S4) General Organisation and Functional Anatomy of the Brain and Brainstem

Question 1

Identify the basic components of the CNS

Answer 1

• Cerebral hemispheres
• Brainstem and cerebellum
• Spinal cord

Question 2

Identify the basic components of the PNS

Answer 2

• Dorsal and ventral roots
• Spinal nerves
• Peripheral nerves

Question 3

Compare and contrast the CNS and PNS in terms of:

• Regeneration
• Sophistication
• Myelination
• Tumours
• Immunity

Answer 3

Question 4

Where are the inferior and superior parts of the brain located?

Answer 4

Because the human brain ‘flexes’ at around the level of the midbrain:

• The superior part of the hemisphere = dorsal
• The inferior part of the hemisphere = ventral

Question 5

Identify the three parts of the brainstem

Answer 5

Question 6

What is the role of the midbrain/mesencephalon?

Answer 6

Regulates eye movements and reflex responses to sound and vision

Question 7

What is the role of the pons?

Answer 7

• Regulates feeding
• Regulates sleep

Question 8

Describe the structure and function of the medulla

Answer 8

• Structure: contains medullary pyramids (major motor pathway)
• Function: regulates cardiovascular and respiratory systems

Question 9

Define the term decussation

Answer 9

Decussation is the principle that the body is controlled by the contralateral side of the brain

Question 10

What are gyri?

Answer 10

Gyrus (pl. gyri) is a ‘ridge or fold’ in the brain

Question 11

What are sulci?

Answer 11

Sulcus (pl. sulci) is a ‘groove or furrow’ in the brain separating adjacent gyri

Question 12

Identify the central sulcus

Answer 12

Question 13

What are fissures?

Answer 13

Fissure is a large ‘crack’ or ‘split’ between adjacent large areas of the brain (giant sulcus)

Question 14

Identify the frontal lobe and explain its role

Answer 14

• Higher cognition
• Motor function
• Speech

Question 15

Identify the parietal lobe and explain its role

Answer 15

• Sensation
• Spatial awareness

Question 16

Identify the temporal lobe and explain its role

Answer 16

• Smell
• Memory
• Hearing

Question 17

Identify the occipital lobe and explain its role

Answer 17

Vision

Question 18

Identify the cerebellum and explain its role

Answer 18

• Co-ordination
• Motor learning

Question 19

Where are motor and sensory structures located in the brain?

Answer 19

Motor – anterior

Sensory – posterior

Question 20

Identify the optic chiasm and explain its role

Answer 20

Optic chiasm is a site where fibres in the visual system cross over

Question 21

Identify the uncus of the brain and explain its role

Answer 21

Uncus is a part of the temporal lobe that can herniate, compressing the midbrain

Question 22

Where are medullary pyramids located?

Answer 22

Medullary pyramids are in the location of descending motor fibres

Question 23

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 23

Corpus callosum are fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

Question 24

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 24

Hypothalamus is an essential centre for homeostasis

Question 25

What is the thalamus?

Answer 25

**Thalamus** is a sensory relay station projecting to sensory cortex

Question 26

Identify the components of the forebrain

Answer 26

- Cerebrum - Diencephalon

Question 27

Identify the components of the diencephalon

Answer 27

- Thalamus - Hypothalamus - Pituitary gland and stalk - Pineal gland

Question 28

Identify the components of the hindbrain

Answer 28

- Pons - Medulla - Cerebellum

Question 29

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Right cerebral hemisphere - Left cerebral hemisphere - Cerebral folia - Tonsils - Vermis

Answer 29

Question 30

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Postcentral gyrus - Precentral gyrus - Parieto-occipital sulcus - Calcarine sulcus - Cingulate gyrus

Answer 30

Question 31

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Septum pellucidum - Lateral ventricle - Third ventricle - Fourth ventricle - Cerebral aqueduct - Fornix

Answer 31

Question 32

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Thalamus - Hypothalamus - Pituitary gland - Pituitary stalk - Pineal gland

Answer 32

Question 33

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Central sulcus - Occipital notch - Lateral fissure - Medullary pyramid - Occipital pole

Answer 33

Question 34

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Corpus callosum - Anterior commisure - Posterior commisure - Midbrain - Pons - Medulla

Answer 34

Question 35

Identify the longitudinal fissure on the diagram below:

Answer 35

Question 36

Identify the following structures on the diagram below: - Primary motor cortex - Primary somatosensory cortex - Primary visual cortex - Primary olfactory cortex - Primary auditory cortex

Answer 36

Question 37

What is epilepsy?

Answer 37

**Epilepsy** is a common neurological condition where there is a tendency towards the spontaneous firing of neurons (activation of action potentials) within a specific region of the cortex

Question 38

What are the symptoms of epilepsy?

Answer 38

Symptoms depend on the **regions of the brain affected** by this abnormal ‘firing’, which may remain local to the focus of origin, or spread to involve the whole hemisphere or even both hemispheres

Question 39

What is generalised tonic-clonic epilepsy?

Answer 39

- **Generalised tonic-clonic epilepsy** is a severe form of epilepsy where the abnormal firing of action potentials spreads to both hemispheres of the brain - The person loses consciousness before involuntary jerking involving all four limbs begin

Question 40

Most epilepsy is managed with oral medication, but surgical intervention is required in severe and uncontrolled epilepsy such as a corpus callostomy What is the benefit of this?

Answer 40

A **corpus callosotomy** is an operation that severs the corpus callosum, interrupting the spread of seizures from hemisphere to hemisphere to reduce the violence and severity of refractory epilepsy

Question 41

What composes the cerebellum?

Answer 41

- Vermis - Tonsils - Cerebellar peduncles