Brain

rostral

another word for anterior when describing spatial relationships in the brain

caudal

another word for posterior when describing spatial relationships in the brain

dorsal

another word for superior when describing spatial relationships in the brain

ventral

another word for inferior when describing spatial relationships in the brain

ventral

another word for anterior when describing spatial relationships in the midbrain

dorsal

another word for posterior when describing spatial relationships in the midbrain

rostral

another word for superior when describing spatial relationships in the midbrain

caudal

another word for inferior when describing spatial relationships in the midbrain

CNS

the nervous system that serves as the control center; receives afferent information and then sends efferent information

spinal cord and brain

structures that make up the CNS

brainstem, cerebellum, cerebrum

structures that make up the brain

midbrain, pons, medulla

structures that make up the brainstem

PNS

this nervous system is composed of afferent tracts that gather sensory information to send to the control center and efferent tracts that carry responses to stimuli

cranial nerves, spinothalamic tract (STT), dorsal column medial lemniscus (DCML)

the three categories of afferent tracts

olfactory, vision, auditory, vestibular, taste

afferent information cranial nerves carry

crude touch, pain, temperature

afferent information STT carries

fine touch, conscious proprioception, vibration

afferent information DCML carries

involuntary and voluntary

two types of efferent information

glands (glandular response), smooth mm, cardiac mm

efferent information from involuntary tracts travels to

skeletal mm

efferent information from voluntary tracts travels to

grey matter

a collection of cell bodies

outer cortex, nuclei

grey matter in the CNS

ganglia

grey matter in the PNS

white matter

a collection of myelinated axons

tract, peduncle, fasciculus, lemniscus, commissure/decussation

white matter in the CNS

nerve

white matter in the PNS

corpus callosum

a large commissure that connects the left and right sides of the brain

cervical (8), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacral (5), coccygeal (1)

regions of the spinal cord

sulci

shallow grooves that separate the gyri and are smaller than fissures

fissures

larger grooves that separate the gyri

gyri

thick ridges/folds on the surface of the cerebral cortex

frontal lobe

this lobe is responsible for cognition, personality, and motor cortex

parietal lobe

this lobe is responsible for somatosensation

temporal lobe

this lobe is responsible for auditory information

occipital lobe

this lobe is responsible for vision

precentral gyrus

this is the primary motor cortex and integrates motor function signals from different brain regions, generates motor signal for voluntary movement; located in the frontal lobe

postcentral gyrus

this is the primary somatosensory cortex and it is the primary receiving area for kinesthetic and tactile information from the trunk and extremities

head of the homunculus is on the bottom of the gyri, the legs are at the top, and they wrap over the lip of the longitudinal fissure

describe the somatotopic organization of the precentral and postcentral gyrus

ipsilateral

term that means something is on the same side of the body

contralateral

term that means something is on the opposite side of the body

top of the precentral gyrus

region of the brain that may be lesioned with LE weakness

bottom/mid part of the postcentral gyrus

region of the brain that may be lesioned with UE sensory loss

frontal lobe

region of the brain that may be lesioned with cognitive changes

bottom of the precentral gyrus

region of the brain that may be lesioned with facial droop

cerebellum

region of the brain that may be lesioned with lack of coordination

cerebellum

region of the brain that may be lesioned with dizziness

Broca’s area (motor) and Wernicke’s area (disorganized speech)

region of the brain that may be lesioned with trouble communication

occipital lobe

region of the brain that may be lesioned with visual changes

bottom part of the precentral gyrus

region of the brain that may be lesioned with slurred speech

all over; indicative of a hemorrhagic stroke

region of the brain that may be lesioned with severe headache

balance and coordination

functions of the cerebellum

subclavian a.

the vertebral a. branches from this a.

vertebral a.

the basilar a. branches from this a.

vertebral a.

the ASA branches from this a.

vertebral a.

the PICA branches from this a.

basilar a.

the AICA branches from this a.

basilar a.

the pontine arteries branch from this a.

basilar a.

the SCA branches from this a.

