Neuroanatomy

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

dendrite

a branch off the cell body of a neuron that receives new information from other neurons

myelinated and unmyelinated

myelin is the fatty sheath around the axon

cell body

Contains most of a neuron's organelles and its nucleus.

Nissl bodies

Identify the blue organelles.

brain

The mass of nerve tissue that is the main control center of the nervous system

cerebrum

Area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body

cerebellum

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

brainstem

midbrain, pons, medulla

frontal lobe

the most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex

parietal lobe

receives and interprets the senses of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

gyrus

A ridged or raised portion of a convoluted brain surface.

sulcus

A shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent gyri.

lateral sulcus

central sulcus

precentral sulcus

postcentral sulcus

precentral gyrus

postcentral gyrus

lateral fissure

superior sagittal sinus

inferior sagittal sinus

Lies in the inferior border of the falx cerebri

ventricle system

fourth ventricle

third ventricle

lateral ventricles

cerebral aqueduct

foramen of Magendie

foramen of Luschka

foramen of Monro

Interventricular foramen that connects a lateral ventricle with the 3rd ventricle.

central canal

internal carotid artery

common carotid artery

middle temporal gyrus

cerebral artery

Supplies blood to the lobes of the brain

anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)

posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)

superior cerebellar artery (SCA)

corpus callosum

bridge of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

thalamus

sensory relay station

hypothalamus

maintains homeostasis
controls pituitary gland

amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

mammillary bodies

Part of the hypothalamus; posterior to the optic chiasma

pineal gland

A brain structure located near the thalamus that secretes melatonin.

circle of willis

the anastomoses of the vertebral artery and internal carotid artery

anterior communicating artery

connects the right and the left anterior cerebral arteries

posterior communicating artery

- branch of the internal carotid artery
posterolateral ganglionic arteries for thalamus and basal ganglia.

anterior cerebral artery (ACA)

posterior cerebral artery (PCA)

vertebral artery

basilar artery

basal ganglia

a group of subcortical forebrain structures lateral to the thalamus

choroid plexus

The network of blood vessels of the pia mater
produces cerebrospinal fluid
spongy mass of blood capillaries on the floor of each ventricle

fornix

forms floor of lateral ventricles

ischemic stroke

a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked

infarct

area of tissue that undergoes necrosis following cessation of blood supply

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

lacunas

the area that chonrdocytes and osterocytles live in

hemorraghic stroke

rupture of blood vessel aka aneurysm

MCA deficits

middle cerebral artery (MCA)

forebrain

Cerebral cortex, limbic system, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus

midbrain

Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing and sight.

hindbrain

The posterior portion of the brain including cerebellum and brainstem.

watershed area/border zone area

blood-brain barrier

a mechanism that inhibits passage of materials from the blood into brain tissues

venous system

system which returns blood towards the heart

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

fluid formed in the ventricles of the brain surrounds the brain and spinal cord

hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain

x-ray

a kind of radiation that can pass through most solid materials, often used in medicine

MRI

An imaging technique that relies on cells' responses in a high-intensity magnetic field
magnetic resonance imaging

fMRI

Shows function of active brain through magnetism of oxygen-depleted areas

PET scan

radioactive glucose injected into patient, site of decay in body measured by detectors
positron emission tomography

CT or CAT scan

Computerized tomography scan

SPECT

single photon emission computed tomography

structural MRI

can provide 3D images of the entire brain

CSF circulation

Passes through ventricles to subarachnoid space

interventricular foramen

Connects the lateral and 3rd ventricles

glomus

a small round anatomical swelling made up of tiny blood vessels

atrium

The junction of the lateral ventricle body with the posterior and inferior horns

thalamus, hippocampus, corpus callosum, caudate, septum pellucidum

structures that surround the lateral ventricles

vermis

latin for "worm"

Sylvian aqueduct

"cerebral aqueduct"

lamina terminalis

-end of neural tube
-end of 3rd ventricle
Membrane superior to the Optic Chiasm, forming the anterior wall of the 3rd Ventricle

interthalamic adhesion (massa intermedia)

pia mater

thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

dura mater

Outermost layer of the meninges

arachnoid mater

middle layer of the meninges

subarachnoid space

space between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane

diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus

leptomeninges

Arachnoid and pia mater

dural septum

falx cerebri, falx cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli
formed from meningeal layer, separates dural sinuses

dural sinuses

the blood vessels responsible for draining blood from the tissues of the brain

transverse sinuses

Run within the terntorium cerebelli's posterior border

sigmoidal sinuses