Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricular System and Cerebrospinal Fluid

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for the junction of sagittal and coronal sutures?

Lambda

Fontanelle

Bregma (correct)

Pterion

What is the purpose of the sutures and fontanelles in a newborn skull?

To provide structural support to the skull

To reduce the weight of the skull

To allow bones of the skull to overlap during birth (correct)

To increase the surface area of the skull

What is the term for the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord?

Arachnoid mater

Cerebrospinal fluid

Dura mater

Meninges (correct)

What is the order of the meninges from outermost to innermost?

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the thinnest part of the skull that overlies the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery?

Pterion Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for the anterior fontanelle to close?

18 months Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the space in the skull that contains the brain?

Craniul fossae Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the cerebrospinal fluid in terms of brain protection?

To act as a cushion for the brain and limit neural damage in cranial injuries Signup and view all the answers

Where is cerebrospinal fluid produced?

In the choroid plexus Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells line the ventricles?

Ependymal cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the 'real space' that contains cerebrospinal fluid?

Subarachnoid space Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the ventricles?

To produce cerebrospinal fluid Signup and view all the answers

What is the net weight of the brain when it is immersed in cerebrospinal fluid?

Approximately 25 grams Signup and view all the answers

What is the location of the thin fibrocellular layer?

Between the pia and arachnoid mater Signup and view all the answers

Where are the cell bodies of neurons found in the Central Nervous System?

In the grey matter of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for bundles of axons in the Central Nervous System?

Fascicles Signup and view all the answers

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

31 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the part of the brain that connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord?

Brain stem Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the outermost layer of the brain?

Cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

Where is grey matter found in the cerebrum?

In the cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the collection of neuron cell bodies outside the Central Nervous System?

Ganglia Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the bundle of axons in the Peripheral Nervous System?

Nerve Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the white matter in the Central Nervous System?

Fibre tracts Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the CSF in the brain?

To create an environment for proper functioning of the brain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the frontal lobe?

Sensory cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the grooves or folds on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere?

Gyri Signup and view all the answers

What connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum?

Corpus callosum Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cavity containing CSF in each hemisphere?

Lateral ventricle Signup and view all the answers

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

To transmit impulses to and from the cortical nerve cells Signup and view all the answers

How many lobes does the cerebrum consist of?

4 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cranium

The calvaria is composed of the frontal, parietal, and occipital bones.
The frontal bone is unpaired and articulates with the paired parietal bones at the coronal suture.
The parietal bones articulate with each other in the midline at the sagittal suture and with the unpaired occipital bone at the lambdoid suture.
The four largest sutures of the skull are located where the parietal bones articulate with other bones: coronal, sagittal, lambdoid, and occipital sutures.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

CSF is produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles.
It serves three main functions: protection, buoyancy, and chemical stability.
CSF surrounds the brain and spinal cord, and its net weight is reduced to approximately 25 grams.

Ventricular System

The ventricular system is a set of communicating cavities within the brain.
It is responsible for the production, transport, and removal of CSF.
The ventricles are lined by ependymal cells, which form the choroid plexus.

Cranial Meninges

The cranial meninges comprise three protective covers: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
The dura mater is a tough, double-layered membrane that lines the inner surface of the skull.
The arachnoid mater intervenes between the pia and dura mater.
The pia mater is adherent to the brain.

The Cerebrum

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain.
It consists of two hemispheres separated by the median cleft or longitudinal fissure.
Each hemisphere contains an irregular cavity containing CSF, known as the lateral ventricle.
The two hemispheres are connected to each other by the large commissure, the corpus callosum.
The cerebrum is composed of grey matter (cortex) and white matter.

Functions of the Cerebrum

The frontal lobe is responsible for higher intellect, personality, mood, speech, and motor cortex.
The parietal lobe is responsible for sensory cortex.
The temporal lobe is responsible for memory and language, and hearing.
The occipital lobe is responsible for visual cortex.

Sulci and Gyri

The gyri assist in the location of certain functional areas of the brain.
The sulci and gyri are folds on the surface of the brain.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord.
The brain is divided into the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, midbrain, pons, and medulla.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The PNS comprises the cranial nerves and spinal nerves.
The cranial nerves have 12 pairs, while the spinal nerves have 31 pairs.

Grey Matter and White Matter

In the CNS, the cell bodies of neurons are found in the grey matter of the brain in the cerebral cortex or nuclei.
The axons of neurons in the brain are seen as white matter, arranged as fibre tracts that run in bundles or fascicles.
Outside the CNS, the cell bodies of neurons are found as collections called ganglia.
The axons of many neurons in the PNS are seen as nerves, which consist of many axons running together.

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Description

Learn about the ventricular system, its role in producing and transporting cerebrospinal fluid, and the thin fibrocellular layer between the pia and arachnoid mater.