VBDI 6050E Neuroscience - Development of CNS, Regional Anatomy, and Cranial Nerves Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the development of the CNS, embryonic brain vesicles, alar and basal functional zones, regional brain anatomy, and the 12 cranial nerves.

Neural plate

A longitudinal, thickened specialized region of ectoderm covering the flattened embryo that deepens during early development to form the neural groove.

Neural groove

A longitudinal depression formed as the neural plate thickens and deepens along the median hinge point.

Neural folds

Upturned edges of the neural plate that meet in the midline over the floor of the neural groove and fuse to form the hollow neural tube.

Neural crest cells

Clusters of cells at the edges of fusing neural folds that migrate alongside the neural tube into body cavities and viscera to differentiate into cerebrospinal and autonomic ganglia.

Prosencephalon

The most rostral of the three initial primary brain vesicles (forebrain), which later subdivides into the telencephalon and diencephalon.

Mesencephalon

The intermediate primary brain vesicle (midbrain) that remains essentially unchanged into the five-vesicle stage and forms the crura cerebri, tectum, tegmentum, and cerebral peduncles.

Rhombencephalon

The most caudal primary brain vesicle (hindbrain) that subdivides into the metencephalon and myelencephalon.

Telencephalon

Paired dorsolateral evaginations from the rostral end of the prosencephalon that develop into the two cerebral hemispheres.

Diencephalon

The remaining midline portion of the prosencephalon that includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

Metencephalon

The expanded rostral portion of the rhombencephalon that gives rise to the cerebellum dorsally and the pons ventrally.

Myelencephalon

The tapered terminal portion of the rhombencephalon that forms the medulla oblongata of the adult brain.

Sulcus limitans

A longitudinal groove running the length of the primitive neural tube on each side of the lumen, separating it into dorsal (alar) and ventral (basal) functional zones.

Alar plate

The dorsal portion of gray matter in the neural tube whose neurons are primarily sensory in function.

Basal plate

The ventral portion of gray matter in the neural tube whose neurons are predominantly motor in function.

General somatic afferent (GSA)

Sensory zone of the alar plate with cell bodies influenced by receptors in the body wall sensitive to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.

Special somatic afferent (SSA)

Sensory zone of the alar plate located in the brain related to the special senses of vision and hearing.

Special visceral afferent (SVA)

Sensory zone of the alar plate located in the brain related to the special senses of olfaction and taste.

General visceral afferent (GVA)

Sensory zone of the alar plate influenced by sensory receptors located in the viscera and blood vessels.

General visceral efferent (GVE)

Motor zone of the basal plate corresponding to the autonomic nervous system, innervating smooth muscle of viscera, blood vessels, and cardiac muscle.

Special visceral efferent (SVE)

Motor zone of the basal plate with neurons innervating skeletal muscles derived from branchial arches (jaws, face, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and trapezius).

General somatic efferent (GSE)

Motor zone of the basal plate innervating skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs and non-branchial skeletal muscles (extraocular and tongue muscles).

Tentorium cerebelli

A physical structure that separates the cerebellum from the cerebral hemispheres.

Vermis

The narrow middle portion or median ridge connecting the two lateral hemispheres of the cerebellum.

Rhomboid fossa

A diamond-shaped depression on the dorsal surface of the rostral medulla forming part of the fourth ventricle.

Pons

The ventral portion of the metencephalon, appearing as a ventral bulge composed of transversely-running fibers ('bridge').

Corpora quadrigemina

Four dorsal swellings of the midbrain consisting of a pair of rostral colliculi and a pair of caudal colliculi.

Tuber cinereum

A single midline swelling on the ventral surface of the diencephalon continuous with the infundibulum (pituitary stalk).

Optic chiasm

An X-shaped structure on the ventral diencephalon representing the junction and partial decussation of the optic nerves (CN II).

Pyriform lobe

A single large gyrus on the ventral surface of the cerebral hemisphere, ventral to the rhinal sulcus, connected with the olfactory peduncle and bulb.

Olfactory nerves (CN I)

Cranial nerve fibers that pierce the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone to connect with cell bodies in the olfactory bulb.

Optic nerve (CN II)

Cranial nerve responsible for vision arising from the diencephalon, exiting through the optic foramen of the skull.

Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

Cranial nerve exiting the midbrain near the midline containing somatic motor fibers to eyeball muscles (recti and levator palpebrae superioris) and visceral parasympathetic fibers.

Trochlear nerve (CN IV)

Small cranial nerve arising from the midbrain that innervates the dorsal oblique muscle of the eyeball and exits through the orbital fissure.

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Largest sensory cranial nerve, divided into Ophthalmic, Maxillary, and Mandibular branches, providing motor innervation to muscles of mandibular origin.

Abducent nerve (CN VI)

Cranial nerve arising from the caudal brainstem that exits through the orbital fissure to innervate the lateral rectus and retractor bulbi muscles.

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Cranial nerve originating from the brainstem that exits via the stylomastoid foramen, providing motor innervation to muscles of facial expression and carrying parasympathetic fibers.

Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)

Cranial nerve originating from the brainstem responsible for vestibular (location/movement perception) and cochlear (auditory) special senses.

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Cranial nerve originating from the brainstem that provides sensory innervation to tongue mucosa and pharyngeal regions, motor to the pharynx, and parasympathetic fibers.

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Cranial nerve providing main parasympathetic innervation to thoracic and abdominal visceral organs, as well as visceral afferents and somatic motor fibers to laryngeal muscles.

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Cranial nerve originating from the brainstem that divides into a dorsal branch (innervating neck muscles) and a ventral branch (innervating sternocephalicus).

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Cranial nerve arising from the brainstem and exiting through the hypoglossal canal to provide motor innervation to muscles of the tongue.