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Neuroanatomy - The Brain

Q: What produces CSF?

Choroid plexus of ventricles produce CSF

80 important questions on Neuroanatomy - The Brain

What are the four major parts of the brain?

Brain stem, diencephalon, cerebellum, and cerebrum

What are the two divisions of diencephalon?

Thalamus and hypothalamus

What are the three divisions of the brain stem?

MIdbrain, pons, medulla oblongata

List the three layers of cranial meninges from the most superficial to most deep

1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Pia mater

What are the two sublayers of dura mater and what structures are each layers attached to?

Periosteal layer – Attached to skull bones
Meningeal layer – Attached to other meninges

Which layer of the cranial meninges is subarachnoid space in and what does it contain?

Subarachnoid space is part of arachnoid mater and contains cerebrospinal fluid

What is pia mater attached to?

Surface of the brain

What is falx cerebri?

It is an extension of the dura mater in the longitudinal fissure

Where does cerebrospinal fluid circulate?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates within (in the ventricular system) and around the CNS (in the subarachnoid space)

What does cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do?

CSF provides mechanical and chemical protection and nutrition to the brain

What produces CSF?

Choroid plexus of ventricles produce CSF

What are the two major arteries involved in blood supply to the brain?

Vertebral arteries and internal carotid arteries that join into circle of Willis

What does internal carotid artery divide into and which parts of the brain do each divisions supply?

1. Middle cerebral artery - enters the lateral fissure to support lateral aspect of brain
2. Internal cerebral artery - enters longitudinal fissure to support medial aspects of each hemispheres

What do left and right vertebral arteries unite to?

They unite to a single basilar artery

What does basilar artery divide into and what do these divisions supply blood to?

1. Left and right posterior cerebral artery - supplies blood to occipital lobes
2. Other supporting branches - supplies blood to brainstem and cerebellum

How is the anterior portion of circle of Willis achieved?

Achieved via anterior communicating artery connecting left and right anterior cerebral arteries

How is the posterior portion of circle of Willis achieved?

Achieved via posterior communicating artery uniting internal carotid artery and posterior cerebral artery

What is the interconnected nature of blood vessels of the brain important?

When one of the main cerebral arteries become narrow or blocked, resulting in reduction of oxygen supply to parts of the brain, other cerebral arteries can compensate the blood supply by flowing through the communicating arteries.

What is the cerebral cortex?

The outer surface of the cerebrum consisting of gray matter and white matter.

What does central sulcus separate?

Frontal lobe from parietal lobe

What does the lateral fissure separate?

Temporal lobe from parietal lobe

What does parieto-occipital sulcus separate?

Parietal lobe from occipital lobe

What is broadmann's area?

Organisation of cerebral cortex into specific functional areas by grouping neurons involved in similar or same functions

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

controls voluntary, skilled movement.on the opposite side of the body

What is the result of damage to the primary motor cortex?

cerebral palsy

What is the role of the premotor area?

Controls motor planning and postural control for voluntary movements.

What is Broca’s area responsible for?

Production of spoken and written language via motor control, usually predominant in the left hemisphere

What is the function of the frontal eye field?

Controls voluntary conjugate eye movements/deviations

What is the prefrontal cortex involved in?

Higher order cognitive functions, controlling personality, judgement, and intellect.

What does the primary somatosensory cortex do?

Processes contralateral sensory information (touch, pressure, proprioception).

What is the function of the inferior parietal lobe (with the temporal lobe)?

Language comprehension; includes Wernicke’s area in the dominant (left) hemisphere.

What does the rest of the parietal lobe do?

Helps in orientation of a person in time and place.

List the cerebral lobes of the brain

Frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and insula

What is the function of the primary auditory cortex?

Conscious processing of auditory information.

What is the role of the parahippocampal gyrus and hippocampus?

Controls emotional and visceral responses, learning, and memory.

What is the function of Wernicke’s area in the temporal lobe?

Comprehension of spoken language.

What happens to the temporal and parietal lobes in Alzheimer’s disease?

Degeneration of temporal and parietal lobe, leading to memory loss and language comprehension impairments.

What is the function of the primary visual cortex?

Receives and perceives visual input from the eyes.

What is the function of the occipital association cortex?

Processes and interprets visual information.

