Neuroanatomy Exam 1

What level of section?

Rostral medulla

White matter is comprised of…

Fibers

Grey matter is comprised of…

Cells

Outer layer: cerebral cortex

What kind of stain is this?

Myelin stain

White matter is dark, grey matter is light

What kind of stain is this?

Cell stain

White matter is light, grey matter is dark - useful for highlighting cell bodies

Collection of white matter joining different areas of the central nervous system

Peduncle

What plane of section?

Coronal

Looking head-on at an upright patient

Divides front and back

What plane of section?

Horizontal, axial

Patient is lying down, nose up

What plane of section?

Horizontal/transverse- brainstem

Anatomical orientation (clinical orientation is flipped)

What plane of section?

Sagittal

Looking at an upright patient from the side

Front to back

Anterior to posterior

Top, closest to top of the head

Dorsal or superior

Bottom, closest to neck

Ventral or inferior

The frontal section of the brain closest to the face, nose, and mouth

Rostral (anterior)

The rear section of the brain closest to the back of the head

Caudal (posterior)

Regions of the spinal cord

Cervical, thorasic, lumbar, sacral

Main anatomical/functional divisions of the brain

Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem

Forebrain structures (cerebrum + what?)

Cerebrum, basal ganglia, limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland

Main anatomical/functional divisions of the midbrain

Tectum, tegmentum

Structures of the hindbrain

Pons, cerebellum, medulla, spinal cord

Fissure dividing left and right hemispheres

Median longitudinal fissure

Lobe and major areas

Frontal lobe - in front of central sulcus

Prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, Broca’s area

Controls language production

Broca’s area

Controls muscle movement

Motor cortex

Lobe and major structures

Parietal lobe - behind central sulcus

Somatosensory cortex (sensory processing)

Superior parietal lobule (spatial orientation)

Inferior parietal lobule (language and body image)

Name the structures and functions

Tegmentum: motor coordination, pain management, arousal, autonomic functions

Tectum: visual and auditory reflexes

Lobe and functions

Temporal lobe

Processing auditory info, language comp., memory formation

Name the groove

Central sulcus

Divides primary motor cortex from primary somatosensory cortex - separates parietal lobe

Broca’s Aphasia

Stroke in Broca’s area

Functions include executive functions, emotion regulation, personality expression, social behavior

Prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Hidden deep within the lateral sulcus of the brain

Insular cortex - Island of Reil, Insula

Motor strip of primary motor cortex

Precentral gyrus: executing voluntary movements, anterior to central sulcus

Primary somatosensory cortex

Postcentral gyrus: sensory receptive area for sense of touch, posterior to central sulcus

Two commissures that interconnect the hemispheres of cerebral cortex

Corpus callosum, anterior commissure

Name the structure

Anterior commissure

Two structures of symptoms are on the same side of the body

Ipsilateral

Two structures of symptoms are on opposite sides of the body

Contralateral

Type of scan, orientation

CT, axial, density of tissue, brain anatomy

* Quick scan

Type of scan, orientation

MRI, T1, sagittal

Bright white matter, dark gray matter

Type of scan, orientation

MRI, T2, sagittal

Bright grey matter, dark white matter

Type of scan, orientation

MRI, T1, axial

Type of scan, orientation

MRI, T2, axial

MRI T2 is best at…

Defining fluids, pathology sequence

MRI T1 is best at…

Defining anatomy, anatomical sequence

Type of scan, orientation

CT, sagittal

Meninges layers (top of skull, down)

Dura mater (2 layers)

Arachnoid mater (3 layers)

Pia mater (2 layers)

Middle membrane

Contains blood vessels and CSF

Arachnoid mater

Allow CSF to pass/exit the brain from subarachnoid space → venous system

Outermost membrane

Contains dural sinuses, forms dural reflections

Dura mater

Epidural space in the spinal meninges

Normal space between vertebra/discs, houses spinal nerve roots and the dura

Dura reflections

Created by dura mater folding inwards upon itself

Forms four dural reflections → reflect into cranial cavity, contains venous sinuses

Falx cerebri

(vertical)

Separates the two hemispheres of the brain, largest dural fold

Dural venous sinuses

Located between dura and the brain

Twelve that drain the brain predominately into the internal jugular vein

Superior sagittal sinus (SSS)

Largest dural venous sinus

Single venous channel spanning midline and terminating at confluences of the sinuses (junction of four sinuses)

Where is epidural anesthesia injected into?

Epidural space of the spine

Meningitis

Inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

Ventricular system and major functions

Lateral ventricles (2), third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, fourth ventricle, central canal

Production, transport and removal of CSF

Name the structure

Lateral ventricle

Name the structure

Third ventricle

Name the structure

Fourth ventricle

Name the structure

Cerebral aqueduct

Name the structure

3rd ventricle

CSF → 4th ventricle

Name the structure

Lateral ventricles

Produces CSF and transports it → third ventricle

Name the structure

Lateral ventricles

Name the structure

4th ventricle

Name the structure

Cerebral aqueduct

Name the structure

3rd ventricle

Septum Pellucidum

Partition between a portion of the lateral ventricles

What makes up CSF and where does it reabsorb?

Made by specialized ependymal cells in the choroid plexi

Choroid plexi → ventricular system → subarachnoid space → arachnoid granulations

Name the structure

Choroid plexus

At the roof of lateral, 3rd, 4th ventricles

Name the structure

Central canal

Largest cistern between cerebellum and dorsal surface of medulla oblongata at and above the level of the foramen magnum

Cisterna magna

Enlargement of the ventricles of the brain

Ventriculomegaly

Hydrocephalus

Enlargement of the ventricles caused by an increase in pressure/build up of CSF

* Intercranial pressure

#3

Anterior cerebral artery

#1

Internal carotid artery

#2

Middle cerebral artery

#4

Posterior communicating artery

#11

Posterior cerebral artery

#6

Vertebral artery

#9

Basilar artery

What comprises the Circle of Willis?

Anterior communicating artery

Anterior cerebral artery

Middle cerebral artery

Internal carotid artery

Posterior communicating artery

Posterior cerebral artery

Vascular territories of the three main cerebral arteries

ACA: medial part of front and parietal lobe, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, internal capsule

MCA: lateral surface of the hemispheres (frontal, temporal & parietal lobe), insula

PCA: Inferior-medial part of the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe, visual cortex, thalamus, corpus callosum, midbrain

* All “C” are cerebral

Name the structure

Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)

Major arterial supply to the spinal cord

Anterior spinal artery (ASA)

Anterior cord syndrom

Interruption of blood supply to anterior portion of spinal cord

Bilateral motor paralysis below the level of the lesion

Bilateral loss of pain and temp sensation

Retained proprioception and vibratory sensation (intact dorsal columns)