the brain

Question 1

what are the most prominent features of the brain grossly?

Answer 1

the large cerebral hemispheres
the highly folded surface of the cerebellum

Question 2

what lies between the 2 cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 2

the longitudinal fissure

Question 3

how do the two cerebral hemispheres communicate w/ each other?

Answer 3

via the corpus callosum

Question 4

what vessels lie on the superior surface of the corpus callosum?

Answer 4

the anterior cerebral arteries

Question 5

what part of the brain is supplied by the anterior cerebral arteries?

Answer 5

the frontal and parietal lobes

Question 6

where does the lateral fissure lie?

Answer 6

on the lateral surface of the brain between the temporal lobe and the frontal and parietal lobes

Question 7

what vessel is contained w/in the lateral fissure?

Answer 7

the middle cerebral artery

Question 8

where does the central sulcus run from / to?

Answer 8

from the longitudinal fissure to the lateral fissure

Question 9

what is the function of the central sulcus?

Answer 9

separate the frontal lobes from the parietal lobes

Question 10

where does the motor cortex lie in relation to the central sulcus?

Answer 10

the motor cortex lies anterior to the central sulcus

Question 11

where does the sensory cortex lie in relation to the central sulcus?

Answer 11

the sensory cortex lies posterior to the central sulcus

Question 12

what are the ‘lumps’ of the brain called?

Answer 12

gyri (singular gyrus)

Question 13

what are the folds on the brain called?

Answer 13

sulci (singular sulcus)

Question 14

where does the visual cortex lie?

Answer 14

in the occipital lobe

Question 15

what is the diencephalon?

Answer 15

the thalamus, hypothalamus and epithalamus / pineal gland

Question 16

what is the brainstem?

Answer 16

the pons and medulla

Question 17

how do varying parts of the brain communicate w/ each other?

Answer 17

via white mater tracts

Question 18

where do the basal ganglia lie?

Answer 18

deep in the brain mostly surrounded by the insula except for the substantial nigra which lies in the midbrain

Question 19

where can the substantia nigra be seen?

Answer 19

a small black line crossing the tissue of the midbrain

Question 20

what is the function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 20

regulate initiation and termination of body movements

also involved w/ memory, planning and emotional response via the limbic system

Question 21

what is the internal capsule?

Answer 21

a white fibre pathway that separates the globes palladus and putamen from the caudate nucleus

Question 22

what is usually found in the lateral ventricles?

Answer 22

the choroid plexus

Question 23

what is the function of the choroid plexus?

Answer 23

production of CSF

Question 24

what is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 24

role in autonomic regulation of the body

links the nervous system to the endocrine system via its communicate w/ the pituitary gland

Question 25

what are the superior and inferior colliculi?

Answer 25

small lumps of tissue that are part of pathways assoc w/ the visual and auditory systems

Question 26

which cranial nerves arise from the midbrain?

Answer 26

CN3 - oculomotor CN4 - trochlear

Question 27

what part of the brain do most cranial nerves arise from?

Answer 27

the brainstem (pons and medulla)

Question 28

where does the pituitary gland lie?

Answer 28

it sits under a small piece of dura covering the sella turcica

Question 29

how does the pituitary gland communicate w/ the rest of the brain?

Answer 29

via a tiny stalk called the pituitary stalk

Question 30

what is the function of the pituitary gland?

Answer 30

releases growth hormone releases FSH and LH in women

Question 31

where does the blood supply to the brain come from?

Answer 31

the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries

Question 32

how is the circle of willis formed?

Answer 32

the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries anastamose w/ each other to form the circle of willis

Question 33

explain the course of the vertebral arteries

Answer 33

they ascend the neck through the transverse processes of the transverse foramen of the cervical vertebrae and joint close to the foramen magnum to form the basilar artery

Question 34

explain the course of the internal carotid artery

Answer 34

the internal carotid artery is a terminal branch of the common carotid artery that passes into the carotid canal (one on each side) and through the cavernous venous sinus

Question 35

explain the meninges

Answer 35

the meninges are protective layers that cover the brain and spinal cord there are three layers of meninges: - dura mater - outermost tough connective tissue sheet - arachnoid mater - midle layer 'spiderweb' connective tissue - pia mater - innermost layer stuck to the surface of the neural tissue

Question 36

what is the falx cerebri?

Answer 36

a dural fold that lies between the cerebral hemispheres

Question 37

what does the fall cerebri carry?

Answer 37

the inferior sagittal dural venous sinus

Question 38

what is the tentorium cerebelli?

Answer 38

a dural fold covering the cerebellum

Question 39

which 3 arteries provide the meninges w/ blood supply?

Answer 39

anterior ethmoid artery middle meningeal artery posterior meningeal artery

Question 40

where does the anterior ethmoid artery arise from?

Answer 40

from the ethmoid branches of the internal carotid artery

Question 41

where does the anterior ethmoid artery supply?

Answer 41

the dura of the anterior fossa

Question 42

where does the middle meningeal artery arise from?

Answer 42

the maxillary artery

Question 43

explain the course of the middle meningeal artery

Answer 43

it passes through the foramen spinosum to supply the dura w/ blood

Question 44

which artery is the main supply to the dura?

Answer 44

the middle meningeal artery

Question 45

where does the posterior meningeal artery arise from?

Answer 45

the occipital artery

Question 46

where does the posterior meningeal artery supply?

Answer 46

the dura of the posterior fossa

Question 47

explain the nerve supply to the meninges

Answer 47

the nerve supply is mainly from the trigeminal nerve

Question 48

what are the dural venous sinuses?

Answer 48

they act as large vein related to the meninges and wall of the skull

Question 49

describe venous drainage of the brain

Answer 49

the dural venous sinuses drain blood from the brain and channel it into the internal jugular vein

Question 50

what is the confluence of sinuses?

Answer 50

an area of the brain which collect blood from the dural venous sinuses and passes it to the transverse and sigmoid sinuses and from here blood from the brain drains into the internal jugular vein

Question 51

how is CSF made?

Answer 51

in the choroid plexus by specialised cells called ependymal cells

Question 52

where are the lateral ventricles located?

Answer 52

in each of the cerebral hemispheres

Question 53

where is the third ventricle located?

Answer 53

between the two parts of the thalamus

Question 54

where is the fourth ventricle located?

Answer 54

related to the cerebellum and brainstem

Question 55

how does CSF move between the ventricles and the spinal cord?

Answer 55

through small foramina and the cerebral aqueduct

Question 56

how is CSF recycled?

Answer 56

through arachnoid villii (granulations) into the dural venous sinuses