Neuro exam #2 notes

Basal Ganglia

smooth motor movement

Corpus Striatum

Composed of the Basal Ganglia and internal Capsule

Lenticular Nucleous

Made up of the putamen and globus pallidus

Caudate Nucleous

Divided into head, body, and tail (inhibitory)

Amygdala

Almond-shaped structure attached to the tail of the caudate nucleous, handles emotion in the limbic system

Ganglia

Nerve cell bodies

Internal Capsul

Area of white matter running through the basal ganglia where axons come together (myelinated fiber tracts) that connect the cortex

Coronal Radiata

The way nerve fibers (and signals) go up or down in the brain (white matter)

Projection Fibers

Myelinated axons that project down

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that regulates mood and coordinates motor movement; produced in the midbrain in the substantia nigra and sent through the corpus striatum

Midbrain

Sits above the pons; most superior part of the brainstem; has eye movement nerves (oculomotor)

Automate Movement

Initially learned and mediated by the basal ganglia

Tone

Internal state of muscle fiber tension in individual muscles

Dyskinesia

Motor movement disorder (abnormal and involuntary)

Tourette's

Neurological repetitive stereotyped involuntary movement disorder, mediated by medication (no cure)

Parkinson's Disease

Degenerative substantia nigra disease; symptoms include hand tremor, increased tone, bradykinesia; caused when 60-80% of dopamine-producing cells are damaged

Bradykinesia

Slowness of voluntary movement

Diencephalon

Includes thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, pituitary, and subthalamus

Thalamus

Most internal section with 2 lobes; receives info from cerebellum, basal ganglia, and all sensory pathways (not olfactory tract), then sends messages to cortex

Hypothalamus

Solid structure below the thalamus, forms the floor of the lateral walls of the third ventricle; controls temperature, thirst, hunger, regulation, circadian rhythm (sleep), emotions and emotional regulation (Diabetes can originate here)

Epithalamus

Includes the pineal gland and produces melatonin, involved in the sleep-wake cycle

Subthalamus

Inferior/below thalamus, involved in secondary motor movement; has connections to the basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem

Pituitary Gland

Involved in hormones and growth

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Part of the thalamus involved in visual processing

Medial Geniculate Nucleus

Part of the thalamus involved in auditory processing

Ventrolateral Geniculate Nucleus

Part of the thalamus involved in primary motor function

Ventral Posterolateral Nucleus

Part of the thalamus involved in primary sensory function

Limbic System

Includes subcortical structures and the cortex (sensory cortex, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, mammillary body, olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex); involved in recent memory, emotion, motivation, reinforcement, and reward

Limbic Behavior

Irrational decisions or actions of the limbic system that are altered based on drugs or alcohol

Hippocampus

Plays a role in long-term memory formation

Cingulate Gyrus

Involved in anxiety, panic, and compulsion

Mammillary Body

Plays a role in memory formation

Olfactory Bulb

Involved in smell and associated memory

Prefrontal Cortex

Involved in decision-making

Alzheimer's Disease

Affects the amygdala, causing more anxiety or fear

Pons

Part of the brainstem involved with trigeminal and abducens nerves

Medulla

Part of the brainstem with vestibulocochlear and glossopharyngeal nerves (pyramids and decussation); axons cross over here

Coma

A persistent vegetative state

Reticular Formation (Ascending)

Nuclei in the brainstem, alerts the nervous system of sleep and wake cycle, and projects from the thalamus (Learning)

Reticular Formation (Descending)

Nuclei in the brainstem, involved in posture, equilibrium, sleep, coma; info from the hypothalamus; involved in reflexive behaviors like chewing and swallowing (Calming)

Cerebellum

Posterior to the brainstem, dorsal to the pons and medulla, separated by the fourth ventricle with two hemispheres and three lobes; involved in memory, motor coordination of fine movements, rapid speech, maintaining posture, and motor learning through trial and error

