Fundamental Neuroscience

BI2432 Fundamental Neuroscience

Instructor Information

  • Instructor: Dr. Jittima Muensoongnoen
  • Copyright: © 2016 Wolters Kluwer - All Rights Reserved

Course Overview

Human Neuroanatomy

  • Focus: Functional anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems
  • Practical Component: Dissection of the human brain to understand its 3D structure and pathways.
    • First Session: Introduction to the nervous system (station based, prosections) on 21st Oct
    • Second and Third Sessions: Brain dissection scheduled on 23rd Oct and 30th Oct
    • Formative Spotter: Scheduled for the session on 21st Nov
    • Neuroanatomy and Neuropharmacology ICA: Due on 22nd January 2026

Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Guidelines

  • Prior to the practical on 21st Oct, refer to 'HTA and Rules and Regulations' provided in Year 1.
  • Cardiff offers one of the few neuroscience courses in the UK that engages in dissecting human tissue.
  • Brains used for dissection are sourced from local individuals and must be treated with utmost respect at all times.
  • The use of human tissue is regulated by the UK government, and HTA rules must be adhered to consistently.

Practical Preparation

  • An email with instructions will be sent before the practical; read and follow carefully.
  • Watch the brain knife test video before attending the practical.
  • During practical session 3, staff will assess your instrument usage; competency assessment will be documented.

Rules and Regulations in Practical

  1. Mobile Phones: Must be switched off and stored in coat pockets or bags outside the main practical area.
  2. Dress Code: Long trousers/skirts required; no crop tops, ripped jeans, hats/caps unless for religious reasons; closed shoes obligatory.
  3. Professionalism: Non-compliance will be reported as a professionalism concern.
  4. Arrival: Arrive early, have your ID ready to check, leave mobile phones off in changing areas, bring lab coat and goggles.

Introduction to Fundamental Neuroanatomy

Learning Outcomes

  • Terminology: Describe important anatomical terminology and its appropriate usage.
  • Divisions of the Nervous System: Explain the components and functions of the nervous system.
  • Brain Regions: Identify major brain regions.
  • Lobes and Cortical Areas: Identify main cortical areas including:
    • Primary Motor Area
    • Primary Somatosensory Area
    • Primary Auditory Area
    • Primary Visual Area
  • Ventricular System: Identify components, describe their location, CSF production, and flow.
  • Arterial Supply: Identify arteries supplying the brain including:
    • Internal carotid artery
    • Vertebral artery and branches
  • Circle of Willis: Describe its significance.
  • Meninges: Describe the three layers of cranial meninges and major dural partitions:
    • Falx cerebri
    • Tentorial cerebelli
  • Dural Venous Sinuses: Name major venous sinuses and their functions.

Recommended Reading

  • Main books are available through library and online versions.

Useful Videos by Dr. Alan Watson

  • External features of the brain
  • Internal features of the brain
  • Cranial nerves
  • Cells of the nervous system

Terminology

Anatomical Directions

  • Caudal: Toward the tail / inferior position.
  • Dorsal: Toward the back.
  • Cranial: Toward the head / superior position.
  • Ventral: Toward the belly.
  • Proximal: Near to the trunk.
  • Distal: Farther from the trunk.
  • Anterior (Ventral): Front side.
  • Posterior (Dorsal): Back side.
  • Superior (Rostral): Above / toward the head.
  • Inferior (Caudal): Below / toward the feet.

Sectional Planes

  • Coronal Plane: Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
  • Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into right and left parts.

Neurons and Tracts

Definitions

  • Tracts (White Matter): Bundles of myelinated axons connecting nuclei.
  • Nucleus (Gray Matter): Cluster of cell bodies and dendrites in CNS; sites for synapses and processing.

Neuron Functional Components

  • Afferent Neurons: Carry sensory information to the CNS.
  • Efferent Neurons: Carry motor information away from the CNS.

Types of Functional Components

  • General Somatic Afferent (GSA): Sensory info from muscles/skin to CNS.
  • General Somatic Efferent (GSE): Motor info from CNS to skeletal muscles.
  • General Visceral Afferent (GVA): Sensory info from organs/blood vessels to CNS.
  • General Visceral Efferent (GVE): Motor info to smooth muscle/glands (parasympathetic).
  • Special Somatic Afferent (SSA): Vision, hearing, balance.
  • Special Visceral Afferent (SVA): Smell, taste.
  • Special Visceral Efferent (SVE): Muscles from branchial arches.

