What is the function of X? Flashcards
Amygdala
a prominent nucleus in the anteriomedial part of the temporal lobe, underlying the uncus and anterior to the hippocampus.
important role in the limbic system - perception of emotion and storing memories of events and emotions
Anterior Choroidal Artery
branch of the internal carotid artery
supplies the optic tract, ventral internal capsule and hippocampus
Anterior Commissure
a bundle of axons passing between the two cerebral hemispheres and joins the grey matter of the anterior poles of the temporal lobes
it is found ventral to the rostrum of the corpus callosum
Anterior Communicating Artery
a short trunk that joins the anterior cerebral arteries at the anterior aspect of the circle of Willis
Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
a branch of the basilar artery (variation- the vertebral artery)
it supplies the anterior and inferior quarter of the cerebellum, as well as a small variable area of the medulla
Arachnoid Granulations
small collections of arachnoid tissue that projects into the dural sinuses.
play a role in drainage of CSF
Arachnoid Mater
the middle layer of the meninges
a thin layer of connective tissue that forms the external boundary of the subarachnoid space
Ascending Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus
bundle of axons close to the midline
joins the vestibular nucleus and paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF) with the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerve nuclei
functions in coordinating eye and head movements
Auditory Association Area
located on the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus
acts to distinguish speech sounds from other sounds
also contains Wernicke’s area
Basal Ganglia
a group of structures involved in the initiation and maintenance of motor functions
consists of substantia nigra, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus
Basal Vein (of Rosenthal)
drains the inferior part of the cerebral hemisphere
courses posteriorly to empty into the great cerebral vein
Basilar Artery
formed by the confluence of the two vertebral arteries
short artery found on the ventral surface of the pons in the midline
divides into terminal branches - superior cerebellar and posterior cerebral arteries
Broca’s Area
responsible for the motor activities involved in the production of speech
usually dominant hemisphere that directs speech
Calcarine Fissure
horizontal fissure on the medial surface of the occipital lobe
cortex surrounding it is the primary visual cortex
Caudate Nucleus
one of the structures of the basal ganglia
primitive correlation centre for movement
located deep within the cerebral hemisphere and adjacent to the lateral ventricles
has head, body and tail regions
along with the putamen forms the neostriatum
Cerebellar Cortex
has a thick later of grey matter on its surface - cortex
3 distinct cellular layers - molecular later, Purkinje cell layer and granular layer
Cerebellar Folia
the highly folded surface of the cerebellum, each one referred to as a folium
Cerebellar Tonsils
part of the ventral cerebellum
when intracranial pressure is sufficiently increased, the tonsils and brainstem can be forced through the foramen magnum - tonsilar herniation or coning
Cerebellar Vermis
the midline aspect of the cerebellum
(named for its resemblance to an earthworm)
vermal and paravermal regions function in the coordination of movement
Cerebral Aqueduct
Canal in the central part of the midbrain through which CSF flows from the 3rd to the 4th ventricle
Cerebral Peduncle or Crus Cerebri
located on the ventral surface of the midbrain
composed of axons of upper motor neurons carrying signal to the lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord
Cingulum
(meaning ‘belt’)
a bundle of axons deep within the cingulate gyrus
carries signals between the hippocampus and cingulate gyrus
Cisterna Magna
area of subarachnoid space containing CSF
located inferior to the cerebellum and dorsal to the medulla
Collateral Sulcus
courses along the inferior surface of the cerebral hemisphere
separates the parahippocampal and lingual gyri from the occipitotemporal gyrus
Corona Radiata
meaning ‘radiant crown’
refers to projection axons carrying signals between the cerebral cortex and other areas of the CNS
Corpus Callosum
large commissural bundle fo axons
joins left and right cerebral hemispheres together
in sagittal section can be slit into rostrum, genu, body and splenium areas
Corticobulbar Tract
axons of upper motor neurons projecting to lower motor neurons in the brainstem
Corticospinal Tract
axons of upper motor neurons carrying signals from the primary motor cortex to synapse with lower motor neurons in the spinal cord
Cuneus
meaning ‘wedge’
area of cortex on the medial surface of the occipital lobe
bounded by the parieto-occipital and calcarine fissure
receives visual information from the ipsilateral side of the retina - takes part in basic visual processing
Decussation of the pyramids
site in the caudal medulla where 80-85% of corticospinal axons cross the midline
Decussation of the Superior Cerebellar Peduncles
area of the midbrain at the level of the inferior colliculus
axons from the dentate nucleus in the cerebllum cross the midline on their way to the thalamus
Dentate Nucleus
one of the deep nuclei of the cerebellum
receives signals from the neocerebellum and relays them to the motor cortex of the cerebrum via the thalamus
functions in coordination of skilled movements
Diencephalon
part of the cerebrum consisting of the thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus and epithalamus
Dorsal Funiculus
refers to the dorsal aspect of the white matter tract of the spinal cord
includes two major tracts - fasciculus gracilies and fasciculus cuneatus - both sensory in function
also known as the dorsal columns
Dura Mater
outermost layer of the meninges
thick, tough layer of connective tissue
fused to the inside of the cranium and forms a sheath around the spinal cord
