The Brain Flashcards
CNS includes?
the brain + the spinal cord
The brain includes?
-cerebrum, brainstem & cerebellum
What is the spinal cord?
-cylindrical bundle of nerves that extends from foramen magnum (upper border of atlas) to first or second lumbar vertebrae
What is the narrowing of the cord called?
the Conus Medullaris
Spinal nerves continue along what?
Cauda Equina
How many enlargements of the spinal cord? What are they?
- 2
- cervical & lumbar regionals
- enlarges the motor & sensory nerves that come in & out of the spinal cord to supply the arms & legs respectively
After the apex of the conus medullaris? What is it called & what does it do?
from apex of conus medullaris there is a CT filament called the filum terminale that anchors the cord to the first coccygeal segment
What are the 5 parts that make up the spinal cord?
- white matter
- grey matter
- central canal
- dorsal horns
- ventral horns
What is white matter?
myelinated, outer layer of spinal cord
What is grey matter?
unmyelinated, inner H-shaped portion of spinal cord
What is the central canal?
filled with CSF, runs longitudinally along length of spinal cord, continuous with ventricular system of brain
What are the dorsal horns?
sensory nerve tracts
What are the ventral horns?
motor neurons
What does the brainstem include?
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla oblongata
What is the medulla oblongata good for?
several centers for autonomic function:
-respiration, cardiac center, vasomotor center, reflex centers for vomiting, swallowing, coughing, sneezing
part of it forms the fourth ventricle
What does the medulla oblongata contain?
- pyramids (corticospinal tracts)
- decussation of the pyramids (where motor fibers from L hemisphere cross to the right and vice versa)
- nuclei for CN IX, X, XI & XII
What is the pons? What does it contain?
- ‘bridge’
- contains fiber tracts connecting the medulla & cerebellum with upper portions of the brain
- contains respiratory centers that work with those in the medulla
- contains nuclei for CN V (motor) VI, VII, part of VIII
What is the midbrain? What does it contain?
- cerebral peduncles
- substantia nigra
- corpora quadrigemina
- nuclei for CN III, IV & V (sensory)
- cerebral aqueduct passes through midbrain