check point seans lecture questions

What are the major events that occur to allow the neural tube to develop into a brain?

What type of signaling needs to occur in order to achieve this?

CNS development begins with the neural plate tissue folding into the neural fold and finally the neural tube.

Morphogenesis involves the development of primary vesicles (Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, Rhombencephalon) into secondary vesicles and their adult derivatives

How does cortical development occur? What structure does the cortical development emanate near?

This occurs via a stem cell population located near the brain ventricles (the Ventricular Zone/VZ). These neural stem cells migrate along radial glia to populate the outer regions of the developing cortex

Describe how cortical lamination occurs in discrete regions of the brain to result in differential radial unit architecture.

Lamination occurs as neurons of the future cortex develop radially outward to create columns or "arrays" of radial units. Different regions result in differential architecture because the six cortical layers vary in cell density, types, and clustering depending on the specific functional region (e.g., motor vs. sensory)

What is gyrification and why do some species have greater gyrification than others?

This is the process where white matter (axons) physically pulls gray matter (cell bodies) deeper into the brain. Some species have greater gyrification because it provides increased surface area to house a higher density of neuron cell bodies.

How have we learned about the function of many aspects of the brain?

Historically, we have learned through human tragedy (accidents/injuries), observing which cognitive processes are inhibited following medical events like strokes, and modern functional imaging

- See what goes wrong when its taken out of the picture

What is a stroke? What types are there?

A stroke occurs when blood supply to brain tissue is disrupted. There are two types:

- Hemorrhagic (blood leaks into brain tissue)

More serious and can kill tissue in the area

- Ischemic (a clot stops blood supply)

What is the function of Broca's area?

Responsible for the ability to communicate salient messages (expressive language function)

Broca's aphasia: unable to communicate salient messages (expressive aphasia)

What is the function of Wernicke's area?

Responsible for listening to and understanding written or spoken words (receptive language function

Wernicke's aphasia: unable to listen and understand written or spoken word (receptive aphasia)

What is a seizure and what are some of the causes of it?

These are random, unregulated electrical activities in the brain, sometimes caused by mutations in different ion channels

Spread from one region of the brain to another

What is the Corpus Callosum? What does it do?

-A massive tract that transfers information from one cerebral hemisphere to the other

- Corpus Callostotomy: "Split Brain Surgery" disconnects the 2 hemispheres of the brain by cutting the corpus callosum, which is the band of 2 nerve fibers connecting the 2. This is mainly performed in patients with uncontrollables seizures with a potential of severe injury due to falls

What are the elements of the basal nuclei and what is their role?

-Caudate nucleus (pattern and rhythm of limb movement)

-Putamen (subconscious muscle control),

-Globus pallidus (regulates muscle tone via the thalamus)

What are the elements of the Diencephalon and what is their role?

-Thalamus: The "switchboard" or final relay station for all sensory impulses except smell. (like a librarian, it shushes)

-Hypothalamus: The master controller of the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems; regulates homeostasis (temperature, hunger, sleep cycles).

-Epithalamus: Includes the Pineal Gland (circadian rhythms, melatonin is produced)

-Habenular Nuclei (emotional responses to odors, olfactory info)

What is the role of the hippocampus?

Consolidates short-term memories into long-term memories

What is explicit memory? What is implicit memory?

- Explicit (Declarative) memory involves conscious recall of facts and events

- Implicit (Reflex) memory involves unconscious recall of motor skills and fear conditioning

What components comprise the brainstem?

The Midbrain, Pons, and Medulla Oblongata

What is the role of the midbrain?

Contains reflex centers for vision (Superior colliculus) and auditory stimuli (Inferior colliculus), as well as the Red Nucleus for arm flexion

What is the role of the Pons?

Controls breathing via the Pontine respiratory center, which smooths the transition between inspiration and expiration

What is the role of the Medulla Oblongata?

Contains vital cardiovascular and respiratory rhythmicity centers; it also manages autonomic reflexes like swallowing and vomiting

What is the site of anger/aggression?

Amygdala

What are the different regions of the limbic system? What is their role in emotional regulation?

Cingulate gyrus (modifies behavior/emotion),

Parahippocampal gyrus (recognizes scenery/sarcasm),

Amygdala (fear conditioning/emotion),

Hippocampus (memory consolidation),

Olfactory bulbs (linking smell to memory)

What are some pathologies that can manifest if the limbic system operates in an aberrant capacity?

Lack of control over certain things (appetite, sex drive)

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome: Results from Amygdala destruction, leading to docility, increased sex drive, and placing objects in the mouth.

Alzheimer's Disease: Characterized by cell death in the hippocampus due to Amyloid/Tau plaques

What is the role of the cerebellum?

Acts as an ipsilateral motor coordinator that compares intent with action to correct errors during movement

What is the job of the vermis? What is the job of the paravermis?

The Vermis controls locomotion and posture,

Paravermis corrects in the moment movement

What is the role of the vestibulocerebellum?

Maintains balance and controls eye movements

What is the role of the spinocerebellum?

Regulates muscle tone and coordinates skilled voluntary movements

What is the role of the cerebrocerebellum?

Involved in the planning and initiation of voluntary activity

the vertebral column is innervated by the _________ ________ branches of spinal nerves

recurrent meningeal

_____ supply the periosteum, annuli fibrosis and ligaments

nociceptors

_______ fibers are found in the annuli fibrosis and ligaments

proprioceptive

Meningeal branches supply:

periosteum

ligamenta flava

annuli fibrosis, IV discs

posterior longitudinal ligament

spinal dura mater

Dura mater

outermost covering of spinal cord

Innervated by recurrent meningeal nerves

Seperated by the periosteum-covered bone by the epidural space

Arachnoid Mater

avascular membrane that lines the dural sac and dural root sheaths

arachnoid mater is seperated from pia mater via the

subarachnoid space and CSF

Pia Mater

Innermost covering membrane of the spinal cord

What branch of the major cervical supply the vertebrae?

periosteal and equatorial

interchondral joint

costal cartilage between false ribs

sternochondral joint

costal cartilage and sternum

What is Adson's Maneuver testing?

Scalene compression

What is Costoclavicular Syndrome?

Clavicle compression

Allen Manuever Test

Pec minor compression

what structure does Kehr's Sign (left shoulder pain) refer to?

Spleen

what structure does McBurney's Point refer to?

Appendix