PBL Flashcards
1
Q
List the 4 main divisions of the brain.
A
- Brainstem
- Cerebellum
- Diencephalon
- Cerebrum
2
Q
What fascial layers cover the brain?
A
The meninges.
3
Q
Which fluid bathes the brain?
A
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
4
Q
What does the grey matter of brain contain?
A
Neuronal cell bodies
5
Q
Where is grey matter found in the brain?
A
In the surface of the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, as well as in several deep nuclei/ganglia.
6
Q
What is white matter of the brain formed by?
A
Myelinated neuronal axons
7
Q
White matter connects the brain to…
A
The spinal cord and cranial nerves.
8
Q
Which forms more of the brain, grey or white matter?
A
White matter.
9
Q
What three structures make up the brainstem?
A
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla oblongata
10
Q
Describe the anatomical position of the brainstem.
A
- Lies medially and inferiorly
2. Continuous inferiorly with spinal cord at foramen magnum
11
Q
Fibres of the brainstem connect…
A
The peripheral and central nervous systems.
12
Q
What does the brainstem contain?
A
- The nuclei from which most cranial nerves originate
2. Vital centres that regulate breathing, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and consciousness
13
Q
What is the most inferior portion of the brainstem?
A
The medulla oblongata
14
Q
What nuclei are contained in the medulla oblongata?
A
- Cardiac centre
- Respiratory centre
- Vasomotor centre
- Special senses nuclei
- Cranial nerve nuclei
15
Q
What does the cardiac centre in the medulla oblongata do?
A
Regulates heart rate and the force of contraction.
16
Q
What does the respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata do?
A
Regulates respiratory movements.
17
Q
What does the vasomotor centre in the medulla oblongata do?
A
Regulates blood vessel diameter.
18
Q
Which special senses nuclei are located in the medulla oblongata?
A
- Gustatory nucleus (taste)
- Cochlear nuclei (hearing)
- Vestibular nuclei (hearing)
19
Q
Which cranial nerve nuclei are located in the medulla oblongata?
A
- CN IX - glossopharyngeal
- CN X - vagus
- CN XI - accessory
- CN XII - hypoglossal
20
Q
Where is the pons located within the brainstem?
A
On the anterior surface in front of the cerebellum.
21
Q
What fibres make up the pons?
A
- Fibres descending from cerebrum to cerebellum and spinal cord
- Ascending fibres to the thalamus
- Fibres that connect the two lobes of the cerebellum
22
Q
Which nuclei are contained within the pons?
A
- Pontine nuclei
2. Cranial nerve nuclei
23
Q
What do the Pontine nuclei of the pons do?
A
Connect the cerebrum to the cerebellum and co-ordinate voluntary movement
24
Q
Which cranial nerve nuclei are located within the pons?
A
- CN V - trigeminal
- CN VI - abducens
- CN VII - facial
- CN VIII - Vestibulocochlear
25
Which nuclei of the pons are located anteriorly and which are located posteriorly?
Anteriorly: pontine nuclei
Posteriorly: cranial nerve nuclei
26
What is the smallest part of the brain stem?
The midbrain - 1.5cm
27
List some of the things that the midbrain is responsible for.
1. Visual response
2. Gustatory response
3. Co-ordination of movement
28
List some features of the midbrain.
1. Cranial nerve nuclei
2. Central grey substance
3. Reticular formation
29
Which cranial nerve nuclei are located in the midbrain?
1. CN III - oculomotor
| 2. CN IV - trochlear
30
What does the central grey substance of the midbrain do?
Surrounds the cerebral aqueduct and controls our perception of pain.
31
What is the reticular formation of the midbrain?
1. Series of important nuclei scattered throughout upper brainstem and spinal cord
2. Receive sensory information from the body and motor signals from cerebrum
3. Important in the arousal and maintenance of consciousness and wake/sleep cycle
32
Briefly describe the location and composition of the cerebellum.
1. Located in the posterior part of the cranium, inferior to occipital and temporal lobes
2. Consists of 2 hemispheres
33
List some functions of the cerebellum.
1. Controls muscle co-ordination
2. Maintains balance and equilibrium
3. Fine tunes movements at conscious and subconscious levels
34
What structure separates the cerebellum from the pons and medulla oblongata?
The fourth ventricle
35
Where does the cerebellum receive information from?
1. Cerebral cortex
2. Eyes
3. Ear
4. Muscles of the body
36
The cerebellum sends feedback to the cortex to initiate any necessary adjustments via the…
Thalamus
37
Where is diencephalon located?
Between the brainstem and cerebrum
38
What structures make up the Diencephalon?
