Neuroscience Lecture Notes Review: Meninges, Ventricular System, BBB, Cortex, Limbic System, Basal Ganglia, and Related Structures

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering meninges, ventricular system and CSF, BBB, cortical organization, limbic system, basal ganglia, and major brain structures.

Dura mater

Outermost, thick protective layer of the meninges surrounding the brain.

Arachnoid mater

Middle meningeal layer between dura and pia; not always visible in dissections.

Pia mater

Thinnest, highly vascular membrane that adheres closely to the brain surface.

Meningitis

Infection and inflammation of the meninges; can be viral or bacterial (bacterial more serious; vaccines exist).

Ventricular system

Interconnected CSF-filled spaces within the brain and spinal cord."

CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid)

Fluid produced by the choroid plexus that cushions and nourishes the CNS; circulates in ventricles and subarachnoid space.

Choroid plexus

Specialized vascular tissue in ventricular walls that filters blood and secretes CSF.

Interventricular foramen of Monro

Opening that connects each lateral ventricle to the third ventricle.

Cerebral aqueduct

Channel (aqueduct) connecting the third and fourth ventricles.

Subarachnoid space

CSF-filled space surrounding brain and spinal cord between arachnoid and pia mater.

Arachnoid villi/granulations

Projections that drain CSF from the subarachnoid space into dural venous sinuses.

Dural venous sinuses

Venous channels that collect CSF and brain venous blood for return to the bloodstream.

Central canal

CSF-filled canal in the spinal cord continuing from the ventricles.

Neutral buoyancy

Brain effectively weighs 25–50 g in CSF, reducing weight-related damage.

CSF protection (shock absorption)

CSF acts as a cushion to protect brain tissue from injury.

Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

Procedure to collect CSF by inserting a needle between L3–L4 vertebrae.

Intrathecal administration

Delivery of drugs directly into the CSF.

Hydrocephalus

Enlargement of the ventricles due to blocked CSF drainage.

Shunt (ventriculoperitoneal shunt)

Surgical tube that drains CSF from ventricles to neck veins or the abdominal cavity.

Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB)

Protective barrier that restricts passage of substances from blood to brain tissue.

Tight junctions

Endothelial cell junctions in brain capillaries that restrict paracellular passage.

Astrocyte end feet

End-foot processes of astrocytes that help maintain BBB integrity.

Non-fenestrated capillaries

Brain capillaries without pores, a key feature of the BBB.

Fenestrated capillaries

Capillaries with pores found in many tissues; not part of the BBB.

White matter

Brain tissue composed mainly of myelinated axons that transmit signals.

Gray matter

Brain tissue rich in neuronal cell bodies and dendrites.

Postcentral gyrus (Primary somatosensory cortex)

Gyrus located posterior to the central sulcus; processes touch and pain.

Precentral gyrus (Primary motor cortex)

Gyrus located anterior to the central sulcus; initiates voluntary movements.

Frontal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in planning, movement, working memory, and inhibition.

Parietal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in somatosensation and integration; later vision processing.

Occipital lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for early-stage visual processing.

Temporal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in memory, hearing, and language comprehension.

Limbic system

Group of interconnected brain structures related to emotion, memory, and motivation.

Hippocampus

Limbic structure essential for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Amygdala

Limbic structure involved in emotion processing and emotional memory.

For n ix

Bundle of axons linking the hippocampus with mammillary bodies; part of the limbic system.

Mammillary body

Limbic structure involved in memory processing; connected to the fornix.

Septum

Limbic structure involved in reward/punishment and motivated behaviors.

Cingulate cortex

Limbic-related cortical area involved in emotion formation and processing.

Thalamus

Major relay station transmitting sensory and motor information to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates motivated functions (eating, drinking, sleep) and controls pituitary output.

Pituitary gland

Master gland controlled by the hypothalamus; releases hormones to regulate body functions.

Basal Ganglia

Group of nuclei (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus; including substantia nigra) that coordinate smooth voluntary movement.

Caudate nucleus

Part of the basal ganglia involved in learning and movement regulation.

Putamen

Basal ganglia structure working with the caudate in motor control.

Globus pallidus

Basal ganglia nucleus that modulates motor activity.

Substantia nigra

Basal ganglia structure with dopaminergic neurons crucial for movement control.

Corpus callosum

Large bundle of commissural fibers connecting left and right hemispheres.

Betz cells

Large pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of the primary motor cortex.

Cortex layers (neocortex) overview

Cortical layers 2/3: processing; 4: thalamic input; 5: main output; 6: input to thalamus; white matter: myelinated axons.