S1) Topography of the Nervous System Flashcards
What are the four basic components of the central nervous system?
- Cerebral hemispheres
- Brainstem
- Cerebellum
- Spinal cord
What are the four basic components of the peripheral nervous system?
- Dorsal and ventral roots
- Spinal nerves
- Peripheral nerves
- Ganglia
Distinguish between the composition of grey matter and white matter
- Grey matter is composed of cell bodies and dendrites (highly vascular)
- White matter is composed of axons (+ supporting cells)
Why does grey matter contain axon terminals?
Grey matter contains axons to allow communication with white matter
Why is white matter white?
White matter is white due to the presence of fatty myelin
In the peripheral nervous system, identify the equivalent structures of the following:
- Grey matter
- White matter
- The PNS equivalent of grey matter is a ganglion
- The PNS equivalent of white matter is a peripheral nerve
How many segments does the spinal cord consist of?
The spinal cord is composed of 31 segments
Describe the structure of a spinal cord segment
- Central core of grey matter
- Outer shell of white matter
Each segment connects with a mixed spinal nerve through dorsal sensory roots and ventral motor roots
Identify three components of white matter
- Funiculus
- Tract
- Fasciculus
What is a funiculus?
- A funiculus is a segment of white matter containing multiple distinct tracts
- Impulses travel in multiple directions
What is a tract?
- A tract is an anatomically and functionally defined white matter pathway connecting two distinct regions of grey matter
- Impulses travel in one direction
What is a fasciculus?
A fasciculus is a subdivision of a tract supplying a distinct region of the body
Identify the three different regions of grey matter
What is a nucleus?
A nucleus is a collection of functionally related cell bodies (grey matter)
What is a cortex?
A cortex is a folded sheet of cell bodies found on the surface of a brain structure (grey matter)
What is a fibre?
A fibre is an axon in association with its supporting cells e.g. oligodendrocytes (synonymous with axon)
What are the three types of fibres found in the nervous system?
- Association fibres
- Commissural fibres
- Projection fibres
What do association fibres do?
Association fibres connect cortical regions within the same hemisphere
What do commisural fibres do?
Commissural fibres connect left and right hemispheres or cord halves
What do projection fibres do?
Projection fibres connect the cerebral hemispheres with the cord/brainstem and vice versa
What are the three components of the brainstem?
What is the function of the midbrain (mesencephalon)?
The midbrain regulates eye movements and reflex responses to sound and vision
Which processes are regulated by the pons?
- Feeding
- Sleep
Which key centres are found in the medulla?
- Cardiovascular and respiratory centres
- Major motor pathway (medullary pyramids)
Where is the central sulcus found?
Central sulcus is a key landmark separating the frontal and parietal lobes (coronal plane)
Which cortices are found in the following locations:
- Precentral gyrus
- Postcentral gyrus
- Precentral gyrus: contains primary motor cortex
- Postcentral gyrus: contains primary sensory cortex
Where is the lateral fissure found?
The lateral fissure is a key landmark separating the temporal lobe from the frontal/parietal lobes
Where is the parieto-occipital sulcus found?
Parieto-occipital sulcus is a key landmark separating the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe
Where is the calcarine sulcus found?
The calcarine sulcus is a key landmark surrounded by the primary visual cortex
What is the optic chiasm?
The optic chiasm is a site where fibres in the visual system cross over
What is the uncus?
- The uncus is a part of the temporal lobe that can herniate, compressing the midbrain
- It has an important olfactory role
What are the medullary pyramids?
The medullary pyramids are a location of descending motor fibres
What is the parahippocampal gyrus?
The parahippocampal gyrus is a key cortical region for memory encoding
What is the corpus callosum?
The corpus callosum consists of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
What is the thalamus?
The thalamus is a sensory relay station projecting to the sensory cortex
What is the cingulate gyrus?
The cingulate gyrus is a cortical area important for emotion and memory
What is the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus is an essential centre for homeostasis
What is the fornix?
The fornix is a major output pathway from the hippocampus
What is the tectum?
The tectum is the dorsal part of the midbrain involved in involuntary responses to auditory and visual stimuli
What is the cerebellar tonsil?
The cerebellar tonsil is a part of the cerebellum that can herniate and compress the medulla
Having developed from a hollow tube, the brain is itself hollow.
What are the cavities in the brain called?
The cavities in the brain are called ventricles
Describe the layout of the ventricular system
What is found inside the brain ventricles?
The ventricles each contain choroid plexus, which makes a total of 600-700ml of cerebrospinal fluid per day
What types of functions does CSF have?
CSF has both metabolic and mechanical functions
Describe the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
CSF circulates through the ventricular system and subarachnoid space before being reabsorbed at the arachnoid granulations in the superior sagittal sinus (and some other sites)