What is the main function of gray matter in the cerebrum?

Responsible for processing, integration, and control of information

What is the main function of white matter in the cerebrum?

Connects different regions of the brain and spinal cord to ensure communication between neural areas.

What are the basal ganglia (corpus striatum) and what do they do?

Groups of gray matter nuclei that plan and coordinate movement; help control posture and muscle tone.

What is the corpus callosum and its function?

A large white matter tract that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres, allowing communication between them.

What is the internal capsule and its role?

A white matter pathway carrying motor and sensory fibers between the cerebral cortex and lower brain structures.

What are the three types of cerebral tracts found in white matter and what structures do they connect?

1. Association fibers: Connect different cortical areas within the same hemisphere.

2. Commissural fibers: Connect corresponding areas across hemispheres

3. Projection fibers: Connect the cerebral cortex to lower structures

What do short association fibres connect?

They link adjacent sulci within the same lobe.

What does the superior longitudinal fasciculus connect?

Connects the frontal and occipital lobes

What does arcuate fasciculus connect and what is its function?

Connects the frontal and temporal gyri; involved in language (links Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas).

What does the inferior longitudinal fasciculus connect and what is its function?

Links temporal and occipital lobes, important for vision

What does the uncinate fasciculus connect, and what is its function?

Connects inferior frontal and temporal lobes; associated with behavior

What is the corpus callosum?

The largest commissural fibre, connecting both hemispheres except the temporal lobe

What does splenium of the corpus callosum do?

Connects the two occipital cortices

What does the anterior commissure connect?

Connects the inferior and middle temporal gyri and links olfactory regions.

What fibres are projection fibres?

Afferent and efferent fibres

Through what structure do all projection fibres pass?

internal capsule

What would be the result of damage to the corpus callosum?

Inability of the left and right hemispheres to communicate with each other

What is the corona radiata?

It is a fan-shaped bundle of all projection fibres traveling to and from the cortex

What are the three parts of the internal capsule?

Anterior limb
Genu
Posterior limb

Which tracts run through the internal capsule?

Corticospinal, corticobulbar, and thalamocortical tracts

Where does the corticobulbar tract run to and from?

Runs from primary motor cortex to brainstem

Where does the thalamocortical tract run to and from?

Runs from the thalamus to the cerebral cortex

Where does corticospinal tracts run to and from?

Runs from the primary motor cortex to the spinal cord

How many cellular layers make up the cerebral cortex?

six cellular layers (I–VI), each with distinct neuron types and functions

Which cells are in Layer I of the cerebral cortex and what is its function?

- Contains axons and dendrites with few cell bodies
- involved in synaptic interactions

What type of neurons are found in Layer II, and what is their function?

Small neurons forming intracortical connections that receive information within the same hemisphere.

What type of neurons are found in Layer III, and what is their function?

Medium size neurons that form association and commissural tracts to cortex

What kind of inputs does Layer IV receive, and from where?

Receives specific afferents from the thalamic nuclei

What is the primary function of Layer V?

Sends efferent projection fibres to extracortical structures

Which neurons are found in layer VI?

association and projection fibres

What happens when a specific area of the primary motor cortex is stimulated?

It causes contraction of specific muscle groups on the opposite (contralateral) side of the body.

How is the body represented in the primary motor cortex?

As an inverted somatotopic map, where the top of the brain controls lower body parts.

What is proportional to the area devoted to a body region in the primary motor cortex?

The complexity of movement

What is meant by termination of afferent pathways in the primary sensory cortex?

It is where sensory input from the thalamus reaches conscious awareness.

How is the body represented in the primary sensory cortex?

By a contralateral inverted somatotopic map, with larger cortical areas devoted to regions of higher sensory complexity

What are association cortexes?

Cortical areas not associated with primary motor or sensory function

List the cortical motor areas

1. Primary motor cortex
2. Premotor cortex
3. Frontal eye field
4. Broca's area

List the cortical sensory areas

1. Primary sensory cortex
2. Primary auditory cortex
3. Primary visual cortex

What does the parietal association cortex do?

Interprets general sensory information and facilitates conscious contralateral awareness

What does the auditory association cortex do?

Interprets sound and language

What does the visual association cortex do?

Interprets images and facilitates visual recognition

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Neuroanatomy

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