Skull and the cranial cavity

Question 1

List the 5 layers of the scalp

Answer 1

Skin
Dense connective tissue
Epicranial Aponeurosis
Loose connective tissue
Periosteum

Question 2

What does the scalp extend over?

Answer 2

Neurocranium

Question 3

What innervates the scalp?

Answer 3

Trigeminal nerves

Spinal cutaneous nerves

Question 4

How many bones comprise the skull?

Answer 4

22

Question 5

Give the other name for the facial skeleton

Answer 5

Viscerocranium

Question 6

List the 8 neurocranium bones

Answer 6

Occipital
2 Temporal
2 Parietal
Frontal
Sphenoid
Ethmoid

Question 7

List the 14 viscerocranium bones

Answer 7

2 nasal conchae
2 nasal bones
2 maxilla 
2 palatine bones
2 zygomatic bones
2 lacrimal bones
Vomer
Mandible

Question 8

What is the purpose of foramina?

Answer 8

Allow for nerves and blood vessels to enter and leave the cranial cavity.

Question 9

List the 3 cranial fossa the base of the skull is divided into

Answer 9

Anterior
Middle
Posterior

Question 10

List the foramina found in the anterior cranial fossa

Answer 10

Foramen caecum

Cribriform plate

Question 11

List the foramina found in the middle cranial fossa

Answer 11

Superior orbital fissure 
Optic canal
Foramen rotundum
Foramen ovale
Foramen spinosum
Foramen lacerum

Question 12

List the foramina found in the posterior cranial fossa

Answer 12

Internal acoustic meatus
Jugular foramen
Foramen magnum
Hypoglossal canal

Question 13

List the 3 layers of the meninges starting from outermost layer

Answer 13

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

Question 14

What is the function of the meninges?

Answer 14

Protection
Support network for blood vessels
Form a fluid filled cavity to cushion and nourish the brain

Question 15

What are the 2 layers of the dura mater and where are they found?

Answer 15

Meningeal layer- surrounds brain and spinal cord

Endosteal layer- lines the skull

Question 16

What is the nervous supply of the dura mater?

Answer 16

CN 5
CN 10
CN 1-3
Sympathetic

Question 17

What is the blood supply to the dura mater?

Answer 17

Middle meningeal artery

Question 18

What is the purpose of the folds and reflections of the meningeal layer of the dura mater?

Answer 18

To prevent or restrict movement of the brain

Question 19

What does the falx cerebri do?

Answer 19

Separates cerebral hemispheres

Question 20

What does the tentorium cerebelli do?

Answer 20

Separates the cerebral hemispheres and cerebellar hemispheres

Question 21

What does the falx cerebelli do?

Answer 21

Separates cerebellar hemispheres

Question 22

What is the anatomical basis of a headache?

Answer 22

The dura is sensitive to stretching

Question 23

Damage to the middle meningeal artery causes what?

Answer 23

Extradural (Epidural) haematoma

Question 24

What causes tentorial herniation?

Answer 24

Space occupying lesion causes herniation of the temporal lobe

Question 25

What is special in terms of vascularisation of the arachnoid mater?

Answer 25

Avascular

Question 26

Describe the arachnoid mater

Answer 26

Thin avascular layer between pia and dura | Loosely applied layer with projections

Question 27

Where do all structures passing to and from the brain exit or enter?

Answer 27

Subarachnoid space

Question 28

What is contained in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 28

Cerebral spinal fluid

Question 29

Where is CSF made?

Answer 29

Choroid plexus in brain ventricles

Question 30

What is the importance of CSF in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 30

Provides buoyancy to the brain protecting it from mechanical forces

Question 31

What is pia mater?

Answer 31

Very delicate vascular membrane (nourish)

Question 32

Where is the pia mater found?

Answer 32

Closely innervates brain following gyri and sulci | Covers cerebral arteries entering the brain

Question 33

List the 3 layers of the spinal cord meninges

Answer 33

Dura mater Arachnoid mater Pia mater

Question 34

What is leptomeningitis and why is this dangerous?

Answer 34

Inflammation and infection of the pia and arachnoid mater. May enter subarachnoid space and cause septicemia.

Question 35

Where do dural sinuses sit?

Answer 35

Behind the dural fold

Question 36

What drains into the dural sinuses?

Answer 36

Drained blood and CSF from the brain via cerebral veins. | Communicates with the veins of the skull and scalp

Question 37

Describe the structure of the dural sinuses

Answer 37

Thick walled endothelium No valves No smooth muscle

Question 38

Where do the dural sinuses drain?

Answer 38

Internal jugular vein

Question 39

What 2 arteries is the brain supplied by?

Answer 39

Internal carotid artery | Vertebral artery

Question 40

What do the branches anastomose to form?

Answer 40

Circle of willis

Question 41

What are the 2 terminal branches found within the skull?

Answer 41

The anterior cerebral artery | The middle cerebral artery

Question 42

Where do vertebral arteries enter?

Answer 42

Pass within cervical vertebrae and enter foramen magnum

Question 43

What do vertebral arteries unite to form?

Answer 43

Basilar artery

Question 44

What does the anterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 44

The medial and superior surfaces of the brain | Frontal pole

Question 45

What does the middle cerebral artery supply?

Answer 45

The lateral surfaces | The temporal pole

Question 46

What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 46

The inferior surfaces of the brain | The occipital pole

Question 47

Why does a stroke cause neurological deficit?

Answer 47

No anastomosis of cerebral arteries once inside brain

Question 48

What is a stroke caused by?

Answer 48

Embolism in the cerebral artery

Question 49

When will mixing in the posterior communicating artery occur?

Answer 49

If there is an occlusion which disrupts the pressure in the vertebral and internal carotid artery. Blood passes back and forth across posterior communicating artery to compensate