Neuroanatomy - Wet Room (Week 1)

Question 1

What three structures make up the brainstem?

Answer 1

The midbrain, the pons and the medulla

Question 2

What cranial cavity does the brainstem lie in?

Answer 2

Posterior

Question 3

Embryologically what two primary vesicles of the neural tube give rise to the brainstem?

Answer 3

Mesencephalon and the rhombencephalon

Question 4

What two features are visible on the anterior aspect of the medulla?

Answer 4

Olives and pyramidal tracts

Question 5

What is contained within the olives?

Answer 5

The olivary nuclei

Question 6

What are the pyramidal tracts?

Answer 6

Tracts of neural tissue transmitting motor impulses to the body

Question 7

What features are visible on the posterior aspect of the medulla?

Answer 7

The dorsal columns

Question 8

Describe the organisation of the dorsal columns?

Answer 8

Two pairs

Lateral = gracile 
Medial = cuneate

Question 9

Where do the dorsal tracts transmit to?

Answer 9

The thalamus and then on to the cerebral cortex (dorsal tracts ascend)

Question 10

What features are visible on the anterior aspect of the midbrain?

Answer 10

The crus cerebri

Question 11

What are the visible features of the posterior aspect of the midbrain?

Answer 11

The pineal gland
The colliculi (superior and inferior) 
Cerebellar peduncles (inferior, medial and superior)

Question 12

What is the function of the pineal gland?

Answer 12

Produces melatonin (neurotransmitter)

Question 13

What is the function of the superior colliculi?

Answer 13

Visual

Question 14

What is the function of the inferior colliculi?

Answer 14

Hearing

Question 15

What neural structure originates inferiorly to the inferior colliculi?

Answer 15

The trochlear nerve

Question 16

What is the crus cerebri?

Answer 16

The exposed origin of the cerebral peduncle

Question 17

What are the cerebellar peduncles? What is the middle cerebellar peduncle made up of?

Answer 17

A grey matter structure transmitting commissural fibres to the cerebellum

Middle= centripetal fibres (incoming fibres)

Question 18

What are the cavities (of the ventricular system) that lie within the brainstem?

Answer 18

3rd and 4th ventricles

Question 19

The trigeminal (CN V) nerve originates from what structure?

Answer 19

Pons

Question 20

What part of the brain lies immediately superior to the midbrain?

Answer 20

Diencephalon

Question 21

What part of the brain lies immediately inferior to the midbrain?

Answer 21

Pons

Question 22

What comprises the diencephalon?

Answer 22

The thalamus and the hypothalamus

Question 23

What are the surface projections visible on the surface of the hypothalamus called?

Answer 23

Mamillary bodies

Question 24

What is the name given to the midline structure connecting the two cerebellar hemispheres?

Answer 24

Vermis

Question 25

Describe the lobular structure of the cerebellum

Answer 25

Anterior, posterior and flocularnodular lobes (tonsils are attached to this lobe)

Question 26

What part of the brain is the cerebellum anatomically connected to by the cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 26

The pons

Question 27

What is the name of the ventricular space that lies immediately anterior to the cerebellum

Answer 27

The fourth ventricle

Question 28

Identify the cranial cavity in which the cerebellum lies

Answer 28

Posterior

Question 29

Identify the foramen in the skill that the cerebellum sits above

Answer 29

The foramen magnum

Question 30

An increase in cerebellar pressure may cause coning, what is this?

Answer 30

Herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum

Question 31

What is the name given to the large fissure separating the two cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 31

The longitudinal fissure

Question 32

What are commissural fibres?

Answer 32

Fibres that transmit across the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 33

What are association fibres?

Answer 33

Fibres that transmits two two areas of the cortex

Question 34

What are projection fibres?

Answer 34

Efferent and afferent fibers uniting the cortex with the lower parts of the brain and with the spinal cord.

Question 35

What type of fibres are present in the corpus callosum?

Answer 35

Commissural

Question 36

What fold of dura sits above the cerebellum?

Answer 36

The tentorium cerebelli

Question 37

Which lobe contains the primary motor cortex?

Answer 37

Frontal

Question 38

Which lobe contains the primary visual cortex?

Answer 38

Occipital

Question 39

Which lobe contains the primary sensory cortex?

Answer 39

Parietal

Question 40

Which lobe contains the primary auditory cortex?

Answer 40

Temporal

Question 41

What are the functions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 41

Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement

Question 42

What are the functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 42

Hearing, learning and feelings

Question 43

What are the functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 43

Language and touch

Question 44

What are the functions of the occipital lobe?

Answer 44

Sight

Question 45

What are the functions of the cerebellum?

Answer 45

Balance and coordination

Question 46

What are the functions of the brainstem?

Answer 46

Breathing, heart rate and temperature

Question 47

What is Brocca's area?

Answer 47

Anterior speech centre responsible for motor speech

Question 48

What is Wernicke's area?

Answer 48

Posterior speech centre responsible for sensory speech

Question 49

Where specifically is the primary sensory cortex?

Answer 49

Post-central gyrus

Question 50

Where specifically is the primary motor cortex?

Answer 50

Pre-central gyrus

Question 51

Where does the spinal cord terminate in adults?

Answer 51

L1/L2

Question 52

Where does the spinal cord terminate in children?

Answer 52

L2/L3

Question 53

What structure occurs at the end of the spinal cord?

Answer 53

Conus medullaris

Question 54

Where does the dura mater terminate?

Answer 54

S3

Question 55

Why does the arachnoid mater terminate with the dura mater?

Answer 55

They are intimately linked

Question 56

What happens to the pia mater inferiorly to the spinal cord?

Answer 56

Becomes the filum terminale

Question 57

Where does the filum terminale attach inferiorly?

Answer 57

Coxyggeal bones

Question 58

What purpose does the filum terminale serve?

Answer 58

Anchors the spinal cord inferiorly

Question 59

What is an upper motor neurone?

Answer 59

Originates from the cerebral cortex, brainstem or spinal cord

Question 60

What is a lower motor neurone?

Answer 60

Originates distally to the upper motor neurones

Question 61

What lobes contains the limbic system?

Answer 61

The temporal

Question 62

What is the groove separating pons from medulla?

Answer 62

Pontomedullary junction

Question 63

What cranial nerves emerge from pontomedullary junction?

Answer 63

Abducens (VI), facial (VII), vestibulocochlear (VIII)

Question 64

Which cranial nerve has longest intracranial course?

Answer 64

Abducens (VI)

Question 65

What is the clinical significance of abducens nerve?

Answer 65

It is vulnerable to injury by increased intracranial pressure and mechanical injury. Damage to the nerve causes diplopia

Question 66

Where does decussation of pyramids occur?

Answer 66

Nerves cross at anterior median fissure of medulla

Question 67

Name the various sulci

Answer 67

Lateral sulcus (also called Lateral sylvian fissure), central sulcus, parieto-occipital sulcus, calcarine sulcus

Question 68

At what vertebral level do you perform a lumbar puncture in adults?

Answer 68

L3/L4

Question 69

At what vertebral level do you perform a lumbar puncture in children?

Answer 69

L4/L5

Question 70

What type of motor neurone lesion is damage to cauda equina ?

Answer 70

Lower motor neurone lesion

Question 71

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 71

31

Question 72

How do you position a patient for a lumbar puncture?

Answer 72

Lean forward, flex spine (increase interspinous distance)