Lecture 2 NROB60 Question And Answer

These flashcards cover various aspects of the gross anatomy of the brain, cranial nerves, and cell types based on the lecture notes for NROB60.

What are the three major divisions of the brain?

Cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

Name the four lobes of the cerebrum.

Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe, Occipital lobe, Temporal lobe.

What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?

Reasoning, decision-making, motor control, emotion, and speech production.

What is the primary function of the parietal lobe?

Processing sensory information from the body.

What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?

Vision.

What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?

Hearing, memory, emotion, and speech comprehension.

What is the main role of the cerebellum?

Central regulation of movement, including balance and posture.

Which side of the cerebellum controls which side of the body?

The left side controls the left side of the body (ipsilateral).

How is the brainstem divided?

Into the midbrain, pons, and medulla.

What is the function of the thalamus?

Processing, relaying, and regulating information to and from the cerebral cortex.

What is the hypothalamus involved in?

Vital functions like hunger, thirst, temperature regulation, and controlling the pituitary gland.

What does the midbrain have sensory and motor components for?

Vision and hearing.

What does the pons primarily coordinate?

Motor coordination and is connected to the cerebellum.

What vital functions does the medulla regulate?

Breathing and heart rate.

What is the function of the reticular formation?

Involvement in consciousness and motor control.

What connects the CNS to the rest of the body?

The peripheral nervous system (PNS).

What does the autonomic nervous system control?

Involuntary visceral motor functions.

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

31 pairs.

Name the five regions of the vertebral column.

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal.

Where does the spinal cord end?

At the bottom of the rib cage, around L1.

What is the cauda equina?

A collection of lumbar and sacral nerves after the end of the spinal cord.

What forms the outer surface of the spinal cord?

White matter surrounding gray matter.

What type of information do dorsal roots carry?

Sensory information.

What type of information do ventral roots carry?

Motor information.

What are the cervical and lumbar enlargements?

Regions of the spinal cord that are thickened to accommodate more nerve cells.

Why are cranial nerves significant?

They serve sensory and motor systems of the head and neck.

How many pairs of cranial nerves do humans have?

12 pairs.

What is unique about the olfactory (I) and optic (II) cranial nerves?

They enter the forebrain directly and do not join the spinal cord.

Which cranial nerve is involved in smell?

Olfactory nerve (I).

Which cranial nerve carries visual information?

Optic nerve (II).

What is the function of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)?

Hearing and balance.

Which cranial nerves are exclusively motor?

Oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), abducens (VI), spinal accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII).

What is the role of the trigeminal nerve (V)?

It transmits facial sensation and controls chewing.

Which cranial nerve controls facial muscles?

Facial nerve (VII).

Name the cranial nerve responsible for taste from the anterior tongue.

Facial nerve (VII).

What does the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) control?

Taste sensation from the posterior tongue and muscles of the throat.

What is the vagus nerve (X) involved in?

Sensation and control of many visceral organs.

What are the major functions of the cranial nerves?

Different cranial nerves carry different types of sensory and motor information.

What mnemonic can be used to remember cranial nerves?

Oh, once one takes the anatomy final very good vacations seem heavenly.

What are the two regions of interest related to brainstem lesions?

Location of cranial nerve nuclei and their associated symptoms.

What is anosmia?

Loss of smell, often due to trauma to the olfactory nerves.

What condition describes sudden facial paralysis?

Bell's palsy.

What specifically causes vestibular neuritis?

Inflammation of the vestibular portion of CN VIII.

What is a common symptom of vestibular schwannomas?

Unilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

What is a critical function of astrocytes?

Maintain the chemical environment for neuronal signaling.

What do oligodendrocytes do?

Myelinate axons in the CNS.

What do microglial cells do?

Act as scavenger cells to remove debris in the CNS.

What happens to astrocytes in response to injury?

They swell and cause edema.

What is the primary cell type in the nervous system?

Neurons.

What distinguishes neurons from other cells?

Local branching of dendrites and a long axon.

