Planes & Direction in the Human Nervous System Flashcards
Horizontal Sections
Slices of the brain are cut horizontally, assuming the person is standing upright. (parallel to the ground) (taking a lil off the top)
Sagittal Sections
Midsagittal Sections
- Slices of the brain that are parallel to the sagittal plane.
(think cutting downwards to the table) - When the brain is cut in half right down the middle, right through the sagittal plane.
Coronal Sections
Slices of the brain that cut into the frontal plane, across the face.
(the king got his face cut off)
Cross Sections
Cutting a structure of the brain at a right angle.
Differentiate between…
Anterior & Posterior
Anterior- To the front
Posterior- To the back
Differentiate between…
Dorsal & Ventral
Dorsal- Behind (back)
Ventral- In front (belly)
Differentiate between…
Medial & Lateral
Medial- Towards the midline of the sagittal plane.
Lateral- Away from the midline of the sagittal plane.
Differentiate between…
Superior & Inferior
Superior- Above
Inferior- Below
Differentiate between…
Unilateral & Bilateral
Unilateral- One side of the body
Bilateral- Both sides of the body
What does it mean for a neural signal to be Ipsilateral?
What does it mean for a neural signal to be Contralateral?
Ipsilateral- the signal is sent FROM the same side of the body
Contralateral- the signal is sent FROM the opposite side of the body
What is Decussation?
Decussation refers to the crossing over of nerve fibers from one side of the brain to another. These decussated nerve fibers allow for contralateral signaling.
Anterior is also known as…
Posterior is also known as…
- Anterior- Rostral
(begins at the front of the face) - Posterior- Caudal
(back of the head)
All contralateral fibers must…
Decussate.
A pathway from the right hand to the left side of the brain is said to be a _________ pathway.
Contralateral.