1. Thalamus
2. Hypothalamus
3. Epithalamus
39
Which four groups of nuclei make up each of the masses of the thalamus?
1. Anterior group
2. Lateral group
3. Medial group
4. Ventral group
40
State a function of the anterior group of nuclei of the thalamus.
Helps to control mood as part of the Limbic system
41
What are the lateral group of nuclei of the thalamus linked to?
The association areas and the Limbic system
42
What is the medial group of nuclei of the thalamus involved with?
Emotions and connected to the prefrontal cortex
43
What is the ventral group of nuclei of the thalamus involved with?
Involved in motor functions and connects the basal nuclei and motor cortex
44
The thalamus is a major relay centre. Which three pathways does it receive fibres from?
1. Sensory fibres from spinal cord and brainstem
2. Motor fibres from cerebellum
3. Intercerebellar fibres relays from one area of cerebral cortex to another
45
Describe the position of the hypothalamus.
Inferior to thalamus, inferior and lateral to anterior aspect of third ventricle.
46
What structures constrict the hypothalamus?
The optic chiasma anteriorly and mammillary bodies posteriorly.
47
Which structure connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?
The infundibulum/pituitary stalk
48
List some of the things that are regulated by the hypothalamus. (7)
1. Emotion
2. Autonomic control
3. Hunger
4. Satiety
5. Immunity
6. Memory input
7. Anger control
49
Describe the hypothalamus’ role in thermoregulation.
Functions as the body’s thermostat, stimulating the autonomic nervous system to promote or reduce heat loss.
50
Briefly describe the role the hypothalamus plays in controlling the endocrine system.
1. It secretes releasing and inhibiting hormones which either stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary.
2. Neurons from the hypothalamus produce hormones that travel along their axons to the posterior pituitary, stimulating it to release hormones.
51
What is the role of the hypothalamus in water balance and thirst?
It responds to an increase in extracellular fluid to stimulate the feeling of thirst.
52
What is the largest part of the brain?
The cerebrum
53
The outer layer of the cerebrum is composed of grey matter. What is it called?
Cerebral cortex
54
What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?
1. Analysis of sensory input
2. Memory
3. Learning
4. Cognitive thought
55
What is the largest lobe of the cerebrum?
The frontal lobe
56
Which sulcus’ separate the frontal lobe from the parietal and temporal lobes?
Parietal: posteriorly by central sulcus
Temporal: inferiorly by lateral sulcus
57
What areas are found within the frontal lobe?
1. Primary motor area (movement)
2. Motor association area (movement)
3. Primary olfactory cortex (smell)
4. Broca’s area (motor speech production)
58
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
1. Cognitive thought and memory
| 2. Control of voluntary movements
59
What areas are found within the temporal lobe?
1. Primary auditory area (hearing)
2. Auditory association area (hearing)
3. Wernicke’s area (speech comprehension)
60
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
1. Special senses (hearing and smell)
2. Learning and memory (retrieval)
3. Emotions
61
Which gyrus is contained within the parietal lobe?
Anteriorly, the postcentral gyrus
62
Which sulcus separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe?
The parietal-occipital sulcus.
63
Which areas are found within the parietal lobe?
1. Primary somatosensory area
| 2. Sensory association area (general senses)
64
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
1. Body orientation
2. Primary gustatory cortex (taste)
3. Sensory integration
65
Which areas are found within the occipital lobe?
1. Primary visual area
| 2. Visual association area
66
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
Visual interpretation
67
What is the function of the gyri and Sulci of the cerebral cortex?
To increase surface area.
68
Describe the longitudinal fissure of the cerebrum.
A large fissure running from back to front along the sagittal plane, dividing the cerebrum in to left and right hemispheres.
69
Describe the central sulcus of the cerebrum.
Descends downwards and forwards from the top of the hemisphere to separate the frontal and parietal lobes.
70
Describe the parietal-occipital sulcus of the cerebrum.
Descends downwards and forwards mainly inside the longitudinal fissure to separate parietal and occipital lobes.
71
Describe the lateral sulcus of the cerebrum.
Found on lateral side of the brain, separates frontal and temporal lobes.
72
The majority of the cerebral mass is formed by…
White matter
73
List the three types of tracts found within the cerebrum.
1. Association tracts
2. Commissural tracts
3. Projection tracts
74
What are the motor and sensory homunculi?
Disproportionate maps of the body used to demonstrate the relative portion of cerebral cortex dedicated to each area of the body e.g. more of cerebral cortex involved with hand than thigh.
75
Which arteries supply blood to the brain?
The two internal carotid arteries and two vertebral arteries.
