The BRAIN Flashcards
What are the four major components of the adult brain?
1) Cerebrum
2) Cerebellum
3) Diencephalon
4) Brainstem
How many hemispheres is there in the CEREBRUM?
- There is a right and left hemisphere.
What separates the right and left hemisphere of the cerebrum?
The falx cerebri :)
What does the right hemisphere of our brain control?
Feelings and emotions.
Music and art processed in this area.
What does the left hemisphere of the brain control?
The more logical side. It deals with more “black and white issues” such as math and language.
What is the corpus callosum do?
its a dense bundle of white matter located in the cerebum (roof of lat vents) that connects the two hemispheres.
What are projection fibers?
they relay info from the cerebral cortex to the brainstem downward into the cord. They cross at the medulla.
If a patient has a stroke on the left side of the brain, what side of the body will have symtpoms?
the contralateral side – AKA Right side.
What is the outer layer of the brain called and what is it in charge of?
the cerebral cortex
stores long - term memory and info
gray matter
What is the cerebral cortex composed of?
White matter or gray?
Gray matter 3-5 mm thick
it also has a large vascular component. The vascular area will appear brighter than the white matter.
Why does white matter appear darker on MRI?
bcause its made up of myelin and fat whic hsi a darker more hypointense appearance.
What is the frontal lobe in charge of?
**most ANTERIOR part of brain
Houses info about socially acceptable behavior, reasoning, judgment, emotional responses, planning, production of speech and language
What does the parietal lobe store?
*middle portion of each hemisphere
tactile info such as the recognition of objects that are sharp, soft, hot or cold, vibration, pain, taste.
What does the temporal lobes control?
** located anterior to occiptal lobe
maintain auditory and emotional info
What is the posterior lobe of the cerebrum called??
occipital lobe
What part of brain controls balance and motor functions?
the basal ganglia
Where is the diencephalon located?
above the brainstem
What are the 4 parts of the diencephalon?
Thalmus, subthalmus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus
What does the thalamus do?
it is a pair of large oval gray masses that are interconnected with most regions of the brain and spinal cord.
its relays sensory info such as pain
What does the subthalamus do?
helps control motor functions
What does the hypothalamus do?
located just below the thalamus
It is responsible for maintaining normal body temperature and is part of the appetite and feeding center.
If someone has a problem with their sex drive or sleep patterns, what part of the brain could be involved?
the hypothalamus part of the diencephalon
Where is the cerebellum located?
in the posterior cranial fossa (back of head)
What does the cerebellum control?
skeletal muscles and the maintenance of normal muscle tone and equilibrium.
it uses the brainstem to connect with the cerebrum.
The vermis connects what two lobes in the brain?
the cerebellum.
The medulla oblongata is in charge of what?
is the center for breathing, swallowing, and coughing reflux.
The brainstem is the relay station for incoming sensory info.
True or False
true
Say you are asleep. If your body senses danger while your asleep, what part of the brain anatomy will alert you to wake up?
the brainstem
The delicate brain is protected by how many meningeal layers?
3
What is the outer layer of the meningeal layer called?
dura mater.
Where is the arachnoid membrane located?
its a spider - like layer BENEATH the dura mater. The area around it is called the subarachnoid space.
The inner most layer of meninges is nearest to the cerebral cortex and is called what
the pia mater. it is HIGHLY vascular ,
What does the ventricular system do?
transports Cereberal spinal fluid (CSF) throughout the Central nervous system.
The ventricular system includes 4 ventricles. What are they
the two lateral ventricles
a third ventricle
and a fourth ventricle
The foramen of Monro connects which two
ventricles
the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle
The aqueduct of Sylvius connects what two ventricles
the 3rd to the 4th ventricle
At the level of the fourth ventricle, the foramen of Luschka moves CSF laterall and the foramen of Monroe brings CSF downward through the spinal cord
true or false
true
What does the choroid plexus do?
it is located within the ventricles.
It is a network of blood vessels that is responsible for the production of cerebral spinal fluid.
What happens if theres an area in the CSF pathway that is blocked for any reason?
the ventricles will become enlarged, causing hydrocephalus (water in the brain)
The myelin of an infant is not well developed until what age?
2 years old.
As the aging brain gets older, CSF (cereberal spinal fluid) becomes more prominent between the brain and skull.
True or False?
true
What is the difference between agenesis and dysgenesis?
agenesis means something failed to develop in utero
dysgenesis is when a structure develops abnormally.
What is Dandy-Walker malformation look like in pertains to the brain?
its a congenital brain malformation in which the 4th ventricle is enlarged causing a lot of fluid to form in the back of the brain (posterior fossa)
So if someone has agenesis of the corpus callosum, what does this mean?
the absence of the corpus callosum.
A chiari malformation occurs when the posterior part of the skull is narrower than normal. This in return causes what to happen>?
causes part of the cerebellar tonsil and brainstem to herniate downward past its normal position. This can cause a block of CSF flow.
