Lab practical

Overview of Nervous System

  • Identification of several key nerves in the brain:
      - Facial nerve
      - Vagus nerve
      - Trigeminal nerve

Brain Anatomy

  • Key structures to identify in brain images:
      - Postcentral gyrus
      - Mammillary bodies
      - Lateral ventricle
      - Frontal lobe
      - Fourth ventricle

  • Development of the brain:
      - Originates from a neural tube
      - Divides into three primary regions:
        - Prosencephalon (forebrain)
        - Mesencephalon (midbrain)
        - Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)

  • Prosencephalon Subdivisions:
      - Contains the lateral ventricle and third ventricle
      - Involves the thalamus and hypothalamus

  • Rhombencephalon Components:
      - Includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

Side View of the Brain

  • Key areas to identify:
      - Broca's Area
      - Visual Association Area
      - Primary Motor Area

  • Corpus Callosum: involved in inter-hemispheric communication

  • Arachnoid Villi: small white dots that help circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Spinal Cord Anatomy

  • Identification of specific structures:
      - Bacillus gracilis
      - Anterior spinocerebellar tract
      - Lateral corticospinal tract
      - Vestibulospinal tract

  • Location of common procedures:
      - Saddle blocks and lumbar taps are performed at vertebral levels L3 to L5

Neuroanatomy Concepts

  • Neurotransmitter release and neuronal classification:
      - Pre and Postsynaptic Neurons involved in neurotransmission
      - Ganglia location differentiated into:
        - Dorsal root ganglia: sensory (afferent)
        - Ventral roots: motor (efferent)

  • Impact of spinal cord injury:
      - Severing of the spinal nerve affects both motor and sensory functions
      - Anterior ramus affects both sensory and motor pathways

Cranial Nerves and Sensory Systems

  • Key muscles and their functions:
      - Inferior oblique: elevates eye laterally
      - Medial rectus: adducts eye
      - Lateral rectus: abducts eye
      - Inferior rectus: depresses eye

  • Identification of specific anatomy in the eye:
      - Optic disc, scleral venous sinus (canal of Schlemm)
      - Layers involved with photoreception:
        - Photoreceptors, Bipolar cells, Ganglion cells

Eye Muscles and Control

  • Control of ocular muscles and associated cranial nerves:
      - Superior rectus: innervated by the Oculomotor nerve (Cranial nerve III)
      - Lateral rectus: innervated by the Abducens nerve (Cranial nerve VI)

Ear Anatomy

  • Structure breakdown in the ear:
      - External ear: auricle, external acoustic meatus
      - Inner ear: cochlea (snail-shaped organ)

  • Key anatomical structures:
      - Tectorial membrane and scala media (contains endolymph)
      - Spiral ganglia: contains no lymph tissue

  • Major nerve in ear anatomy:
      - Vestibulocochlear nerve (Cranial nerve VIII)

Cranial and Spinal Nerves Identification

  • Identification process:
      - Cranial nerve VI (abducens) and
      - Thoracic nerve 12 (thirteen vertebrae, counting down)

Muscles Identification

  • Key muscle identification:
      - Zygomatic major
      - Sternocleidomastoid
      - Tensor fascia lata
      - Gastrocnemius and Soleus: major muscle in lower leg

  • Specific muscles discussed:
      - Protonius Longus: originates from fibula and inserts into the foot
      - Deltoid: important for shoulder movement
      - Extensor Carpi Ulnaris: extends and adducts the wrist
      - Triceps Brachii: located at the back of the upper arm
      - Serratus anterior and Obliques: important in torso movements

Endocrine System Overview

  • Identification of key hormones and their sources:
      - Thyroxine: from thyroid gland
      - Estrogen: from ovaries
      - Thyroid stimulating hormone: from pituitary gland
      - Insulin: from pancreas
      - Somatostatin: from pituitary gland
      - Calcitonin: from thyroid gland

  • Areas within the endocrine system for hormones:
      - Adrenal Medulla: produces norepinephrine
      - Aldosterone: regulated via humoral factors

Hormonal Classification

  • Two major groups of hormones:
      - Steroids
      - Amino acids

  • Knowledge of source and function of key cells:
      - Alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans: responsible for glucagon secretion
      - Zona fasciculata cells: involved in glucocorticoid production
      - Chief cells: synthesis of parathyroid hormone (PTH)