🧠Neurology🧠 - Cerebral Cortex Flashcards
Where is the cerebral cortex found?
Covering the entire surface of the brain
How is the cerebral cortex organised?
Organised into lobes
Highly folded with gyri and sulci
What type of neural matter does the cortex consist of?
Grey matter - consisting of cell nuclei and glial cells
How is the cerebral cortex organised microscopically?
Organised into layers and columns
How many regions of the brain are there and what are they based on?
52 distinct regions identified by Korbinian Brodmann
Based on cytoarchitecture
Where is the primary motor cortex located?
Pre-central gyrus
Where is the primary somatosensory cortex located?
Post-central gyrus
Name the 4 lobes of the brain
Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
What are the roles associated with the frontal lobe?(5)
Regulating and initiating motor function
Language
Cognitive functions(executive function such as planning etc…)
Attention
Memory
What are the roles associated with the parietal lobe?
Sensation - touch, pain
Sensory aspects of language
Spatial orientation and self-perception
What is the main role of the occipital lobe?
Processing visual information
What are the roles associated with the temporal lobe?(3)
Processing auditory information
Emotions
Memories
What are the structures found within the limbic lobe?(4)
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Mamillary body
Cingulate gyrus
What are the main functions associated with the limbic lobe?(4)
Learning
Memory
Emotion
Motivation and reward
What is associated with the insular cortex?(5)
Visceral sensations
Autonomic control
Interoception
Auditory processing
Visual-vestibular integration
Where is the insular cortex located?
Lies deep, within the lateral fissure
What are the 2 types of matter located in the brain
Grey and white matter
What is contained within grey matter?
Neuronal cell bodies/nuclei and glial cell (~85 billion of each)
What is contained within white matter?
Myelinated neuronal axons, arranged in tracts
What is the function of the white matter tracts?
To connect cortical areas
What are association fibres?
Connect areas within the same hemisphere
Have both long and short fibres
What are commissural fibres?
Connect homologous structures in the left and right hemispheres
What are projection fibres?
Connect the cortex with lower brain structures (e.g. thalamus, brain stem, spinal cord etc…)
What does the superior longitudinal fasciculus connect?
The frontal and occipital lobes
What does the arcuate fasciculus connect?
The frontal and temporal lobes
(specifically Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas)
What does the inferior longitudinal fasciculus connect?
The temporal and occipital lobes
What does the uncinate fasciculus connect?
The anterior frontal and temporal lobes
Name the 2 most significant commissural fibre tracts
Corpus callosum
Anterior commissure
What are the 2 classifications of projection fibres?
Afferent - towards cortex
Efferent - away from cortex