neurology and neuroscience Flashcards
what are the 4 main characteristics of the cerebral cortex?
covers entire surface (very thin)
together with deep nuclei (such as in the thalamus) contains grey matter
highly folded with gyri and solci
organised into lobes
what is the microscopic organisation of the cerebral cortex?
6 layers
(I closest to surface, VI deepest)
also columns
how are regions of the cortex classified?
based on cytoarchitecture - cell size, space/packing density, layers
often correlates with function
what are the functions of the frontal lobe?
regulate and initiate motor function
language
cognitive function - e.g planning
attention
memory
what are the functions of the parietal lobe?
sensation - touch, pain
sensory language aspects
spatial orientation and self perception
what are the functions of the occipital lobe?
visual input
what are the functions of the temporal lobe?
processing auditory information
emotions
forming memories
what are the functions of the limbic lobe?
learning
memory
emotion
motivation and reward
what are the functions of the insular cortex (under lateral fissure between temporal and frontal lobe)?
concerned with visceral sensations
autonomic control, and interoception, auditory processing, visual-vestibular integration
(inputs coming in from visual pathway and balance organs)
what is grey matter (outside)?
neuronal cell bodies and glial cells
what is white matter(inside)?
Myelinated neuronal axons arranged in tracts
neuronal cell bodies make their way out of brain to spinal cord/ peripheral nerves
what are the 3 main types of white matter tract?
association, commissural and projection fibres
which cortical areas do association fibres connect?
connect areas within the same hemisphere
which cortical areas do commissural fibres connect?
connect homologous structure in left and right hemispheres (cross the midline)
which cortical areas do projection fibres connect?
connect cortex with lower brain structures (e.g. thalamus, brain stem and spinal cord)
what do short association fibres/U fibres connect?
adjacent cortical regions (usually same lobe)
what are the 4 types of long association fibres?
superior longitudinal fasciculus
arcuate fasciculus
inferior longitudinal fasciculus
uncinate fasciculus
what two lobes does the superior longitudinal fasciculus connect?
frontal and occipital
what two lobes does the arcuate fasciculus connect?
frontal and temporal
what two lobes does the inferior longitudinal fasciculus connect?
temporal and occipital
what two lobes does the uncinate fasciculus connect?
anterior frontal and temporal
what is the corpus callosum an example of?
commissural fibres (connects left and right hemispheres)
what is the structure inferior to the corpus callosum that connects the left and right hemispheres?
anterior commissure
how are projection fibres arranged?
make way down from cortical layers down towards deeper structures
converge through internal capsule between thalamus and basal ganglia
go down into spina cord to go out to structures such as limbs