Practical neuroanatomy 3: Forebrain, ventricles and CSF

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘primary sensory (or motor) cortex?

Answer 1

Area primarily responsible for that function.

Question 2

Which functional areas of cortex would be affected by blockage of the posterior cerebral artery?

Answer 2

Visual cortex
Pain and temperature sensation
?anything else

Question 3

Which cerebral arteries supply the primary projection cortex for general sensory information?

Answer 3

ACA

MCA

Question 4

Which cerebral artery supplies the primary auditory cortex?

Answer 4

MCA (inferior cortical branch)

Question 5

What is the function of association fibres?

Answer 5

Interconnect cortical sites lying within the same cerebral hemisphere.

Question 6

What is the function of commissural fibres?

Answer 6

Run from one hemisphere to the other connecting functionally related areas.

Question 7

What is the function of projection fibres?

Answer 7

Pass between the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures such as the thalamus, striatum, brainstem and spinal cord.

Question 8

Name the major commissure of the brain.

Answer 8

The corpus callosum.

Question 9

What are the main basal ganglia?

Answer 9

Dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen)
Ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle)
Globus pallidus
Ventral pallidum
Substantia nigra
Subthalamic nucleus

Question 10

What is the corpus striatum?

Answer 10

Corpus striatum = dorsal striatum + ventral striatum + globus pallidus

Question 11

What is the major function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 11

• Control of movement
• Interface with limbic system
• Involved in the physical expression of behaviours driven by affective and motivational states

Question 12

What are the anatomical divisions of the internal capsule?

Answer 12

Anterior limb (frontal part)
Genu (flexure)
Posterior limb (occipital part)

Question 13

What kind of fibres run the internal capsule?

Answer 13

Corticospinal
Corticobulbar
Various others in the retro- and sublenticular regions

Question 14

Which part of the ventricular system is located in the diencephalon?

Answer 14

Third ventricle

Question 15

Which part of the ventricular system is located in the midbrain?

Answer 15

?Cerebral aqueduct

Question 16

Which part of the ventricular system is located in the pons?

Answer 16

Fourth ventricle

Question 17

Where would you find the foramen of Magendie?

Answer 17

Medial aperture on caudal roof of fourth ventricle.

Question 18

Where would you find the foramen of Monro?

Answer 18

The interventricular foramen. Connects each lateral ventricle to the third ventricle.

Question 19

Where is the foramen of Luschka?

Answer 19

One on each side of the fourth ventricle.

Question 20

What is choroid plexus?

Answer 20

Formed by invagination of vascular pia mater into ventricular lumen. Found in lateral, third and fourth ventricles. Produces CSF. Most CSF is produced by the lateral ventricles.

Question 21

At which sites is blockage of CSF circulation most likely to occur?

Answer 21

1. cerebral aqueduct
2. Foramen of Monro
3. Foramina in fourth ventricle

Question 22

Which parts of the ventricular system would become enlarged if the foramen of Monro became blocked?

Answer 22

Lateral ventricle(s)

Question 23

Which parts of the ventricular system would become enlarged as a result of blockage at the fourth ventricle?

Answer 23

Cerebral aqueduct, lateral and third ventricles.

Question 24

Which parts of the ventricular system would become enlarged if the cerebral aqueduct became blocked?

Answer 24

Lateral and third ventricles.