ANAT 1030: Nervous System I - Bones, Meninges & Introduction to the CNS

Vocabulary flashcards covering the neurocranium, viscerocranium, cranial sutures and fossae, vertebral column features, meninges and spaces, neuroglial cell types, and white/gray matter structure.

Neurocranium

The 8 bones of the cranial cavity that form the protective shell encasing the brain.

Viscerocranium

The 14 facial bones that provide attachment points for muscles responsible for chewing and facial expressions.

Pterion

The junction where the frontal, sphenoid, parietal, and temporal bones meet; it is the thinnest and weakest part of the skull.

Anterior Cranial Fossa

The interior compartment of the neurocranium that contains the frontal lobe of the brain.

Middle Cranial Fossa

The interior compartment of the neurocranium that contains the temporal lobe of the brain.

Posterior Cranial Fossa

The interior compartment of the neurocranium that contains the cerebellum.

Vertebral Foramen

An opening in each vertebra (except the coccygeal) through which the spinal cord passes when stacked into the vertebral canal.

Intervertebral Foramina

Lateral openings formed by adjacent vertebrae through which spinal nerves exit the vertebral column.

Meninges

The three membranous layers (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Dura Mater

The tough, dense outer layer of the meninges tightly attached to the inner surface of the skull and supplied by the middle meningeal artery.

Falx Cerebri

A dural septum that extends vertically to separate the two cerebral hemispheres.

Tentorium Cerebelli

A dural septum that separates the cerebellum from the overlying cerebral hemispheres.

Arachnoid Mater

The thin, web-like middle layer of the meninges firmly attached to the dura that bridges over the gyri and sulci of the brain.

Pia Mater

The delicate, translucent innermost layer of the meninges firmly attached to the surface of the brain and spinal cord, closely following the contours of gyri and sulci.

Subarachnoid Space

The space between the arachnoid and pia mater filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and containing superficial cerebral blood vessels.

Dural Sac

A sheath formed by the dura mater extending from the foramen magnum to the 2nd sacral vertebra ($S_2$), containing the spinal cord and attached nerves.

Lumbar Cistern

An enlargement of the subarachnoid space between $L_1-L_2$ and $S_2$, used for obtaining CSF samples during a lumbar puncture and administering spinal anesthesia.

Denticulate Ligaments

Lateral projections of pia mater attached to the dura that suspend and anchor the spinal cord within the dural sac.

Filum Terminale

A fibrous strand of pia mater extending from the conus medullaris to the base of the dural sac.

Neurons

Specialized cells (~86 billion in total) in nervous tissue responsible for the reception, transduction, and conduction of stimuli and action potentials.

Glia

Support cells in the nervous system (~70% of all brain cells) that insulate, support, and nourish neurons.

Ependymal Cells

CNS neuroglial cells that produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and line the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped CNS neuroglia that provide physical and metabolic support to neurons, secrete growth factors, and limit neurotransmitter diffusion.

Oligodendrocytes

CNS neuroglial cells responsible for forming the myelin sheath around axons.

Microglia

Specialized immune cells of the central nervous system that become activated during inflammation.

Schwann Cells

Neuroglial cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) responsible for the myelination of axons.

Satellite Cells

Support neuroglia found surrounding neuronal cell bodies within peripheral nervous system ganglia.

Gray Matter

Regions of the central nervous system consisting of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and glia, where information processing and relaying occur.

White Matter

Interconnecting fiber tract regions of the CNS composed of myelinated axons, named for the high lipid content of myelin.

Corpus Callosum

The largest white matter structure in the brain, consisting of fiber tracts connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

What is Grey Matter made up of

Dendries, Glia and Neuronal Cells

Where is grey matter located

Cerebral Cortex, Nucleus and H-shaped horns within the spinal cord

What happens in grey matter

Its where relaying and processing information occurs

White matter

Interconnecting fiber tract system (wiring of the brain)

What does whiter matter consist of

Myelinated axons

Corpus Callsum

Largest white matter structure in the brain. Connects left and right cerebral hemispheres