NEU 101: Anatomy I - Lecture Flashcards

A set of question-and-answer flashcards covering the key topics from the lecture notes on the nervous system, anatomy, CSF, BBB, brain structures, and related concepts.

What is neuroscience and how does it differ from neurology?

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system and its functions; neurology is the medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating nervous system disorders.

What are the two major divisions of the nervous system and what do they include?

Central Nervous System (CNS): brain and spinal cord; Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): nerves outside the CNS.

What is the difference between afferent and efferent nerves, and where are they located in the spinal cord?

Afferent nerves carry sensory information to the brain and enter via the dorsal (posterior) side; Efferent nerves carry motor information from the brain and exit via the ventral (anterior) side.

Name the three meninges and their common names.

Dura mater ('tough mother'), Arachnoid mater ('spider mother'), Pia mater ('pious mother').

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and where does it circulate?

CSF cushions and supports the CNS; it fills the subarachnoid space, central canal of the spinal cord, and brain ventricles.

Which ventricles are CSF-filled and how does CSF flow between them?

Lateral ventricles -> Third ventricle -> Cerebral aqueduct -> Fourth ventricle; CSF then enters the central canal and subarachnoid space.

Where is CSF produced and where is it absorbed?

Produced by the choroid plexus inside ventricles; absorbed by the dural venous sinuses in the subarachnoid space.

What forms the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

Endothelial cells of brain capillaries with tight junctions, supported by astrocyte end-feet (and pericytes contribute).

What are the standard cardinal directions used in neuroanatomy?

Dorsal, Ventral, Anterior, Posterior.

Name the three major parts of the brain and their basic components.

Brainstem (medulla, pons, midbrain), Cerebellum, Cerebrum (including basal ganglia and limbic structures).

What is the cerebral cortex and how many layers does it have?

The cortex is a six-layer sheet of gray matter that covers the cerebrum (about 1 m^2 and ~3 mm thick).

What are gyrus and sulcus?

Gyrus: a raised ridge; Sulcus: a groove. Plural: gyri and sulci.

Where is gray matter and white matter located in the brain and spinal cord?

Brain: gray matter on the outside (cortex), white matter inside. Spinal cord: white matter on the outside, gray matter in the center.

How is sensory and motor information organized in the spinal cord?

Afferent (sensory) information enters via the dorsal horn; Efferent (motor) information leaves via the ventral horn; the central canal runs the length of the spinal cord.

Which structure connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres?

Corpus callosum (major commissural tract).

What is hydrocephalus and how can it be treated?

Hydrocephalus is CSF buildup due to blocked flow causing ventricular enlargement; treated with a shunt to drain CSF.

What percentage of body weight is the brain and what percent of the blood supply does it use?

About 2% of body weight; about 20% of the blood supply.

How are spinal nerves organized regionally and what are the main regional groups?

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sacral; typically eight cervical nerves (C1–C8), followed by thoracic, lumbar, and sacral nerves.

What encases the CNS alongside the meninges?

The skull bones encase the CNS along with the three meninges (dura, arachnoid, pia).

Which horns do the lateral ventricles have?

Anterior horn, Posterior horn, and Inferior (inferior) horn.

What planes are used to section the brain and spinal cord?

Sagittal, Coronal, and Horizontal (axial) planes.

What does ipsilateral mean?

Ipsilateral means the same side of the body.

What does contralateral mean?

Contralateral means the opposite side of the body.

What does the term 'cortex' mean and how is it used?

Cortex means bark; 'cortical' is the adjective referring to the cortex.

What is the basic organization of gray and white matter in the brain vs the spinal cord, and why is this distinction important?

Brain: gray matter on the outside, white matter inside; Spinal cord: white matter on the outside, gray matter inside; this affects where processing vs transmission occurs.

What is the central canal and where is it located?

A CSF-filled canal running through the spinal cord.

What is the primary source of CSF production and what cells contribute to its production?

Choroid plexus within the ventricles; formed by a network of blood vessels derived from pia mater.