Preparatory Exam Flashcards
Nissl Stain
A cell stain that reveals all cell bodies by staining RNA
- traditional cell stains
- outline all cell bodies because the dyes are attracted to RNA distributed within the cell
- allow us to measure cell body size and the density of cells in particular regions
Golgi Stain
A cell stain that fills a small proportion of neurons with a dense dark product
- label only a small minority of neurons in a sample
- affected cells are stained very deeply and completely, revealing fine details of cell structure such as the branches of dendrites and axons
- useful for quantifying the types and precise shape of neurons in a region
- number of variants on this strategy, such as filling cells with fluorescent molecules
Gross Neuroanatomy
Anatomical features of the nervous system that are apparent to the naked eye
Peripheral nervous system
The portion of the nervous system that includes all the nerves and neurons outside the brain and spinal cord
Central nervous system (CNS)
The portion of the nervous system that includes the brain and the spinal cord
Nerve
A collection of axons bundled together outside the central nervous system
Motor nerve
A nerve that conveys neural activity to muscle tissue and causes it to contract
Ensor nerve
A nerve that conveys sensory information from the periphery into the central nervous system
Somatic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that provides neural connections to the skeletal musculature
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that supplies neural connections to glands and to smooth muscles of internal organs
Cranial nerve
A nerve that is connected directly to the brain.
We each have 12 pairs of cranial nerves; one left sided and one right sided nerve in each pair
Spinal nerve
Also called somatic nerve.
A nerve that emerges from the spinal cord
Dorsal root
The branch of a spinal nerve, entering the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, that carries sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the spinal cord
Ventral root
The branch of a spinal nerve, arising from the ventral horn of the spinal cord, that carries motor messages from the spinal cord to the peripheral nervous system
Cervical
Referring to the topmost eight segments below the cervical (neck) portion of the spinal cord
Thoracic
Referring to the 12 spinal segments below the cervical (neck) portion of the spinal cord, corresponding to the chest
Lumbar
Referring to five spinal segments that make up the upper part of the lower back
Sacral
Referring to the five spinal segments that make up the lower part of the lower back
Coccygeal
Referring to the lowest spinal vertebra (also called tailbone)
Autonomic ganglia
Collections of nerve cell bodies, belonging to the autonomic division of the peripheral nervous system, that are found in various locations an innervate the major organs
Preganglionic
“Before the ganglion”
Referring to neurons in the autonomic nervous system that run from the central nervous system to the autonomic ganglia
Postganglionic
“After the ganglion”
Referring to neurons in the autonomic nervous system that run from the autonomic ganglia to various targets in the body
Sympathetic nervous system
A component of the autonomic nervous system that arises from the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
Sympathetic chain
A chain of ganglia that runs along each side of the spinal column; part of the sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
A component of the autonomic nervous system that arises from both the cranial nerves and the sacral spinal cord
Norepinephrine
(Also called Noradrenaline)
A neurotransmitter produced and released by sympathetic postganglionic neurons to accelerate organ activity.
Also produced in the brain stem and found in projections throughout the brain
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter produced and released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons, by motor neurons, and by neurons throughout the brain
Enteric nervous system
An extensive mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gut
Cerebral hemispheres
The right and left halves of the forebrain
Cerebral cortex
(Or simply called cortex)
The outer covering of the cerebral hemispheres that consists largely of neuronal cell bodies and their branches
Gyrus
A ridged or raised portion of a convulsed brain surface
Sulcus
A furrow of a convulted brain surface
Frontal lobe
The most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex
Parietal lobe
Large region of cortex lying between the frontal and occipital lobes of each hemisphere
Temporal lobe
Large lateral cortical region of each cerebral hemisphere, continuous with the parietal lobe posteriorly and separated from the frontal lobe by the Sylvian fissure
Occipital lobe
Large region of cortex covering much of the posterior part of each cerebral hemisphere
Sylvian fissure
Also called lateral sulcus.
A deep fissure that demarcates the temporal lobe
Central sulcus
A fissure that divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
Postcentral gyrus
The strip of parietal cortex, just behind the central sulcus, that receives somatosensory information from the entire body
Precentral gyrus
The strip of frontal cortex, just in front of the central sulcus, that is crucial for motor control
Gray matter
Areas of the brain that are dominated by cell bodies and are devoid of myelin
White matter
A pale-colored layer underneath the cortex that consists largely of axons with white myelin sheaths
Neural tube
An embryonic structure with subdivisions that correspond to the future forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain
Forebrain
Also called prosencephalon.
The anterior division of the brain, containing the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus and the hypothalamus
Midbrain
Also called Mesencephalon.
