Gross Anatomy of the Brain and Cranial Nerves

This set covers the embryonic development of the brain, external and internal structures of the human and sheep brain, meninges, and the twelve pairs of cranial nerves.

Prosencephalon

A primary brain vesicle, also known as the forebrain, present at week 4 of embryonic development.

Telencephalon

A secondary brain vesicle (week 5) that develops into the adult cerebrum, including the cerebral hemispheres, cortex, white matter, and basal nuclei.

Diencephalon (Development)

A secondary brain vesicle that develops into the adult thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and retina.

Metencephalon

A secondary brain vesicle that develops into the adult brain stem pons and the cerebellum.

Myelencephalon

A secondary brain vesicle that develops into the adult brain stem medulla oblongata.

Cerebral aqueduct

The adult neural canal region associated with the mesencephalon (midbrain).

Gyrus

An elevated ridge of tissue on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres.

Sulcus

A shallow groove on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres.

Fissure

A deep sulcus, such as the longitudinal fissure or transverse cerebral fissure.

Central sulcus

A major groove that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Primary motor cortex

The functional area located in the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe.

Primary somatosensory cortex

The functional area located in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe responsible for somatic sensation.

Broca's area

A motor area in the frontal lobe responsible for speech production.

Wernicke's area

An association area associated with language comprehension.

Gustatory cortex

The region of the cerebral cortex responsible for the sense of taste, located in the insula.

Striatum

A component of the basal nuclei consisting of the caudate nucleus and the putamen.

Arbor vitae

The branching, tree-like pattern of white matter within the cerebellum.

Dura mater

The outermost, toughest layer of the meninges, consisting of an outer periosteal layer and an inner meningeal layer.

Falx cerebri

An inner dural fold that dips into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres.

Olfactory Nerve (I)

The purely sensory cranial nerve that carries afferent impulses for the sense of smell.

Optic Nerve (II)

The purely sensory cranial nerve that carries afferent impulses associated with vision, passing through the optic canal.

Oculomotor Nerve (III)

A primarily motor nerve that directs the eyeball via the inferior oblique, superior, inferior, and medial rectus muscles.

Trigeminal Nerve (V)

A mixed nerve and the major sensory nerve of the face; divided into ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular divisions.

Abducens Nerve (VI)

A primarily motor nerve that carries somatic motor fibers to the lateral rectus muscle to abduct the eyeball.

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

A mostly sensory nerve comprising the vestibular branch for equilibrium and the cochlear branch for hearing.

Vagus Nerve (X)

A mixed nerve with large parasympathetic components that supply the heart and smooth muscles of abdominal visceral organs.

Accessory Nerve (XI)

A primarily motor nerve that provides somatic motor fibers to the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

A primarily motor nerve that carries somatic motor fibers to the muscles of the tongue.