Anterior Cerebellum

Top part, included in proprioceptive input from the spinal cord

Posterior Cerebellum

Bottom part, involved in coordination of muscle movements and inhibits involuntary movement

Flocculonodular Lobe (Cerebellum)

Internal maintenance of equilibrium

Diadochokinesia

Rapid movement

Ataxia

Damage to the cerebellum causing unsteady walk or unsteady posture

Ataxic Dysarthria

Affects respiration, phonation, resonation, and articulation due to damage in the cerebellum

Meninges

Three layers of delicate tissues around the brain (dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater)

Dura Mater

Outermost meningeal layer, adheres to the skull, includes epidural and subdural space

Arachnoid Mater

Web-like meningeal layer in the subarachnoid space, holds cerebral spinal fluid

Pia Mater

Innermost meningeal layer, adheres to the sulci

Meningitis

Infection of the meningeal layers

Lateral Ventricles

Have anterior horns in the frontal lobe

Third Ventricle

Lies between thalamic lobes

Fourth Ventricle

Between the cerebellum and pons

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)

Clear liquid produced in the ventricles and found in the subarachnoid space; cushions the brain while transporting hormones

Choroid Plexus

Located in each of the ventricles, area where CSF is produced

Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap

Procedure where CSF is analyzed and taken through a space in the subarachnoid section of the spine

Hydrocephalus

Condition of too much fluid in the brain, caused by blockage, excessive production, meningitis, and/or tumors

Aorta

Main artery in the body, supplies all the body (except lungs) with blood

Common Carotid Artery

Divides into the external carotid and the internal carotid

External Carotid Artery

Supplies the face with blood

Internal Carotid Artery

Supplies the brain with blood

Middle Cerebral Artery

Branch of the internal carotid artery, supplies the entire bilateral area of both hemispheres, including Broca's, Wernicke's, and angular gyrus

Anterior Cerebral Artery

Branch of the internal carotid artery, supplies blood to the medial cortex including motor and sensory areas

Posterior Cerebral Artery

Connects to the basilar artery, supplies the medial and inferior temporal and occipital lobes, thalamus, and hypothalamus

Vertebral Arteries

Connect to the basilar artery in the pons

Basilar Artery

Connects the vertebral arteries to the posterior cerebral artery

Posterior Communicating Artery

Connects the internal carotid and posterior cerebral arteries

Anterior Communicating Artery

Connects the two anterior cerebral arteries

Circle of Willis

Where the main arteries supplying the brain come together, acts as a failsafe in blood supply to the brain (blood can travel different paths if blockage)

Akinesia

No movement

Ataxic dysarthria

damage in the cerebellum and affects respiration, phonation resonation and articulation

Left Middle Cerebral

Most common CVA

Plaque

made of fat cholesterol, and calcium, it builds up and hardens in the blood

CVA (Cerebrovascular attack)

an interruption of blood flow to the brain

Atherosclerosis

Disease caused by plaque builds up in the arteries. Can cause heart attack, stroke, or death

Who is more likely to have a stroke?

Men

Who is more likely to have more strokes?

Women

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)

is a CVA caused by temporary blockage of artery (fixes itself)

Ischemic Stroke

is a CVA stroke where there is sudden loss of brain function either a partial or complete obstruction of blood flow to the brain

Lacunar Stroke

occlusions or blockages in the subcortical region (Tiny stroke)

Embolic Stroke

when a clot is formed and dislodges from where it originates and blocks supply to area of the brain

Thrombotic

Stroke caused by a blood clot in area of blockage

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Caused by bleeding in the brain

Aneurysm

When an air bubble is formed and ruptures causing brain bleed.

Aphasia

Acquired deficit in language ability resulting from brain damage

Trigeminal nerve

In pons responsible for facial movement

Abducens

In pons responsible for eye movement

Glossopharyngel

In medulla responsible for taste and swallowin

Vestibular chochlear

Responsible.for hearing and balance in medulla

Vagus

Responsible for organ function including the heart (medulla)