Neuroanatomy: Spinal Cord, Brain Lobes, and Pathways

Spinal Anatomy

Foramen Magnum

Opening where spinal cord enters skull

Conus Medullaris

End of spinal cord

Cauda Equina

Collection of spinal nerves below conus medullaris

Roots & Pathways

Dorsal Roots

Sensory (afferent) input to spinal cord

Dorsal Root Ganglia

Sensory neuron cell bodies

Ventral Roots

Motor (efferent) output from spinal cord

Spinal Nerve

Combination of dorsal and ventral roots

Lobes of the Brain

Frontal Lobe

Motor planning, speech production, executive function

Broca's Area

Speech production

Parietal Lobe

Sensory processing and integration

Temporal Lobe

Auditory processing and language comprehension

Wernicke's Area

Language comprehension

Occipital Lobe

Vision processing

Subcortical Structures

Basal Ganglia

Voluntary movement and habit learning

Limbic System

Emotion, memory, motivation

Amygdala

Emotion and threat detection

Hippocampus

Memory formation

White Matter Pathways

Corona Radiata

Projection fibers to and from cortex

Corpus Callosum

Connects left and right hemispheres

Arcuate Fasciculus

Connects Broca's and Wernicke's areas

Insular Lobe

Insula

Integrates emotion, speech planning, taste, and self-awareness