Neuroanatomy Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic neuroanatomy, development, cerebral structure, spinal pathways, and vascular supply, derived from the Essentials of Human Neuroanatomy textbook.

Human Nervous System

A complex system involved in intelligence, judgment, and memory, which lacks the ability to adequately regenerate.

Sensory part

The component of the nervous system that collects information from the environment.

Motor part

The component of the nervous system responsible for the responses of the body to the surroundings.

Neurons

The functional units of the nervous system, totaling about $200 \times 10^9$ in the adult human brain.

Meninges

Three protective coverings of the central nervous system housed within bones.

Dura mater

The most external, dense connective tissue layer of the meninges, also known as pachymeninx.

Arachnoid

The delicate, web-like reticular fiber layer situated between the dura and pia mater.

Pia mater

The thin, translucent innermost layer intimately attached to the brain and spinal cord.

Leptomeninges

The collective term for the pia mater and the arachnoid mater.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The anatomical subdivision consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The anatomical subdivision comprising spinal and cranial nerves with associated ganglia.

Somatic Nervous System

The functional subdivision involved in the innervation of the body wall, including skin and muscles.

Autonomic (visceral) Nervous System

The system involved in controlling smooth muscles, glands of internal organs, and blood vessels.

Adult Human Brain Weight

Approximately $1400\,g$, constituting about $2\%$ of total body weight.

Forebrain

Also called the cerebrum, consisting of the telencephalon and diencephalon.

Midbrain

Also called the mesencephalon, located between the forebrain and hindbrain.

Hindbrain

Consists of the pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum.

Brain stem

Comprised of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Vermis

The central part of the cerebellum connecting two lateral lobes.

Endoderm

The innermost embryo layer giving rise to the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and liver.

Mesoderm

The middle embryo layer that forms muscle, connective tissues, and the vascular system.

Ectoderm

The outermost embryo layer which gives rise to the entire nervous system.

Neural plate

Thickened ectoderm on the dorsal surface of the embryo appearing at the third week of life.

Neural groove

A deepening pear-like groove on the neural plate bounded by neural folds.

Neural tube

The structure formed by the fusion of neural folds, closing completely within $28\,days$.

Anterior neuropore

The cranial opening of the neural tube that closes first during development.

Posterior neuropore

The caudal opening of the neural tube that closes $2\,days$ after the anterior neuropore.

Neural crest

A strip of ectodermal cells giving rise to sensory ganglia, autonomic ganglia, and melanocytes.

Prosencephalon

The primary brain vesicle also known as the forebrain.

Mesencephalon vesicle

The primary brain vesicle that becomes the midbrain.

Rhombencephalon

The primary brain vesicle also known as the hindbrain.

Ligamentum denticulatum

A structure formed from condensed mesenchyme during development.

Telencephalon

The secondary vesicle derived from the forebrain that forms the cerebral hemispheres.

Diencephalon vesicle

The secondary vesicle derived from the forebrain that gives rise to optic vesicles and the thalamus.

Metencephalon

A secondary vesicle derived from the hindbrain that forms the pons and cerebellum.

Myelencephalon

A secondary vesicle derived from the hindbrain that becomes the medulla oblongata.

Lateral ventricle

The cavity within the cerebral hemisphere established during development.

Third ventricle

The cavity established within the diencephalon.

Cerebral aqueduct

Also called the aqueduct of Sylvius, the small cavity within the midbrain vesicle.

Fourth ventricle

The cavity within the hindbrain vesicle continuous with the spinal cord's central canal.

Interventricular foramina

Openings connecting the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle, also known as foramina of Monro.

Ependyma

An epithelial layer lining the entire ventricular system and central canal.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Modified tissue fluid filling the ventricles and subarachnoid space, replacing lymph in the CNS.

Choroid plexuses

Highly vascular structures derived from blood vessels responsible for CSF formation.

Telachoroidea

A layer fold of pia mater that protrudes into the ventricle to line the choroid plexus.

Foramen of Magendie

The median aperture in the fourth ventricle through which CSF leaves the ventricular system.

Foramina of Luschka

Two lateral apertures in the fourth ventricle used for CSF exit into the subarachnoid space.

Cranium

The bony protective covering of the brain.

Endosteal layer

The outer layer of the dura mater.

Meningeal layer

The inner layer of the dura mater which sends in four characteristic folds.

Subdural space

The space between the dura and arachnoid mater containing cerebral veins.

Subarachnoid space

The space between the arachnoid and pia mater containing CSF and large vessels.