internal carotid a.

the ACA branches from this a.

internal carotid a.

the MCA branches from this a.

anterior communicating arteries

this a. connects the left and right ACA

posterior communicating arteries

these arteries connect the left internal carotid a. to the left PCA and the right internal carotid a. to the right PCA

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a.

trace the blood flow of the ASA from the heart

ASA (anterior spinal a.)

this a. supplies blood to the anterior 2/3 of the spinal cord

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a. > PICA

trace the blood flow of the PICA from the heart

PICA (posterior inferior cerebellar a.)

this a. supplies blood to the lateral medulla and the posterior and inferior aspect of the cerebellum

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a. > basilar a. > AICA

trace the blood flow of the AICA from the heart

AICA (anterior inferior cerebellar a.)

this a. supplies blood to the lateral parts of the pons and the anterior and inferior aspect of the cerebellum

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a. > basilar a. > pontine arteries

trace the blood flow of the pontine arteries from the heart

pontine arteries

this a. supplies blood to the medial portion of the rostral and caudal pons

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a. > basilar a. > SCA

trace the blood flow of the SCA from the heart

SCA (superior cerebellar a.)

this a. supplies blood to the superior surface of the cerebellum

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > common carotid a. > internal carotid a. > ACA

trace the blood flow of the ACA from the heart

ACA (anterior cerebral a. )

this a. supplies blood to the medial aspect of the frontal and parietal lobes

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > common carotid a. > internal carotid a. > MCA

trace the blood flow of the MCA from the heart

MCA (middle cerebral a.)

this a. supplies blood to the lateral parts of the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes, and the lateral and superolateral regions of the precentral and postcentral gyri

MCA (middle cerebral a.)

this a. branches into the lenticulostriate arteries that supply blood to the basal ganglia

internal carotid a.

which major artery supplies blood to the anterior parts of the CNS

vertebral a. and basilar a.

which two major arteries supply blood to the posterior parts of the CNS

aorta > (brachiocephalic trunk if R) > subclavian a. > vertebral a. > basilar a. > PCA

trace the blood flow of the PCA from the heart

PCA (posterior cerebral a.)

this a. supplies blood to the occipital lobe, midbrain, thalamus, and subthalamic nucleus

meninges

the layers of connective tissue that surrounds the brain that consists of fibroblasts and collagen fibrils

dense irregular connective tissue

the dura mater is composed of this type of connective tissue

dura mater

the tough outer layer of the meninges that adheres to the skull

tentorium cerebelli

the extension of the meningeal layer into the transverse fissure

falx cerebri

the extension of the meningeal layer into the longitudinal fissure

periosteal layer and meningeal layer

which layer(s) of the dura mater are found in the cranium

meningeal layer

which layer(s) of the dura mater are found along the spinal cord

periosteal layer

which layer of the dura mater is adhered tight to the skull and the sutures in the skull; it is highly vascular and innervated

meningeal layer

which layer of the dura mater is found on the arachnoid mater; it creates the superior sagittal sinus and falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; it is smooth and avascular and follows the contours of the brain

cranial epidural space

this is the area above the dura mater and could be a place for a hematoma; it is a potential space only

superior sagittal sinus (dural venous sinuses) and at the foramen magnum where only the meningeal layer continues down the spinal cord

where do the periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura mater separate

dural venous sinuses

these structures help drain blood from the brain

epidural hematoma

this pathological condition is caused by trauma (hit to the head) and the meningeal arteries rupture

epidural hematoma

the s/s of this pathological condition include a headache, a lucid interval, and a coma/unresponsive

burr holes

this is the treatment for an epidermal hematoma

lucid interval

this is the time after a trauma where the patient has no s/s

subdural hematoma

this pathological condition is caused by a whiplash type movement caused by a hit or shaken baby syndrome; the bridging veins that connect the cerebral veins to the venous sinuses rupture

subdural hematoma

the s/s of this pathological condition include neurological deficits and coma/unresponsive

craniotomy

this is the treatment for a subdural hematoma