Neuroanatomy Revision Flashcards
List the ascending somatosensory pathways
Dorsal Column
Spinothalamic
Spinocerebellar
Trigeminal
Dorsal Column Pathway
Conscious sensations
light touch and proprioceptive information from the limbs and trunk
contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates at the level of the brainstem
Spinothalamic
nociception and temperature
contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates at the level of the spinal cord
spinocerebellar
proprioceptive information
Trigeminal system
All sensation from the face and head
contralateral - secondary afferent neuron decussates in the brainstem
List the descending pathways - motor
Corticobulbar Corticospinal Reticulospinal Rubrospinal Vestibulospinal
Corticobulbar Pathway
Voluntary motor control
Innervates the muscles of the face and head
Contralateral and ipsilateral supply
Corticospinal Pathway
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
Vestibulospinal Pathway
Involuntary motor control
postural control and balance of muscles of the limbs and trunk
ipsilateral supply
Reticulospinal Pathway
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
Parietal lobe
sensory integration
object manipulation
houses the post-central gyrus
Frontal Lobe
conscious thought, deduction, reasoning, higher order thinking
houses the pre-central gyrus
houses Broca’s area
Temporal Lobe
auditory perception
long term memory function
houses Wernicke’s area
Occipital Lobe
vision
Pre-central gyrus
primary motor cortex
control of sequences of movement that involve multiple muscles groups
Post-central gyrus
primary somatosensory cortex
Pre-motor cortex
located anterior to the primary motor cortex in the frontal lobe
involved in complicated task processing and generation of complex movements
selects movement tasks
Supplementary motor area
located medially to the pre motor cortex
programs complex movement sequences and coordinates bilateral movements
selects movement patterns
Generation of movement
SMA - basal ganglia - pre motor cortex and primary motor cortex - descending pathways - anterior horn cell of the spinal cord - LMN - muscles
Basal Ganglia
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
Limbic System
Cingulate gyrus Amygdala Hippocampus Septal nuclei Hypothalamus Olfactory bulb
Function - fighting, fleeing, feeing, fornication and forgetting (memory)
Cerebellum
Modifies motor commands of descending pathways in order to produce accurate movement Maintains balance and posture Coordinates voluntary movement Motor learning Involved in language
Anterior Cerebral Artery
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
Middle Cerebral Artery
branches from the internal carotid artery
Supplies -
lateral cerebral cortex of all lobes
Posterior Cerebral Artery
branches from the basilar artery Supplies - midbrain thalamus temporal lobe occipital lobe
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
branches from the vertebral artery Supplies - spinothalamic tract posterior and anterior spinocerebellar tracts nucleus ambiguous
