2.1: Anatomy & Methods 2

somatic motor division

part of the PNS innervating skeletal muscles, responsible for voluntary movement

autonomic motor division

part of the PNS innervating smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, etc. responsible for involuntary functions

gray matter

soma in brain

cortex

thin sheet of neurons, usually at brain’s surface

nucleus

clearly distinguishable mass of neurons in CNS, usually deep in the brain w/ an obvious border, includes reticular _____ of the thalamus

substantia

group of related neurons w/ less distinct boundaries than a nucleus; includes ____ gelatinosa in spinal cord

locus

small, well-defined group of cells

ganglion

collection of neurons in the PNS, excluding the basal _____ in the CNS

nerve

bundle of axons in the PNS w/ a common origin/destination, excluding the optic _____ in the CNS

bundle

collection of axons that run together but do not necessarily have a common destination

white matter

collection of axons

tract

collection of CNS axons w/ common origin and destination

commissure

axon collection in corpus callosum, that allows messages to be sent between opposite brain hemispheres

capsule

axon collection that connects cerebrum w/ brainstem

lemniscus

tract that meanders through brain like a ribbon

genome wide association study

large scale population study looking for correlation between genetic variation and frequency of clinical diagnoses to ID risk locus for a particular condition

HM

guy who had his hippocampus removed and lost the ability to form new, lasting autobiographic memory

tract tracing

invasive method that permits detailed assessment of connections between brain regions

retrograde

type of tract tracing that moves opposite to the direction of info flow, where we want to find origin

anterograde

type of tract tracing that goes towards direction of info flow, want to know where info goes

dorsal

towards the back, top of the brain in egocentric coordinate system

ventral

towards the stomach, bottom of the brain in egocentric coordinate system

rostral

towards the beak, front of brain in egocentric coordinate system

caudal

towards the tail, back of brain in egocentric coordinate system

superior

above, top of brain in allocentric coordinate system

inferior

below, bottom of brain in allocentric coordinate system

anterior

towards the front, front of brain in allocentric coordinate system

posterior

towards the back, back of brain in allocentric coordinate system

sagittal

hot dog style of viewing brain, cutting vertically at the corpus callosum, separating L and R

horizontal

hamburger style of viewing brain, separating top and bottom

coronal

vertical cutting of brain to separate front from back (not hot dog or hamburger)

contralateral

on opposite sides of the midline

ipsilateral

on same side as the midline

brainstem

relay between the brain and spinal cord responsible for basic vital functions; includes medulla, pons, and midbrain

cerebellum

region of the brain closest to the brain stem responsible for movement control

cerebrum

part of the forebrain (along w/ diencephalon) that sends and receives information to the contralateral side of the body & is responsible for cognitive function

gyrus

ridge in brain, separated by sulci; includes cingulate, precentral, and postcentral

sulcus

groove in brain that separates gyri; includes central, singulate, and parietal-occipital

central sulcus

groove in brain separating the parietal and frontal lobe w/ motor area anterior and somatosensory area posterior

dorsal column

white matter in spinal cord carrying ascending info from somatic mechanoreceptors

lateral column

axons that travel from cerebral cortex to interneurons and motor neurons in the ventral horn (pain & T)

ventral column

axons that travel from cerebral cortex to interneurons and motor neurons in the ventral horn responsible for light touch

dorsal root ganglion

where sensory neurons go in and motor neurons go out, group of sensory neuron soma

precentral gyrus

ridge in the frontal lobe that locates the motor cortex, anterior to central sulcus

postcentral gyrus

ridge in the parietal lobe locating the somatosensory cortex posterior to central suclus

thalamus

sensory relay center in the midbrain for vision, audition, and touch

amygdala

brain region located in front of the hippocampus responsible for fear in forebrain

basal ganglia

caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus responsible for movement in forebrain

anterior commissure

axon tract linking 2 brain hemispheres in corpus callosum

internal capsule

major path linking cerebral cortex to brain and spinal cord

blood brain barrier

group of cells that protect brain from toxins and fluctations in ionic milleu; interface between walls of capillaries and surrounding tissue are observed throughout body

meninges

membranes protecting brain and spinal cord preventing direct contact w/ skull or bone; dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater

subarachnoid space

area separating arachnoid membrane and pia mater, containing CSF

subdural hematoma

rupture in blood vessel passing between dura mater and arachnoid membrane

dura mater

tough outer layer in the meninges

arachnoid membrane

middle meninge w/ weblike membrane and blood vessels passing through

pia mater

innermost meninge

ventricle

canal through the brain filled w/ CSF

choroid plexus

tissue lining the brain ventricles producing 500mL/day of CSF

glymphatic system

brain waste clearing system