Neuroanatomy, Brain, and Spinal Cord

Question 1

What are the cranial meninges?

Answer 1

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

Question 2

Dura mater (tough mother)

Answer 2

tough, thick external fibrous layer

Question 3

Arachnoid mater (spider mother)

Answer 3

thin intermediate layers

Question 4

Pia mater (gentle mother)

Answer 4

delicate internal vascular layer

Question 5

What type of hematoma can occur in the dura mater?

Answer 5

epidural hematoma; on top of the dura

Question 6

Blood supply to the dura mater

Answer 6

middle meningeal artery

Question 7

What are the dural reflections?

Answer 7

Falx cerebri
Falx cerebelli
Tentorium cerebelli

Question 8

Falx cerebri

Answer 8

separates L and R cerebral hemispheres

Sagittal vein - drainage of the brain

Question 9

Falx cerebelli

Answer 9

separates cerebellar hemispheres

Question 10

Tentorium cerebelli

Answer 10

separates occipital lobes from cerebellum
Above - posterior
Below - anterior

Question 11

What are the dural venous sinuses?

Answer 11

Superior sagittal sinus 
Inferior sagittal sinus 
Straight sinus 
Transverse sinuses 
Sigmoid sinuses 
Occipital sinus 
Cavernous sinus

Drains into IJV to Vena Cava

Question 12

Cavernous sinus

Answer 12

Bilaterally on each side of sella turcica on sphenoid bone

Plexus of veins from orbit to temporal bone (petrous part)

Question 13

What structures run among the veins?

Answer 13

Internal carotid a.

CNs III-VI

Question 14

What is outside of the cavernous sinus?

Answer 14

CNV1 and V2

Question 15

False localizing sign

Answer 15

compression in the cavernous sinus (not the brain stem)

Question 16

Clinical correlate: Subdural hematoma

Answer 16

hemorrhage beneath the dura
associated with trauma
rotation
slow bleed

Question 17

Parts of the brain

Answer 17

cerebrum
cerebellum
brainstem

Question 18

Cerebum components

Answer 18

Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital

Question 19

Frontal lobe

Answer 19

voluntary motor functions, planning, mood, smell and social judgment

Question 20

Parietal lobe

Answer 20

receives and integrates sensory information

Question 21

Occipital lobe

Answer 21

visual center of brain

Question 22

Temporal lobe

Answer 22

areas for hearing, smell, learning, memory, emotional behavior

limbic system

Question 23

Anterior cranial fossa

Answer 23

Frontal lobes

Olfactory bulbs and tract

Question 24

Middle cranial fossa

Answer 24

Temporal lobes (and pituitary gland)

Question 25

Brainstem components

Answer 25

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata (respiration and heart rate)

Question 26

Function of brainstem

Answer 26

Produce rigidly programmed, automatic behaviors necessary for survival (like breathing)

Question 27

Cerebellum component

Answer 27

Arbor vitae (tree of life)

Question 28

Cerebellum function

Answer 28

balance, smooth/coordinated motion takes information from outside world inhibited by alcohol intake

Question 29

Posterior cranial fossa

Answer 29

Brainstem | Cerebellum

Question 30

Grey and white matter

Answer 30

Grey - cell bodies | White - axons

Question 31

Grey matter

Answer 31

nuclei deep within brain

Question 32

White matter

Answer 32

forms tracts that connects parts of the brain

Question 33

Ventricular system

Answer 33

CSF secreted 400-500 mL/day by cells in choroid plexus | Flows into cisterns, then superiorly through sulci and fissures of cerebrum

Question 34

Ventricular system function

Answer 34

buoyancy of brain | protective cushioning

Question 35

CSF absorption

Answer 35

Absorbed into venous system via arachnoid granulations

Question 36

Clinical correlate: hydrocephalus

Answer 36

Overproduction of CSF, flow obstruction, or malabsorption Excess CSF: dilates ventricles, thins brain

Question 37

Blood supply to the brain

Answer 37

internal carotid aa. | vertebral aa.

Question 38

Vertebral aa.

Answer 38

Branch of subclavian a. | Course through transverse foramina of vertebrae

Question 39

Vertebral aa. forms what?

Answer 39

Vertebral aa. come together to form basilar a. (over the pons)

Question 40

Circle of Willis

Answer 40

``` Anterior cerebral a. Middle cerebral a. Posterior cerebral a. Basilar a. Vertebral a. ``` All blood supply tp the brain

Question 41

Corpus callossum

Answer 41

Connects both sides of the brain

Question 42

Functions of the CSF

Answer 42

nutrients buoyancy shock absorption

Question 43

Venous drainage of the brain

Answer 43

Cerebral veins | Great cerebral veins

Question 44

Cerebral veins

Answer 44

neartest dural venous sinus

Question 45

Great cerebral vein

Answer 45

midline | merges with inferior sagittal sinus to form the straight sinus

Question 46

Spinal cord and meginges

Answer 46

Vertebral canal and spinal cord

Question 47

vertebral canal

Answer 47

spinal cord, meninges, spinal nerve roots

Question 48

spinal cord

Answer 48

continuation of the medulla oblongata | Ends ~T12-L3

Question 49

Two enlargements

Answer 49

cervical (gives rise to brachial plexus) and lumbosacral (gives rise to lumbar and sacral plexuses)

Question 50

What are the spinal meninges?

Answer 50

``` Dura mater Arachnoid mater Pia mater Epidural space Subarachnoid space ```

Question 51

Dura mater

Answer 51

forms dural sac, ends at S2

Question 52

What is deep to arachnoid mater?

Answer 52

subarachnoid space! cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 53

Clinical correlate: lumbar puncture

Answer 53

“spinal tap” Needle inserted into subarachnoid space to obtain sample of CSF from lumbar cistern Between L3 and L4

Question 54

Denticulate ligaments

Answer 54

sheet of pia mater, suspends spinal cord in the dural sac

Question 55

Conus medullaris and cauda equina

Answer 55

L1-L2 terminal end cauda equina

Question 56

Spinal nerves

Answer 56

``` 31 pairs: 8 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 1 coccygeal ```

Question 57

Where do rootlets converge?

Answer 57

dorsal and ventral roots

Question 58

Dorsal roots

Answer 58

afferent (sensory)

Question 59

Ventral roots

Answer 59

efferent (motor) to skeletal muscle and presynaptic autonomics

Question 60

What is a spinal nerve?

Answer 60

Dorsal root + Ventral root