This occurs when both the cerebellar tonsil AND the brainstem are pushed below the line of the foramen magnum
Which Ciari malformation is this?
1/2/3/ or 4
Chiari 2
This can cause head aches
Chiari 2 is also called?
Arnold Chiari
A syrinx is an accumulation of CSF within the central canal of the spinal cord, this can often be seen in which type of chiari?
Chiari 2 / arnold chiari
Which type of chiari malformation is this?? 1/2/3 or 4
A malformation where the cerebellum and brainstem protrude outside of the skull into a sac called an encephalocele. These babies dont live long.
Number 3.
Chiari 4 is uncommon and involves an underdeveloped cerebellum.
True or False
True
what is Encephalitis
inflammation to the brain
Inflammation in the brain generall appears ______ on T2 weighted images.
Hyperintense or hypointense?
HYPERintense
If you see a patient who has bilateral inflammation of the temporal lobes, what would you suspect their diagnosis would be?
herpes simplex encephalitis
inflammation of the meninges is called?
Meningitis
What is MS (multiple sclerosis)
multiple sclerosis is a common white matter disease that affects the myelin in the brain.
You may see plaque around the ventricles.
What are symptoms of MS?
slurred speach, confusion, numbness of face and fatigue, and inflammation of the optic nerve.
cancerous tumors only found in the brain and spinal cord are called?
Gliomas
A glioma that transverses both hemispheres of the brain is called?
butterfly glioma
Are meningiomas cancerous of benign?
Benign
Where are meningiomas located?
ON TOP of the brain tissue. therefore they are considered extracranial tumors.
What do meningiomas look like on MRI?
in T1 precontrast- they look isointense
and t1 - contrast, they look hyperintense.
when arterial walls weaken and fill with an abnormal amount of blood, this causes an ________ to form
aneurysm
80 - 90 % of strokes are considered ischemic meaning what/
they are caused when a thrombus or embolism blocks the artery
Stroke symptoms lasting less than one hour represents what kind of stroke?
TIA - transient ischemic attack.
What is the major exit route for CSF?
foramen of Magendie.
it is located on posterior wall of the 4th ventricle and allows communication with the cisterna magna.
the cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is frequently used as a landmark to determine if the midline of the brain has shifted as a result of trauma or pressure.
true
Enlargment of the arachnoid vili are called
granulations.
Which of the cistens is the largest?
Cisterna magna
think magnum..largest :)
What is the largest part of the brain?
the cerebrum
Each hemisphere of the cerebrum contain gyri and fissures. What are these?
gyri - numerous folds of neural tissue
fissure = deeper grooves of neural tissue
What is the lateral fissure also called?
sylvian fissure.
What does the sylvian fissure divide?
the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobes of the brain.
The most posterior lobe of the brain is called what?
the occipital lobe.
The hippocampus us located within which lobe of brain?
temporal lobe
What is the hippocampus do?
memory processing.
The pituitary gland is part of the hypothalmus.
True or false
true
What does the pituitary gland control and where is it located?
it is connect to the hypothalmus by a stalk called infundibulum.
it controls and regulates the functions of other glands, helps regulate growth, blood pressure and reproduction.
What does the epithalmus do?
secretes melatonin that aids in regulations of day-night cycles and reproductive functions.
The limbic system is involved in aggression, submissive and sexual behavior, memory learning and general emotional responses.
True
The brainstem acts as a conduit ( connection) between the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and the spinal cord.
True or false
true
The jugular veins are the MAJOR route for drainage of venous blood from the head.
True or false
True
If a patient comes in and tells us they have had a lot of seizures, loss of vision, tingling, weakness, and hallucinations, in what lobe of the brain should we think they may have a problem?
The occipital
If a patient comes in and complains that they feel cranial pressure, personality changes, seizures, speech impairment, what lobe of the brain might be affected?
the frontal
the hint is personality changes and speech
since the frontal lobe is in charge of socially acceptable behavior, reasoning, judgment, emotional responses, planning, production of speech.
If a patient comes in complaining of increased cranial pressure, vision loss, weakness, memory loss, and loss of touch, what lobe of brain might be affected?
parietal
If a patient comes in with a loss of sense of smell, defective hearing and memory, and speech disorders, what lobe of brain may be affected?
temporal.
What is another term for longitudinal fissure?
falx cerebri and superior sagittal sinus
It divides the right and left hemispheres.
The septum pellucidum is frequently used as a landmark to determine if the midline of the brain has shifted due to trauma or pressure.
True or False
True
The choroid plexus is part of the ventricular system. True or False and why?
True, bc it is in charge of producing CSF.
What happens to the excess fluid in the ventricular system?q
it is reabsorbed in the dura sinuses by the arachnoid villi (little projections that penetrate the dura mater)
The cerebral cortex receives sensory input- which means what?
it sends instructions to the muscles and glands for control of the bodily movement activity.
Memory processing occurw via what two areas of brain?
amygdala and hippocampus
