Overview of the nervous system

Question 1

Define the components of the central and peripheral nervous system

Answer 1

CNS = spinal cord & brain PNS = 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves and their branches

Question 2

What cell types are present in the brain?

Answer 2

Neurons, Glial cells - astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells

Question 3

What is the basic function of a neuron?

Answer 3

‘Communicators’ - they receive information via synapses, integrate and then transmit electrical impulses to another neuron or effector cell. Most are multipolar with many dendrites and one axon

Question 4

What do astrocytes do?

Answer 4

Roles in support, maintaining the blood-brain-barrier and environmental homeostasis. Astrocytes are often star shaped due to their numerous processes

Question 5

What do oligodendrocytes do?

Answer 5

Produce myelin in the CNS (NOT IN THE PNS)

Question 6

What is the function of microglia?

Answer 6

Immune monitoring and antigen presentation (similar lineage to macrophages i.e. haemopoietic origin)

Question 7

What do ependymal cells do?

Answer 7

They are composed of ciliated cuboidal/columnar epithelium and line the ventricles in the brain

Question 8

What is grey and white matter?

Answer 8

Grey matter - huge numbers of neurons, cell processes, synapses and support cells White matter - axons (most myelinated hence ‘white’) and their support cells

Question 9

Where is the grey and white matter in the brain?

Answer 9

Grey matter on the outside, white matter on the inside

Question 10

Where is the grey and white matter in the spinal cord?

Answer 10

Grey matter on the inside (‘H-shape’), white matter on the outside

Question 11

Name the lobes of the brain

Answer 11

Frontal, parietal, temporal & occipital (also limbic and insula)

Question 12

Name the divisions of the brainstem

Answer 12

Midbrain, Pons, Medulla Oblongata (MPMO)

Question 13

Identify labels A, B, C and D

Answer 13

A = precentral gyrus B = central sulcus C = postcentral gyrus D = lateral (Sylvian) fissure

Question 14

Identify structures 1-8 on this coronal view of the brain

Answer 14

1 = longitudinal fissure 2 = corpus callosum 3 = internal capsule 4 = 3rd ventricle 5 = putamen 6 = globus pallidus 7 = thalamus 8 = lateral ventricle

5 & 6 = lentiform nucleus

Question 15

Identify the horns and columns on this axial section of the spinal cord (A-E)

Answer 15

A = dorsal (posterior) horn B = dorsal column C = lateral column D = ventral (anterior) column E = ventral horn

Question 16

Which labels show the cingulate sulcus and gyrus?

Answer 16

1 & 2

Question 17

Which label demonstrates the calacrine sulcus?

Answer 17

7

Question 18

Which label shows the parieto-occipital sulcus?

Answer 18

8

Question 19

Identify the missing labels

Answer 19

1 = Fornix 2 = Corpus callosum 3 = Pineal gland 4 = 4th ventricle 5 = central canal

Question 20

Name the 3 meningeal layers from superficial to deep

Answer 20

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Question 21

Label the 4 ventricles on this diagram

Answer 21

Lateral ventricles -> 3rd ventricle -> 4th ventricle

Question 22

Identify the arteries labelled 1-6 and the name of the anastomosis above the optic chiasm

Answer 22

1 = anterior cerebral arteries 2 = middle cerebral arteries 3 = posterior cerebral arteries 4 = vertebral arteries 5 = basilar artery 6 = internal carotid arteries Anastomosis = circle of Willis

Question 23

Identify the arterial supply to these territories (i.e. which colour = which arterial supply?)

Answer 23

Blue = anterior cerebral artery Pink = middle cerebral artery Green = posterior cerebral artery