Topography of the Brain Flashcards
What can the brain be divided into?
Cerebral hemispheres
Diencephalon
Cerebellum
Brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata)
What is the brainstem composed of?
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
What is white matter?
Myelinated axons
What is grey matter?
Neuronal cell bodies
What is a tract?
Fibre pathway passing through the CNS carrying a specific modality (such as motor fibres or pain sensation or touch sensation)
What is a nucleus?
Neuronal cell body collection (grey) within CNS
What is a ganglion?
Neuronal cell bodies outside of CNS (such as dorsal root ganglion)
What are ventricles?
Spaces in the brain
What are the different ventricles?
Lateral ventricles (x2)
III ventricle
Cerebral aquaduct
IV ventricle
Where are the lateral ventricles located?
Within cerebral hemispheres
Where is III ventricle located?
Within diencephalon
Where is cerebral aquaduct located?
Within midbrain
Where is IV ventricle located?
Between pons and medulla (in front) and cerebellum (at the back)
Where is CSF found?
Inside ventricles and in the subarachnoid space
What is CSF formed by?
Choroid plexus in each ventricle
Where is CSF absorbed to?
Arachnoid villi into saggital sinus
What do the internal carotid arteries enter the skull through?
Carotid canal (foramen lacerum)
What vessels provide the main blood supply to the brain?
Internal carotid arteries
Vertebral arteries

What are the internal carotid arteries branches off?
Common carotid arteries
What are the two vertebral arteries branches off?
Subclavian artery
How do the vertebral arteries enter the skull?
Throught the foramen magnum
What is the circle of Willis a protective feature against?
Vaso-occlusion of large arteries
What forms the circle of Willis?
Branches of the ICA join with those of the opposite side and with the PCA (branch of the basilar artery) to form a continous circle at the base of the brain

What is A?
Anterior cerebral artery














