Week 2 Anatomy Words

Question 1

Basal ganglia:

Answer 1

additional masses of grey matter. Comprises of multiple subcortical nuclei. The lie deep inside the hemispere and lateral to the internal capsule. Main components are the dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen), ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle), globus pallidus, ventral pallidum, substatia nigra and subthalmic nucleus.

Question 2

Dorsal/corpus striatum

Answer 2

The putamen and caudate nucleus together form the dorsal striatum. It is also one of the structures that comprises the basal ganglia.

Question 3

Caudate nucleus:

Answer 3

One of the structures that makes up the dorsal (corpus) striatum. The other is the putamen. It is found just underneath the lateral ventricles. It has a motor function and has a role with Parkinson’s disease.

Question 4

Internal capsule

Answer 4

A large white matter tract which separates the putamen and globus pallidus from the caudate nucleus and thalamus. It has 2 limbs, the anterior and posterior limbs.

Question 5

Globus pallidus

Answer 5

Sub-cortical structure of the brain. Major component of the basal ganglia. It is part of the lentiform nucleus – it is the inner paler part. Globus – round. Pallidus – pale.

Question 6

Putamen:

Answer 6

One of the components of the lentiform plexus. It is the outer part.

Question 7

Lentiform nucleus

Answer 7

Comprises of the putamen and the globus pallidus within the basal ganglia. It is a large, cone shaped mass of grey matter just lateral to the internal capsule

Question 8

Substantia niagra:

Answer 8

A brain structure located in the midbrain. It has a role in reward and movement.

Question 9

Cerebellar peduncles:

Answer 9

The part of the cerebellum that connects the cerebellum to the brain stem. There are 6 in total – superior, middle and inferior

Question 10

Cerebral peduncle:

Answer 10

Structures at the front of the midbrain which arise from the front of the pons and contain the large ascending (sensory) and descending (motor) nerve tracts that run to and from the cerebrum from the pons. Usually refers to the whole of the ventral midbrain, on either side, excluding the tectum.

Question 11

Corpus callosum:

Answer 11

cALLosum – connects all of the brain together (well, the 2 hemispheres together!). It is a broad band of nerve fibres joining the 2 hemispheres of the brain.

Question 12

Deep nuclei of cerebellum:

Answer 12

The cerebellum has 4 deep nuclei embedded in white matter in it’s centre. The nuclei are the dentate, emboliform, globose and fastigii.

Question 13

Dendate nucleus:

Answer 13

A cluster of neurons, that has a tooth-like (dendate) serrated edge. It is located within the cerebellum and it is the largest single structure linking the cerebellum to the rest of the brain. It is responsible for planning, initiation and control of voluntary movements.

Question 14

Vermis of the cerebellum

Answer 14

The thing that connects the 2 hemispheres of the cerebellum.

Question 15

Substantia gelatinosa:

Answer 15

The apex of the dorsal horn. It contains both neuroglia and small nerve cells and appears gelatinous due to a very low concentration of myelinated fibres. It receives collaterals of the smallest diameter – myelinated and unmyelinated afferents which are associated with nociception.

Question 16

Periaqueductal grey matter:

Answer 16

The grey matter located around the cerebral aqueduct within the tegmentum of the midbrain.

Question 17

Insula:

Answer 17

An area of cerebral cortex buried deep to the lateral sulcus.

Question 18

Hippocampus:

Answer 18

A component of the limbic system. It plays an important role in the consolidation of information from short term to long term memory.

Question 19

Septum pellucidum:

Answer 19

A thin, triangular double membrane that separates the anterior horns of the left and right ventricles of the brain. It runs as a sheet from the corpus callosum down to the fornix

Question 20

Substantia nigra:

Answer 20

The most ventral part of the midbrain tegmentum. It consists of 2 subnuclei – the pars compacta and the pars reticulata.

Question 21

Subthalmic nucleus:

Answer 21

A small lens shaped nucleus. Part of the subthalamus.

Question 22

Tectum

Answer 22

Part of the midbrain. It lies posterior to the ventricular region. Consists of the superior and inferior colliculi.

Question 23

Tegmentum:

Answer 23

Part of the midbrain. It lies anterior to the ventricular system.

Question 24

Crus cerebri:

Answer 24

A massive fibre system of the crus cerebri which is found ventral to the tegmentum.

Question 25

Red nucleus:

Answer 25

A component of the midbrian. At the level of the superior colliculus the central portion of the tegmentum is occupied by the red nucleus. Some of the fibres of the superior cerebellar peduncle terminate here and the red nucleus is involved in motor control.

Question 26

Inferior colliculus:

Answer 26

Part of the ascending acoustic projection. Part of the tegmentum.

Question 27

Superior colliculus:

Answer 27

Part of the visual system. Part of the tectum.

Question 28

Pyramids of the mid brain

Answer 28

Found on the ventral surface of the medulla are prominent longitudinal columns which run either side of the ventral medial fissure.

Question 29

Inferior olivary nucleus:

Answer 29

Lies lateral to the medullary pyramids. It is the largest nucleus situated in the olivary body – part of the medulla oblongata and is involved in motor control. Connected to the cerebellum.

Question 30

Medial lemniscus:

Answer 30

A large ascending bundle of heavily myelinated axons that decussate (CROSS) in the brain stem – specifically in the medulla.

Question 31

Reticular formation

Answer 31

A set of interconnected nuclei that are located throughout the brainstem.

Question 32

Dorsal horns

Answer 32

The arms which reach out to the outside of the spinal cord. They are a bit like the fins of animals.

Question 33

Ventral horns

Answer 33

The shorter and more round arms of the spinal cord

Question 34

Corona radiata:

Answer 34

Describes the characteristic radiating pattern made by the cortical afferent and efferent fibres that pass between the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures (such as the corpus striatum, thalamus, brainstem and spinal cord)

Question 35

Anterior commissure:

Answer 35

A bundle of nerve fibres connecting the 2 temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres across the midline.

Question 36

Corticospinal tracts:

Answer 36

An example of a pyramidal tract. It is an aggregation of upper motor neuron nerve fibres that travels from the cerebral cortex and terminates in the spinal cord. It is a white matter motor pathway.

Question 37

Cerebral Aqueduct:

Answer 37

Contained within the midbrain. It contains CSF and connects the 3rd to the 4th ventricle.

Question 38

Tegmental part of the pons:

Answer 38

There are 2 parts to the pons.

Question 39

Anterior limb of the internal capsule:

Answer 39

One of the limbs of the internal capsule – it has both anterior and posterior.

Question 40

Cortex of cerebellum:

Answer 40

Consists of 3 layers – the molecular layer, the granular cell layer and the purkinje layer.