Neurological Aspects of Communication and Cognition Unit 1

Caudel

toward the tail

Superior

Towards the head end of the body

Inferior

Towards the feet end of the body

Distal

Away from the joint

Proximal

Towards the joint

Dorsal

Back of the body

Ventral

Front of the body

Periphreal

away from the center

Central

Near the center of the body

Superficial

Outermost layer of the body

Deep

Deepest layer of the body

Ipsilateral

Same sides of the body

Contralateral

Opposite sides of the body

Bilateral

Two sides

Unilateral

One side

Prone

lying face down

Supine

lying on the back

Sagital

divides body into left and right

Coronal

divides the body into slices from front to back

Medial

Towards the middle of the body

Lateral

Towards the outside of the body

Rostral

toward the nose or mouth

Transverse (axial)

Divides the body into top and bottom

Frontal Lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

Parietal Lobe

receives sensory input for touch and body position

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

Temporal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Precentral Gyrus

the strip of frontal cortex, just in front of the central sulcus, that controls voluntary movement

Postcentral Gyrus

the strip of parietal cortex, just behind the central sulcus, that helps perceive general sensations (touch and pain)

Central Sulcus

separates frontal and parietal lobes

Sylvian Fissure

Separates the temporal from the frontal lobe, and the temporal from the parietal lobe

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that processes motor coordination, balance, and movement.

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Medulla Oblongata

Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.

Midbrain

A small part of the brain above the pons that helps with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, alertness, and temperature regulation

Thalumus

the structure of the brain that relays sensory information

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Soma

cell body of a neuron

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Axon Terminals

branches at the end of the axon

Axon Hillock

Cone shaped region of an axon where it joins the cell body.

Nodes of Ranvier

gaps in the myelin sheath

Myelin (part of a neuron)

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Microglial Cells

Recyclers
- Clean up damaged tissue and waste in the extracellular space
- Recycles excess neurotransmitters after and action potential

Astrocytes

- Star shaped support cells
- Transports nutrients to neurons

Myelin (cell)

- Schwann cells (PNS) and oligodendroglia (CNS)
3 Functions:
- Protect
- Speed transmission of signals
- Reduce signal loss

Ependymal Cells

- Found within the choroid plexus
- Produces cerebrospinal fluid
- Serves as a cushion to the brain
- Transports nutrients to the brain
-Removes wastes

Precentral gyrus

The strip of frontal cortex, just in front of the central sulcus, that is crucial for motor control

Postcentral gyrus

the strip of parietal cortex, just behind the central sulcus, that receives somatosensory information from the entire body

Upper motor neurons

Involved with sending information to the spinal cord in the motor pathways. Cell bodies are contained within the brain.

Lower motor neurons

Involved with sending information to the muscles in the motor pathways. Cell bodies are contained within the spinal cord.

Dorsal root

contains axons of sensory neurons

Middle cerebral artery

Supplies lateral cortex, motor strip, parietal lobe, Broca's area, and Wernicke's.

Branches of the MCA

Superior branch (top), Inferior branch (bottom)

Anterior cerebral artery

Supplies frontal lobe

Posterior cerebral artery

supplies occipital lobe

Basilar artery

Serves the brain stem and the cerebellum as it travels upward

Posterior communicating artery

Anterior communicating artery

Circle of willis

Distributes blood flow through the cerebral arteries.

Dura mater

Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

Arachnoid mater

Weblike middle layer of the three meninges

Pia mater

Thin and permeable

Lateral ventricle

Choroid plexus

produces CSF

Third ventricle

Fourth ventricle

Central canal

CSF function

1.     Mechanical support (cushioning for the brain and spinal cord)

2.     Spatial buffering (Intracranial pressure)

3. Regulation of extracellular environment (transports nutrients to the brain).

Cerebellum

Balance, motor movement and procedural memory

Alzheimer’s disease

A common cause of widespread cortical atrophy that leads to receding tissue surrounding ventricles.

What can happen when there is a blockage of flow of CSF fluid? What is it called?

The brain tissue is compressed. noncommunicating or communicating Hydrocephalus

Flow of CSF

CSF fluid circulates all around the external surface of the brain, between the hemispheres of the brain, around the cerebellum, around the brain stem, and down the spinal cord.  

Meningeal extension Number 1

Falx Cerebri

Meningeal extension Number 2

Tentorium cerebelli

Meningeal extension Number 3

Falx cerebelli

Meningeal extension functions

Provides structural support for brain and separates the different parts of the brain

Meningeal extension inflammation

Meningitis

Depression indicated by #9

Pituitary gland

Ridge indicated by #10

Sphenoid ridge

CT scan

It uses radiation to measure attenuation. It detects hypodense areas in the brain that might indicate swelling or bleeding. Bony structures are highly visible

MRI 

Uses contrast to detect any abnormalities within the soft tissue of the brain. Soft tissue is highly visible

Ischemia in a CT scan

Darkened area in a CT scan

Hemorrhage in a CT scan

Brighter white area in a CT scan

Which part of spinal cord is motor and which is sensory?

The posterior part is sensory, and the anterior part is motor. The dorsal root indicates the posterior section.

Discuss how the organization of the cerebrum parallels the spinal cord organization

Both structures consist of white matter and gray matter with the interior and exterior portions being reverse for these two structures (ie. Grey matter inside and white matter outside for the spinal cord and vice versa for the cerebrum).

Efferent

Conducting outwards or away from the CNS; motor

Afferent

Conducting inwards or towards the CNS; sensory

Gray matter vs White matter

Gray Matter: 1 and 3

White Matter: 2 and 4