Week 1 Flashcards
what are the divisions of the PNS?
- sensory (afferent) division.
- motor (efferent) division: somatic motor & autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic).
describe neurons
- structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
- excitable cells.
- impulses carried as action potentials.
describe glial cells
- non-excitable supporting cells.
- much smaller than neurons.
Impulse transmission is by action potential which can travel:
in only one direction from cell body to synaptic terminal
what is the cytoplasm in the cell body of a neuron called?
perikaryon
what is the cytoplasm in the axon of a neuron called?
axoplasm
multipolar neurons are present in what?
interneurons
motor neurons
bipolar neurons are present in what?
olfactory mucosa
retinal nerve fibres
pseudounipolar neurons are present as what?
sensory neurons
the myelin sheath is formed by which cells?
- Schwann cells in PNS.
- oligodendrocytes in CNS.
white matter is composed of?
myelinated axons
grey matter is composed of?
neuronal cell bodies
what type of neuron supplies cutaneous receptors in the skin?
pseudounipolar > sensory neurons
what neuroglia are present in the PNS? and what is their function?
- satellite cells > surround neuronal cell bodies.
- schwann cells > myelination.
which neuroglia are present in the CNS?
- ependymal cells.
- astrocytes.
- oligodendrocytes.
- microglia.
what is the function of ependymal cells in the CNS?
- line ventricles.
what is the function of microglia in the CNS?
- phagocytosis.
- scar tissue formation.
what is the function of oligodendrocytes in the CNS?
myelination
what is the function of astrocytes in the CNS?
- have endfeet that surround synapses and capillaries.
- help in K+ buffering.
what is the function of the blood-brain barrier?
- is a protective mechanism that helps maintain a stable environment for the brain and prevents harmful amino acids & ions present in the bloodstream and blood cells from entering the brain.
where in the brain is the blood brain barrier absent?
- parts of hypothalamus.
- posterior pituitary.
what do drugs have to be in order to be delivered to the CNS?
lipid soluble or use suitable vectors
label the areas of the brain and their functions
label these prominences
label this muscle
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in which part of the brain do the lateral ventricles lie?
- C-shaped cavities which lie in the cerebral hemispheres.
what connects the lateral ventricles with the 3rd ventricle?
interventricular foramen (of Munro)
in which part of the brain does the 3rd ventricle lie?
- within the diencephalon.
in which part of the brain does the cerebral aqueduct lie?
midbrain
in which part of the brain does the 4th ventricle lie?
- diamond-shaped ventricle lies in the hindbrain, between pons + medulla (in front) and cerebellum (at back).
label the ventricles of the brain
label the meninges
describe the subdural space
- a potential space which is traversed by blood vessels penetrating into the CNS.
what does the subarachnoid space contain?
CSF
where is CSF present?
- the fluid inside the cavity of the brain (i.e. ventricles) and central canal of spinal cord.
- is also present surrounding the brain and spinal cord in the subarachnoid space.
where is CSF formed?
choroid plexus in the lateral, third and fourth ventricles.
where is CSF absorbed?
The CSF from the subarachnoid space is eventually reabsorbed through outpouchings into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) known as the arachnoid granulations or villa.
label the surface features of the cerebral cortex
which collection of neuronal cells bodies is found buried in white matter of the brain?
basal ganglia
is grey matter on the surface or inside of the cerebral cortex?
surface
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what is the large fissure seperating the left and right hemisphere of the brain called?
median longitudinal fissure
label this
label this
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the frontal part of the cerebral hemisphere is responsible for which functions?
motor function
intellect
the medial portions of the cerebral hemisphere have what function?
limbic system - storage and retrieval of information.
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the temporal lobe is responsible for which sensory functions?
hearing and smell
the occipital lobe is responsible for what?
vision
the parietal lobe contains which sensory cortex?
somatosensory cortex
describe area 4 of the frontal lobe
- Precentral gyrus > primary motor cortex.
- somatotopic representation of contralateral half of body (motor homunculus).
describe areas 44 and 45 of the frontal lobe
inferior frontal gyrus > Broca’s area of motor speech.
what is function of the prefrontal cortex?
cognitive functions of higher order-intellect, judgement, prediction and planning.
describe areas 3, 1 and 2 of the parietal lobe
- post-cental gyrus > primary sensory area.
- recieves general sensations from contralateral half of body.
- somatotopic representation (sensory homunculus).
what is the function of the superior parietal lobule?
- interpretation of general sensory information (sensory association area) and conscious awareness of contralateral half of body.
what is the function of the inferior parietal lobule?
- interface between somatosensory cortex and auditory association areas.
- in dominant hemisphere, contributes to language functions.
a parietal lobe lesion can manifest as?
- hemisensory neglect(reduced awareness of stimuli on one side of space, even though there may be no sensory loss).
- right-left agnosia (inability to recognise and identify objects).
- acalculia (inability to process numbers and perform calculations).
- agraphia (inability to write letters, symbols, words or sentences).
describe Brodmann’s areas 41 and 42
- superior temporal gyrus > primary auditory cortex (Heschl’s convolutions).
what is the function of Wernicke’s area?and what hemisphere is it present in?
- auditory association area, posterior to areas 41, 42.
- crucial for understanding of spoken word.
- is present in the dominant hemisphere.
- has connections with other language areas.
what is the function of the inferior surface of the temporal lobe?
- recieves fibres from olfactory tract.
- concious appreciation of smell.
describe area 17 of the occipital lobe
- on the medial surface of the occipital lobe, on either side of the calcarine fissure.
- primary visual cortex.
describe Brodmann’s areas 18 & 19
- visual association cortex.
- interpretation of visual images.
what structures compose the limbic lobe?
- cingulate gyrus
- hippocampus (medial aspect of temporal lobe)
- parahippocampal gyrus
- amygdyla (subcortical grey matter close to temporal pole).
what is aphasia?
problem with speech due to damage to one or more speech areas in the brain.
what are features of Broca’s aphasia?
- understands speech, misses small words and aware of difficulties in speech.
- damage to frontal lobe.
- weakness/paralysis of one side of body.
what is the function of commisural fibres in the white matter?
connect corresponding areas of the two hemispheres (corpus callosum).
what are features of Wernicke’s aphasia?
- fluent speech, with new meaningless words, can’t understand speech, unaware of mistakes.
- damage to temporal lobe.
- no paralysis.
what is the function of association fibres in the white matter?
connect one part of the cortex with the other. They may be short or long.
what is the function of projection fibres of the white matter?
- run between the cerebral cortex and various subcortical centres.
- they pass through the corona radiata and the internal capsule.
describe tractography
- 3D modelling technique that maps functional white matter tracts using MRI.
describe the internal capsule of the brain,what structures is it located between and what is its blood supply?
- composed of projection fibres passing to and from the cerebral cortex.
- narrow area between the thalamus and caudate nucleus medially and the lentiform nucleus laterally.
- derives blood supply from middle cerebral artery > frequently affected in stroke.
label the structures surrounding the internal capsule of the brain
- describe the basal ganglia
- what structures are involved?
- subcortical nuclei (collection of neuronal cell bodies - grey matter) deep within each cerebral hemisphere.
- composed of caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus last two collectively form lentiform nucleus).
- substantia nigra in midbrain is functionally part of them although not anatomically.
label this
what does the putamen and globus pallidus form?
- a lens like structure > lentiform nucleus.
what are the individual basal ganglia called?
- caudate nucleus
- putamen
- globus pallidus
- substantia nigra
- subthalamic nuclei
label this
label this
what is the function of the basal ganglia?
- help to regulate, initiate and terminate movements.
- often referred to as ‘extrapyramidal system’.