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Through synapses using neurotransmitters.

What is the input zone of a neuron?

The area where neurons collect and process information.

What is the output zone of a neuron?

The area where the neuron transfers information to other cells.

What type of neuron has multiple dendrites and a single axon?

Multipolar neurons.

What type of neuron has one axon and one dendrite?

Bipolar neurons.

Which neurons have a single extension that branches in two directions?

Unipolar neurons.

What is the blood-brain barrier?

A selective barrier that protects the brain by restricting the passage of certain substances.

What is a common consequence of a single-gene mutation during brain development?

Microcephaly.

What cells are responsible for myelination in the peripheral nervous system?

Schwann cells.

What is the role of the ependymal cells?

Line the ventricular system and produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What is the action of neurotransmitters at synapses?

Binding to receptor proteins on postsynaptic cells to generate signals.

What part of the neuron is responsible for receiving incoming signals?

Dendrites.

What is the function of the axon?

To transmit neural signals over distances.

What does myelin do?

Speeds up the transmission of electrical signals along axons.

What are the three classifications of neurons based on function?

Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), and interneurons.

What is the primary function of cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)?

Eye movements and pupil constriction.

What is the clinical significance of cranial nerve examination?

Helps diagnose brainstem lesions.

What is the primary role of gene expression in the nervous system?

Controls brain organization and function.

What is the process called when different cell types are categorized based on genes, shape, and electrical properties?

Building a periodic table of cell types.

What type of glial cells generate the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

Astrocytes.

How do astrocytes communicate with neurons?

Through gliotransmission.

What characteristic distinguishes microglia from other glial cells?

They act as scavenger cells.

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus in neurons?

Sorts and delivers synthesized proteins to appropriate locations.

What describes the 'tripartite synapse'?

A synapse involving communication between two neurons and astrocytes.

How do neurons process information?

Through specialized structures like dendrites and axons.

What happens to the size and shape of dendritic spines?

They change in response to neuronal activity.

What does 'divergence' refer to in neuron functionality?

The number of targets innervated by one neuron.

What does a neuron’s 'convergence' refer to?

The number of inputs to a single neuron.

In what systems are bipolar neurons especially common?

Sensory systems, such as the retina.

What can excessive swelling of astrocytes cause?

Damage to neurons and symptoms of brain injuries.

What are multiple characteristics studied by the Allen Institute in neurons?

Shape, genes, and electrical properties.

What is the function of the anterior median fissure?

A deep midline groove in the spinal cord.

What do the pyramids in the medulla carry?

Major descending motor tracts.

What part of the brain is the cerebellum located?

At the back of the brain, underneath the posterior lobe.

What is the name for a major band of white matter tracts in the brain?

Peduncle.

What is involved in regulated food intake and energy balance?

Hypothalamus.

What is characterized by unique bumps and bulges in the brainstem?

Each brainstem subdivision's surface appearance.

What type of cranial nerve carries a mixture of sensory and motor fibers?

Cranial nerves classified as both.

What is the primary neuron type involved in the body's sensing?

Sensory neurons.

Which cranial nerve is predominantly sensory from the face?

Trigeminal nerve (V).

What crucial role do Schwann cells play in the nervous system?

They provide myelin in the PNS.

What does the term 'efferent' refer to regarding nerve fibers?

Nerve fibers that carry motor signals away from the CNS.

What is the primary purpose of the study by the Allen Institute?

To explore the fundamental building blocks of the brain through various cell types.

What does the spinal cord's gray matter contain?

Neuron cell bodies and interneurons.

What do neurons typically have that allows them to receive multiple inputs?

Branching dendrites.

What composes the white matter in the spinal cord?

Myelinated axons.

How does the brainstem integrate signals for cranial nerves?

By providing local circuits that coordinate these signals.

What condition arises from inflammation of the facial nerve (VII)?

Bell's palsy.

What is a common name for vestibular schwannomas?

Acoustic neuromas.

What anatomical feature defines the dorsal surface of the midbrain?

The corpora quadrigemina.