The middle division of the brain.
Hindbrain
Also called Rhombencephalon.
The rear division of the brain, which in the mature vertebrate contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla
Telencephalon
The frontal subdivision of the forebrain that includes the cerebral hemispheres when fully developed
Diencephalon
The posterior part of the forebrain, including the thalamus and hypothalamus
Metencephalon
A subdivision of the hindbrain that includes the cerebellum and the pons.
Cerebellum
A structure located at the back of the brain, dorsal to the pons, that is involved in the central regulation of movement
Pons
A portion of the metencephalon: part of the brain stem connecting midbrain to medulla
Medulla
Also called myelencephalon. The posterior part of the hindbrain, continuous with the spinal cord.
Brain stem
The region of the brain that consists of the midbrain, the pons and the medulla
Nucleus
Here, a collection of neurons within the central nervous system (e.g. the caudate nucleus)
Tract
A bundle of axons found within the central nervous system
Allocortex
Cortical tissue with three layers or unlayered organization, in contrast with six-layered neocortex
Pyramidal cell
A type of large nerve cell that has a roughly pyramid-shaped cell body; found in the cerebral cortex
Apical dendrite
The dendrite that extends from a pyramid cell to the outermost surface of the cortex
Basal dendrite
One of several dendrites on a pyramidal cell that extend horizontally from the cell body
Cortical column
One of the vertical columns that constitute the basic organization of the neocortex
Basal ganglia
A group of forebrain nuclei, including caudate nucleus, Globus Pallidus, and putamen, found deep within the cerebral hemispheres
Caudate nucleus
One of the basal ganglia; it has a long extension / tail
Putamen
One of the basal ganglia
Globus pallidus
One of the basal ganglia
Substantia nigra
A brain stem structure in humans that innervates the basal ganglia and is named for its dark pigmentation
Limbic system
A loosely defined, widespread group of brain nuclei that innervate each other to form a network
Amygdala
A group of nuclei in the medial anterior part of the temporal lobe
Mammillary body
One of a pair of nuclei at the base of the brain
Hippocampus
A medial temporal lobe structure that is important for learning and memory
Fornix
A fiber tract that extends from the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies
Septal nuclei
A collection of gray matter structures lying medically below the corpus callosum, implicated in the perception of reward
Cingulate gyrus
A cortical portion of the limbic system, found in the frontal and parietal midline
Olfactory bulb
An anterior projection of the brain that terminates in the upper nasal passages and, through small openings in the skull, provides receptors for smell
Stria terminalis
A limbic pathway connecting the amygdala and hypothalamus
Thalamus
The brain regions that surround the third ventricle
Hypothalamus
Part of the diencephalon, lying ventral to the thalamus
Tectum
The dorsal portion of the midbrain, including the inferior and superior colliculi
Superior colliculi
Paired gray matter structures of the dorsal midbrain that receive visual information and are involved in direction of visual gaze and visual attention to intended stimuli
Inferior colliculi
Paired gray matter structures of the dorsal midbrain that receive auditory information
Red nucleus
A brain stem structure related to motor control
Reticular formation
An extensive region of the brain stem (extending from the medulla through the thalamus) that is involved in arousal (waking)
Purkinje cell
A type of large nerve cell in the cerebellar cortex
Granule cell
A type of small nerve cell
Parallel fiber
One of the axons of the granule cells that that form the outermost layer of the cerebellar cortex
Meninges
The three protective sheets of tissue - dura mater, pia mater and arachnoid - that surround the brain and spinal cord
Dura mater
The outermost of the three meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord
Pia mater
The innermost of the three meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord
Arachnoid
The thin covering (one of the three meninges) of the brain that lies between dura mater and pia mater
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
The fluid that fills the cerebral ventricles
Ventricular system
A system of fluid-filled cavities inside the brain
Lateral ventricle
A complexly shaped lateral portion of the ventricular system within each hemisphere of the brain
Choroid plexus
A highly vascular portion of the lining of the ventricles that secretes cerebrospinal fluid
Third ventricle
The midline ventricle that conducts cerebrospinal fluid from the lateral ventricle to the fourth ventricle
Fourth ventricle
The passageway within the pons that receives cerebrospinal fluid from the third ventricle and releases it to surround the brain and spinal cord
Carotid arteries
The major arteries that ascend the left and right sides of the neck to the brain, supplying blood to the anterior and middle cerebral arteries
Blood-brain barrier
The mechanisms that make the movement of substances from blood vessels into brain cells more difficult than exchanges in other body organs, thus affording the brain greater protection from exposure to some substances found in the blood
