Neuroanatomy - Direction, General Structures, Function (1)

anterior/rostral

posterior/caudal

dorsal/superior

ventral/inferior

ventral/anterior

dorsal/posterior

rostral

caudal

anterior/rostral

posterior/caudal

ventral

dorsal

anterior in the head

toward the front

posterior in the head

toward the back

rostral in the head

toward face

caudal in head

toward tail

dorsal in head

toward top

ventral in head

toward bottom

anterior in the body

toward the belly

posterior in the body

toward the back

rostral in the body

toward the head

caudal in the body

toward the tail

dorsal in the body

toward the back

ventral in the body

toward the belly

sagittal plane & view

coronol/frontal plane & view

horizontal/axial/transversal plane & view

which CNS structures are grouped together for directions?

brain // brainstem & spinal cord // body (diff for 2 legged/4 legged animals)

superior / cephalic / cranial (directional comparative)

more toward head/upper part of structure

inferior / caudal (directional comparative)

away from head/lower part of structure

anterior (directional comparative)

nearer to front of body

posterior (directional comparative)

nearer to back of body

medial (directional comparative)

nearer to midline

lateral (directional comparative)

farther from midline

intermediate (directional comparative)

between two structures

ipsilateral (directional comparative)

on the same side of the body as another structure

contralateral (directional comparative)

on the opposite side of the body as another structure

proximal (directional comparative)

nearer to attachment of limb to trunk / nearer to origination of structure

distal (directional comparative)

farther from attachment of limb to trunk / origination of structure

superficial/external (directional comparative)

toward surface of body

deep/internal (directional comparative)

away from surface of body

elements making up CNS

spinal cord & encephalon structures

encephalon structures

forebrain, brainstem, cerebellum

regions of forebrain

diencephalon, telencephalon

structures in diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, epithalamus

diencephalon primary functions

maintaining homeostasis: hunger, circadian rhythm, emotions, sensory/motor integration

structures in telencephalon

cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala

telencephalon primary functions

high cognitive functions: thought, reasoning, voluntary movement, perception, attention, language, etc

regions in hindbrain

brainstem and cerebellum

what is the brainstem

stalk cerebral hemispheres & cerebellum sprout from

structures in brainstem

medulla, pons, midbrain

medulla function & general location

continuous with spinal cord; controls breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion → general vital functions

pons function & general location

continuous with medulla; motor relay to/from cerebellum

midbrain function & general location

continuous with pons; vision, audition, eye movement, body movement, sensory-motor integration

structures in midbrain

tectum, tegmentum, others (not listed)

cerebellum function & general location

dorsal to pons; coordinated movement, controls balance, posture

what makes up peripheral nervous system (PNS)

all parts of NS not included in CNS → nerves!

where does CNS develop from

neural plate/neural tube

where does PNS develop from

neural crest

somatic PNS general functions

voluntary movement via skeletal muscles - all spinal nerves that innervate skin/joints/muscles under voluntary control - motor neurons’ cell bodies mostly in CNS, but axons are in PNS

nerves in somatic PNS

spinal, cranial

spinal nerves’ general function

sensory/motor information in/out of spinal cord

cranial nerves’ general function

sensory/motor information in/out of brainstem

autonomic PNS general functions

involuntary control of smooth muscle and glands → heart/respiration rate, digestion, pupils, urination, arousal

divisions of autonomic PNS/general functions

sympathetic → fight or flight, inc heart rate and energy

parasympathetic → rest and digest, dec heart rate, calms body