Anatomy 102 - Chapter 13: Anatomy of the Nervous System Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 13 Anatomy of the Nervous System study notes.

Anterior neural tube

The region of the early developmental neural tube that gives rise to the brain.

Posterior neural tube

The region of the early developmental neural tube that gives rise to the spinal cord.

Neural crest

Developmental structure that contributes to peripheral nervous-system structures.

Primary brain vesicles

The three early embryonic brain divisions: prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain).

Telencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that develops into the cerebrum.

Metencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that develops into the pons and cerebellum.

Myelencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that develops into the medulla.

Spina bifida

A developmental defect in which the neural tube does not completely close, potentially allowing meninges and/or neural tissue to protrude through the vertebral column; forms include occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

Cerebral cortex

The folded outer surface of the cerebrum.

Corpus callosum

The central nerve tract structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Four cerebral lobes

The main anatomical divisions of the cerebral cortex: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.

Gyrus

A ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Sulcus

A groove or valley on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Diencephalon

A central brain region primarily made up of the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Cerebellum

Brain structure associated with the timing of movement and learning.

Basal nuclei

Deep brain structures including the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus that follow the basic information pathway: cerebral cortex -> basal nuclei -> thalamus.

Brain stem

Brain structure composed of three sections ordered from superior to inferior: midbrain -> pons -> medulla.

Spinal cord gray matter

The inner region of the spinal cord that forms posterior, lateral, and anterior horns.

Spinal cord white matter

The outer region of the spinal cord that forms posterior, lateral, and anterior columns.

Central canal

The small central opening extending through the length of the spinal cord.

Anterior median fissure

The deep groove located along the anterior midline of the spinal cord, which is deeper than the posterior median sulcus.

Circle of Willis

An arterial network supplying the brain, contributed to by the internal carotid and vertebral arteries.

Dural venous sinuses

Venous channels in the brain that receive blood from brain tissue and drain into the jugular veins.

Meninges

The three protective membranes surrounding the central nervous system, ordered from superficial to deep: dura mater -> arachnoid mater -> pia mater.

Subarachnoid space

The CSF-filled fluid space located between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater.

Choroid plexus

A vascular structure in the brain ventricles lined with ependymal cells that produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

CSF flow sequence

Lateral ventricles -> third ventricle -> cerebral aqueduct -> fourth ventricle -> median/lateral apertures -> subarachnoid space -> arachnoid granulations -> blood.

Arachnoid granulations

Structures through which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reabsorbed back into the venous blood stream.

Spinal nerve distribution

31 total pairs of spinal nerves divided into 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal.

C1 vs C8 spinal nerve exit points

C1 spinal nerve exits above the C1 vertebra, while C8 spinal nerve exits below the C7 vertebra (there are 7 cervical vertebrae and 8 cervical spinal nerves).

Conus medullaris

The tapered, inferior termination point of the spinal cord.

Cauda equina

A collection or bundle of spinal nerve roots extending downward below the end of the spinal cord.

Dorsal root

The posterior nerve root of a spinal nerve associated with carrying sensory information.

Dorsal root ganglion

An enlargement on the dorsal root containing the cell bodies of sensory neurons.

Ventral root

The anterior nerve root of a spinal nerve associated with carrying motor information.

Mixed spinal nerve

A nerve formed by the union of dorsal and ventral roots that contains both sensory and motor nerve fibers.

Endoneurium

Connective tissue layer surrounding an individual axon/nerve fiber; corresponds to endomysium in muscle.

Perineurium

Connective tissue layer surrounding a nerve fascicle; corresponds to perimysium in muscle.

Epineurium

Connective tissue layer surrounding the entire nerve; corresponds to epimysium in muscle.

Cervical plexus

Nerve plexus that supplies the posterior head and neck, as well as the diaphragm via the phrenic nerve.

Brachial plexus

Nerve plexus that supplies the arm/upper limb.

Lumbar plexus

Nerve plexus that supplies primarily the anterior leg.

Sacral plexus

Nerve plexus that supplies primarily the posterior leg.

CN I (Olfactory nerve)

Sensory cranial nerve responsible for smell.

CN II (Optic nerve)

Sensory cranial nerve responsible for vision.

CN III (Oculomotor nerve)

Motor cranial nerve responsible for eye movement and related eye functions.

CN IV (Trochlear nerve)

Motor cranial nerve controlling the superior oblique muscle.

CN V (Trigeminal nerve)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for facial sensation and chewing.

CN VI (Abducens nerve)

Motor cranial nerve controlling the lateral rectus muscle.

CN VII (Facial nerve)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for facial expression and taste-related functions.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear nerve)

Sensory cranial nerve responsible for hearing and balance.

CN IX (Glossopharyngeal nerve)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for taste/pharynx and associated motor functions.

CN X (Vagus nerve)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for sensory and motor functions involving thoracic and abdominal organs.

CN XI (Accessory nerve)

Motor cranial nerve controlling the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

CN XII (Hypoglossal nerve)

Motor cranial nerve controlling tongue movement.

Cranial nerve functional types (CN I-XII sequence)

Sensory, Sensory, Motor, Motor, Mixed, Motor, Mixed, Sensory, Mixed, Mixed, Motor, Motor.