Extradural space

The space between the skull bone and the endosteal layer of the dura mater.

Arachnoid trabeculae

A network within the subarachnoid space that gives it a spongy appearance.

Virchow-Robin's perivascular space

Formed when blood vessels move the pia mater into the substance of the brain.

Cisterns

Intercommunicating pools formed by the subarachnoid space at the base of the brain.

Cisterna magna

Also called the cerebellomedullary cistern, the largest cistern located between the medulla and cerebellum.

Interpeduncular cistern

Contains the circle of Willis and houses the arachnoid mater across temporal lobes.

Cistern of lateral sulcus

Houses the middle cerebral arteries in front of each temporal pole.

Cisterna ambiens

The cistern of the great cerebral vein found between the splenium and cerebellum.

Lumbar cistern

A large subarachnoid space in the lumbar region used for lumbar puncture.

Total CSF Volume

Produced amount of about $150\,ml$, with $25\,ml$ in the ventricles.

Arachnoid villi

Protrusions through which CSF is absorbed into the cranial venous sinuses.

Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier

A barrier formed by the choroid plexus, functionally distinct from the blood-brain barrier.

Lumbar puncture site

Usually performed in the interspace between $L3$ and $L4$ vertebrae.

Hydrocephalus

Dilation of the ventricular system resulting from obstruction of CSF flow.

Xanthochromia

Yellowish discoloration of the CSF below a vertebral canal obstruction.

Froin's syndrome

A condition resulting from CSF flow obstruction in the vertebral canal.

Falx Cerebri

A sickle-shaped dural fold separating the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Tentorium Cerebelli

A tent-shaped dural fold separating the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

Falx Cerebelli

A small sickle-shaped dural fold partly separating the cerebellar hemispheres.

Diaphragma Sellae

A small horizontal dural fold that covers the sella turcica containing the pituitary gland.

Superior sagittal sinus

Venous sinus enclosed in the superior convex margin of the falx cerebri.

Inferior sagittal sinus

Venous sinus enclosed in the inferior concave margin of the falx cerebri.

Straight sinus

Venous sinus located at the line of junction between the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli.

Transverse sinuses

Venous sinuses enclosed in the posterior margin of the tentorium cerebelli.

Superior petrosal sinuses

Venous sinuses enclosed in the margin of the tentorium cerebelli attached to the petrous bone.

Cerebrum functions

Controls emotions, sensory perception, memory, thoughts, hearing, vision, and voluntary actions.

Longitudinal cerebral fissure

A deep midline fissure separating the two cerebral hemispheres.

Gyri

Folds or ridges on the cerebral surface that increase surface area.

Sulci

Grooves intervening between the gyri of the brain.

Cerebral cortex

A layer of gray matter about $3\,mm$ thick containing $20 \times 10^9$ neurons.

Subcortical white matter

Comprised of myelinated nerve fibers beneath the cortex, also called centrum semiovale.

Basal nuclei

A deep layer of gray matter within the cerebrum, including the corpus striatum.

Sylvian fissure

The common name for the lateral sulcus of the cerebral hemisphere.

Sulcus of Rolando

The common name for the central sulcus separating the motor and sensory cortex.

Transverse / commissural fibers

Fibers joining the two cerebral hemispheres together, such as the corpus callosum.

Anterior commissure

Fibers joining the olfactory and temporal lobes of both hemispheres.

Association fibers

Myelinated fibers joining various parts of the cerebral cortex within one hemisphere.

Projection fibers

Fibers connecting the cerebral cortex with lower parts of the brain or spinal cord.

Corpus callosum

The greatest commissural fiber bundle connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Hippocampal commissure

Fibers joining the two hippocampi, also called the commissure of the fornix.

Uncinate fibers

Long association fibers joining the inferior frontal lobe gyrus to the anterior temporal lobe gyrus.

Cingulum fibers

A band of white fibers within the cingulate gyrus connecting parahippocampal gyrus to the anterior perforated substance.

Arcuate fibers

Fibers sweeping around the insula joining motor speech areas with speech comprehension areas.

Superior longitudinal fibers

Association fibers joining portions of the frontal lobe to the occipital and temporal areas.

Inferior longitudinal fibers

Association fibers connecting the temporal lobe to the occipital lobe.

Corticopetal fibers

Afferent projection fibers carrying information to the cerebral cortex from the thalamus.

Corticofugal fibers

Efferent projection fibers carrying information from the cerebral cortex to the midbrain or spinal cord.

Calcarine sulcus

A sulcus extending rostro-caudally from below the splenium to the posterior pole.