Nervous System Divisions

Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • Components:
    • Brain (Cerebral Hemispheres, Diencephalon, Cerebellum, Brainstem)
    • Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  • Divisions:
    1. Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary peripheral nerves (e.g., spinal and cranial nerves).
    2. Autonomic Nervous System: Involuntary system (e.g., autonomic control of cardiac/smooth muscles and glands).
  • Gangion: Collection of cell bodies in PNS (e.g., Dorsal Root Ganglion).

Brain Development

Secondary Brain Vesicles

  1. Telencephalon: Cerebral cortex and basal ganglia.
  2. Diencephalon: Optical stalk, optic cup, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland.
  3. Mesencephalon: Midbrain.
  4. Metencephalon: Pons & cerebellum.
  5. Myelencephalon: Medulla oblongata.

Brain Regions

  • Cerebral Hemisphere
  • Diencephalon
  • Basal Ganglia: Includes structures such as caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and putamen.

Cerebral Cortex

Structure

  • Six-layered sheet of gray matter.
  • The folding increases surface area within the volume available.

Gyri and Sulci

  • Gyrus (plural: gyri): Ridge on the cortical surface.
  • Sulcus (plural: sulci): Groove on the cortical surface.

Main Cortical Areas

  • Central Sulcus: Separates motor regions from sensory areas.
    • Precentral Gyrus: Primary motor area.
    • Postcentral Gyrus: Primary somatosensory area.

Functional Areas within Cortex

  • Lateral View:
    • Primary Motor Area (Precentral Gyrus): Controls voluntary movements.
    • Primary Somatosensory Area (Postcentral Gyrus): Processes sensory input.
    • Primary Auditory Area: Processes sound.
    • Primary Visual Area: Processes visual information.

Brodmann Areas and Functions

  • Division of the cortex into regions based on neuronal structure:
    • Area 4: Primary motor cortex
    • Area 6: Pre-motor/supplementary motor cortex
    • Areas 3, 1, 2: Primary somatosensory area
    • Area 17: Primary visual cortex
    • Areas 41, 42: Primary auditory cortex
    • Areas 22: Wernicke’s area (sensory speech)
    • Areas 44, 45: Broca’s area (motor speech)

Ventricular System

Overview

  • CSF-filled spaces within the brain, providing protection, buoyancy, and waste removal.
  • Choroid Plexus: Produces CSF.

Functions of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

  1. Supports brain's weight, prevents compression of blood supply.
  2. Buffers against impacts.
  3. Assists in washing out metabolic waste products.

Ventricles

  • Lateral ventricle, third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, and fourth ventricle.
  • Interventricular Foramen (of Monro): Connects lateral and third ventricles.

Blood Supply: Arteries and Veins

Arterial Supply Mechanics

  • Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood from the heart to organs.
  • Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart.

Specific Circulation

  • Major Arteries for Brain Supply:
    • Internal Carotid Arteries: Two large arteries supplying each side.
    • Vertebral Arteries: Contribute to brain circulation.
    • Basilar Artery: Formed by the fusion of vertebral arteries.
    • Circle of Willis: Important arterial circle at the base of the brain.

Meninges Structure

Layers of Meninges

  1. Dura Mater: Tough outer layer, with meningeal (inner) and periosteal (outer) layers.
  2. Arachnoid Mater: Thin layer with subarachnoid space beneath containing CSF.
  3. Pia Mater: Adherent to the brain surface.

Dural Partitions

  • Falx Cerebri: Sickle-shaped structure between cerebral hemispheres.
  • Tentorium Cerebelli: Lies between the cerebellum and the occipital lobe.

Dural Venous Sinuses

  • Spaces within the dura mater draining blood from the brain, including:
    • Superior sagittal sinus
    • Inferior sagittal sinus
    • Straight sinus
    • Transverse sinus
    • Sigmoid sinus
    • Cavernous sinus

CSF Drainage Mechanism

  • CSF fills the subarachnoid space and drains via arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal sinus.

Final Thoughts

  • As per a humorous note from the transcript, "OMG, I have finally discovered what's wrong with my brain: on the left side, there is nothing right, and on the right side, there is nothing left.."

Questions and Further Learning

  • Engage with online resources and ask questions as necessary for deeper understanding and clarification.