NEU 101 NOTES – MODULE 1 – ANATOMY (Flashcards)

A comprehensive set of Question-and-Answer flashcards covering Module 1 anatomy concepts, including CNS divisions, brain regions, neurons and glia, imaging methods, and foundational neurobiology.

In relation to the CNS, which direction do afferent (sensory) nerves travel?

Toward the CNS.

In relation to the CNS, which direction do efferent (motor) nerves travel?

Away from the CNS.

What does the somatic nervous system control?

Voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

What does the autonomic nervous system control?

Involuntary functions (viscera, glands, organ systems).

Which nervous system division is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?

Sympathetic nervous system.

What is another name for the rest-and-digest system?

Parasympathetic nervous system.

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.

From which spinal segments does sympathetic outflow primarily originate?

Thoracic and upper lumbar segments (T1–L2).

Parasympathetic outflow originates from which regions?

Brainstem (cranial nerves) and sacral spinal segments S2–S4.

CSF stands for what?

Cerebrospinal fluid.

CSF is produced by which structure?

Choroid plexus.

CSF is reabsorbed by what structures?

Arachnoid granulations (arachnoid villi).

Hydrocephalus is a condition caused by what?

Accumulation of CSF leading to increased intracranial pressure.

What does contralateral mean?

Opposite side.

What does ipsilateral mean?

Same side.

What is grey matter mainly composed of?

Neuronal cell bodies (soma) and dendrites.

What is white matter mainly composed of?

Myelinated axons.

Where is grey matter located in the brain?

On the outside (cerebral cortex).

Where is grey matter located in the spinal cord?

In the center (the 'butterfly' shape).

Prosencephalon corresponds to which major brain region?

Forebrain.

Mesencephalon corresponds to which major brain region?

Midbrain.

Rhombencephalon corresponds to which major brain region?

Hindbrain.

In a developing brain diagram, what is A (towards the beak) called?

Rostral (anterior) end.

In a developing brain diagram, what is B (towards the tail) called?

Caudal (posterior) end.

Medulla is comprised mainly of what and what does it control?

Primarily white matter; controls autonomic functions such as heart rate and respiration.

Pons is often described as what?

A bridge between brain regions.

What does the cerebellum primarily do?

Motor coordination and timing of actions.

Reticular Formation exists inside which structures, and what does it control?

In the brainstem/tegmentum; controls arousal and wakefulness.

Substantia Nigra is part of which brain structure and what does it produce?

Part of the basal ganglia; produces dopamine.

Red Nucleus is part of which structure and what is it involved in?

Midbrain; involved in arm movements and coordination.

Periaqueductal Gray Area is part of which brain region, what does it surround, and what does it regulate?

Midbrain; surrounds the cerebral aqueduct; involved in pain modulation (regulation/reduction of pain).

Superior Colliculus and Inferior Colliculus are parts of which structure, and what are they involved in?

Part of the tectum (midbrain). Superior Colliculus – visual/orienting; Inferior Colliculus – audition (hearing).

Thalamus is a part of which brain region, and what is its general role?

Diencephalon; relay center for sensory information to the cortex.

Hypothalamus is located inferior and anterior to the thalamus; what is it responsible for?

Maintaining homeostasis and regulating endocrine functions; drives like hunger, thirst, temperature.

Hippocampus is for what?

Memory formation and spatial navigation.

Amygdala is for what?

Emotion processing, especially fear and threat detection.

Fornix is what within the limbic system?

Major output tract of the limbic system (connected to the hippocampus).

Septum connects limbic system to other brain areas. True or False?

True — it connects limbic regions to other brain areas.

Mamillary bodies are part of which structure and involved in what?

Part of the hypothalamus; involved in memory.

Olfactory bulb is responsible for what?

Smell (olfaction).

Striatum is composed of which two structures, and what is it involved in?

Caudate and putamen; involved in task-setting and planning, as well as procedural learning and reward.

Caudate nucleus is described as having what shape?

Long tail-like shape.

Putamen is located relative to the thalamus how?

Lateral to the thalamus; round structures.

Globus Pallidus is a major inhibitory structure of the basal ganglia and works in concert with which structures?

The striatum (caudate and putamen).

Nucleus Accumbens is involved in what?

Motivation and action; reward processing; implicated in drug addiction.

What are the major components of the brainstem as listed, and which are included in the brainstem?

Medulla, pons, and midbrain; brainstem includes these three (and sometimes thalamus is listed in some contexts).

Cerebral Cortex bumps are called what, and grooves are called what?

Bumps: gyri; grooves: sulci; very large grooves are fissures.

What does the Massa Intermedia connect?

Connects the two halves of the thalamus.

How many layers does the neocortex have, and where does input to the cortex typically enter?

Six layers; input typically enters in layer IV.

What is a cortical column?

A column of cortex where the cells typically work together to perform a function.

Which structure is technically part of cortex but often linked with the limbic system and has only 3 layers?

Hippocampus (not part of neocortex).

Where is the primary motor cortex (M1) located?

Precentral gyrus in the frontal lobe.

Where is S1 (primary somatosensory cortex) located?

Postcentral gyrus in the parietal lobe.

Which lobe contains the primary visual cortex (V1)?

Occipital lobe.

Which lobe contains the primary auditory cortex (A1)?

Temporal lobe.

Which lobe contains the primary somatosensory area (S1)?

Parietal lobe (postcentral gyrus).

Where is the primary motor cortex (M1) located in relation to the central sulcus?

Anterior to the central sulcus (in the frontal lobe, precentral gyrus).

What is the basal forebrain’s role in arousal?

Involves awakeness and arousal (cholinergic modulation).

Brodmann’s areas are based on what?

Cytoarchitecture (the shape and organization of cells).

Name two broad categories of imaging methods used in neuroscience to study structure vs function.

Imaging anatomy (structure) and imaging function (activity).

Name two in vivo imaging modalities used to look at brain structure.

CT (CT Scan) and MRI.

Which technique looks at white matter tracts by diffusion of water?

DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging).

What is CLARITY in brain imaging?

A method to make brain tissue transparent to visualize cells and connections.

What does PET measure?

Brain metabolism and metabolic processes using radioactive tracers.

What does fMRI measure?

Brain activity by measuring blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals.

What does EEG measure?

Electrical activity of the brain via scalp electrodes.

What does MEG measure?

Magnetic fields produced by neural activity via sensors on the scalp.

What does ECoG measure?

Electrical activity from the surface of the cortex (invasive).

What is tDCS?

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; applying a weak electrical current to modulate neuronal activity.

What is TMS?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; uses magnetic field to stimulate or inhibit neural activity.

What is a model species in neuroscience research?

Organisms like mice used to study human nervous systems; simpler systems allow invasive methods.

What is the difference between in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro?

In vivo: within a living organism; Ex vivo: outside the organism but in living tissue; In vitro: outside the organism in a lab environment.

What is meant by spatial resolution?

Level of granularity in space (size of structures you can distinguish).

What is meant by temporal resolution?

Level of granularity in time (sampling speed or time precision).