain is found posterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral sulcus?
Parietal lobe.
What lobe of the brain is found superior to the lateral sulcus and anterior to a line from the parieto-occipital sulcus to the preoccipital notch?
Parietal lobe.
What two anatomical landmarks are used to draw the boundaries of the parietal lobe?
The parieto-occipital sulcus to the preoccipital notch.
What “separates” the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe?
The Parieto-occipital sulcus (fissure).
What lobe lies posterior to a line drawn from the parieto-occipital sulcus to the preoccipital notch?
Occipital lobe.
What lobe lies inferior to the lateral sulcus and anterior to a line from the parieto-occipital sulcus and pre-occipital notch?
Temporal lobe.
List the layers of the meninges from superficial to deep.
- Dura mater.
- Arachnoid mater.
- Pia mater.
Which layer of the meninges contains the subarachnoid space and CSF?
Arachnoid mater.
What name is given to the nervous system running from the oesophagus to the rectum?
Enteric Nervous System.
What makes up the Circle of Willis (6)?
- Anterior Cerebral Arteries
- Middle Cerebral Arteries
- Internal Carotid Arteries
- Basilar Artery
- Vertebral Arteries
- Posterior Cerebral Arteries
The dural venous sinuses drain to where?
The internal jugular vein.
