Neuroanatomy Revision

Question 1

List the ascending somatosensory pathways

Answer 1

Dorsal Column
Spinothalamic
Spinocerebellar
Trigeminal

Question 2

Dorsal Column Pathway

Answer 2

Conscious sensations
light touch and proprioceptive information from the limbs and trunk
contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates at the level of the brainstem

Question 3

Spinothalamic

Answer 3

nociception and temperature

contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates at the level of the spinal cord

Question 4

spinocerebellar

Answer 4

proprioceptive information

Question 5

Trigeminal system

Answer 5

All sensation from the face and head

contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates in the brainstem

Question 6

List the descending pathways - motor

Answer 6

Corticobulbar
Corticospinal 
Reticulospinal 
Rubrospinal 
Vestibulospinal

Question 7

Corticobulbar Pathway

Answer 7

Voluntary motor control
Innervates the muscles of the face and head
Contralateral and ipsilateral supply

Question 8

Corticospinal Pathway

Answer 8

Voluntary motor control
Innervates the muscles of the limbs and trunk
Contralateral supply
- anterior tract decussates in the brainstem
- lateral tract decussates in the spinal cord

Question 9

Vestibulospinal Pathway

Answer 9

Involuntary motor control
postural control and balance of muscles of the limbs and trunk
ipsilateral supply

Question 10

Reticulospinal Pathway

Answer 10

Involuntary motor control
controls resting postural tone of all muscles
Lateral tract - arises from the medulla, has ipsilateral and contralateral fibres
Medial tract - arises from the pons, has only ipsilateral fibres

Question 11

Parietal lobe

Answer 11

sensory integration
object manipulation
houses the post-central gyrus

Question 12

Frontal Lobe

Answer 12

conscious thought, deduction, reasoning, higher order thinking
houses the pre-central gyrus
houses Broca’s area

Question 13

Temporal Lobe

Answer 13

auditory perception
long term memory function
houses Wernicke’s area

Question 14

Occipital Lobe

Answer 14

vision

Question 15

Pre-central gyrus

Answer 15

primary motor cortex

control of sequences of movement that involve multiple muscles groups

Question 16

Post-central gyrus

Answer 16

primary somatosensory cortex

Question 17

Pre-motor cortex

Answer 17

located anterior to the primary motor cortex in the frontal lobe
involved in complicated task processing and generation of complex movements
selects movement tasks

Question 18

Supplementary motor area

Answer 18

located medially to the pre motor cortex
programs complex movement sequences and coordinates bilateral movements
selects movement patterns

Question 19

Generation of movement

Answer 19

SMA - basal ganglia - pre motor cortex and primary motor cortex - descending pathways - anterior horn cell of the spinal cord - LMN - muscles

Question 20

Basal Ganglia

Answer 20

Caudate nucleus 
Putamen 
Nucleus Accumbens 
Globus pallidus 
Subthalamic nucleus 
Substantia Niagra 

Motor Function - modulates motor programs received from the motor cortex in order to ensure normal and appropriate movement. Will either inhibit or amplify the motor plan

Cognitive Function - complex, selects emotional and executive programs. Involved in learning and memory

Question 21

Limbic System

Answer 21

Cingulate gyrus 
Amygdala 
Hippocampus 
Septal nuclei 
Hypothalamus 
Olfactory bulb 

Function - fighting, fleeing, feeing, fornication and forgetting (memory)

Question 22

Cerebellum

Answer 22

Modifies motor commands of descending pathways in order to produce accurate movement 
Maintains balance and posture 
Coordinates voluntary movement 
Motor learning 
Involved in language

Question 23

Anterior Cerebral Artery

Answer 23

branches from the internal carotid artery
Supplies -
medial aspects of the frontal and parietal lobes
pre central and post central gyri
olfactory tract
anterior hypothalamus
caudate nucleus and putamen in basal ganglia

Question 24

Middle Cerebral Artery

Answer 24

branches from the internal carotid artery
Supplies -
lateral cerebral cortex of all lobes

Question 25

Posterior Cerebral Artery

Answer 25

branches from the basilar artery 
Supplies - 
midbrain 
thalamus 
temporal lobe
occipital lobe

Question 26

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Answer 26

branches from the vertebral artery 
Supplies - 
spinothalamic tract 
posterior and anterior spinocerebellar tracts 
nucleus ambiguous