Brain and Cranial Nerves Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'caudal' mean?

Towards the brain

Towards the forehead

Towards the feet

Towards the spinal cord (correct)

What does the term 'rostal' mean?

Towards the spinal cord

Towards the feet

Towards the back

Towards the forehead (correct)

What structures are included in the 'brain stem'?

Diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

What features are found in the 'corpora quadrigemina'?

Superior colliculi and inferior colliculi. Signup and view all the answers

What are 'cerebral peduncles'?

Two stalks that anchor the cerebrum to the brainstem. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the superior colliculi?

Functions in visual attention and reflexes related to vision. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the inferior colliculi?

Receives signals from the inner ear and relays them to other parts of the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the reticular formation?

A loosely organized web of gray matter in the brainstem. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'arbor vitae' refer to?

Fernlike pattern of white matter in the cerebellum. Signup and view all the answers

What connects the cerebellum to the brainstem?

Cerebellar peduncles. Signup and view all the answers

Name the components of the diencephalon.

Thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the major control center of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems?

Hypothalamus. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of the hypothalamus?

Hormone secretion, autonomic effects, thermoregulation, and sleep. Signup and view all the answers

What is cerebral white matter composed of?

Glial cells and myelinated nerve fibers. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the cerebral cortex.

A 2-3 mm thick layer covering the surface of both hemispheres. Signup and view all the answers

What tissue is largely present in the neocortex?

Six layered tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What are basal nuclei?

Masses of cerebral gray matter involved in motor control. Signup and view all the answers

What components are included in the limbic system?

Cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and amygdala. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of cranial nerves?

They are responsible for various sensory and motor functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is CN I?

Olfactory nerve. Signup and view all the answers

What function does CN II serve?

Vision. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of CN III?

Eye movements, opening of eyelid, pupillary constriction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of CN V?

Facilitates mastication and sensation from the face. Signup and view all the answers

What does CN VIII do?

Hearing and equilibrium. Signup and view all the answers

What function does CN X have?

Regulates taste, swallowing, and heart rate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the substantia nigra?

Relays inhibitory signals to prevent unwanted movements. Signup and view all the answers

What does the thalamus do?

Acts as a relay station for sensory input. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the mammillary nuclei?

Important in memory processing. Signup and view all the answers

List the components of a reflex arc.

Somatic receptors, afferent nerve fibers, integrating center, efferent nerve fibers, effectors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?

Divided into sensory and motor divisions. Signup and view all the answers

What are ascending tracts?

Neural pathways that carry sensory information to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is pia mater?

A delicate membrane covering the spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

What are denticulate ligaments?

Extensions of pia that anchor the spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

What do descending tracts consist of?

Upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons. Signup and view all the answers

Define a nerve.

A cordlike organ composed of numerous nerve fibers. Signup and view all the answers

What are muscle spindles?

Proprioceptors that monitor muscle position and movement. Signup and view all the answers

What are unencapsulated nerve endings?

Sensory dendrites that are not wrapped in connective tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What are encapsulated nerve endings?

Nerve fibers wrapped in glial cells or connective tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What are gamma motor neurons?

Neurons that adjust the sensitivity of muscle spindles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the nervous system?

Develops from ectoderm. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Huntington disease?

Severe degeneration of basal ganglia. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two principal categories of norepinephrine receptors?

Alpha and Beta adrenergic Signup and view all the answers

What do alpha adrenergic receptors usually produce?

Excitatory effects. Signup and view all the answers

What effects do beta adrenergic receptors have?

Often inhibitory. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anatomical Terms

Caudal: Refers to the direction towards the spinal cord.
Rostral: Indicates a direction towards the forehead.

Brain Structure

Brain Stem: Comprises the diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata arranged from rostral to caudal.
Corpora Quadrigemina: Located in the midbrain's tectum, consists of four bulges; superior colliculi (visual functions) and inferior colliculi (auditory signaling).
Cerebral Peduncles: Two stalks anchoring the cerebrum to the brainstem with components including tegmentum, substantia nigra, and cerebral crus.

Functions of Brain Structures

Superior Colliculi: Involved in visual attention, tracking movements, and reflexive eye responses.
Inferior Colliculi: Receives auditory signals and mediates reflexive head movements to sudden sounds.
Reticular Formation: A complex network in the brainstem, regulating motor control, cardiovascular function, pain modulation, and sleep-wake cycles.

Cerebellum and Connections

Arbor Vitae: A distinct fern-like white matter pattern in the cerebellum.
Cerebellar Peduncles: Connect the cerebellum to the brainstem via three pairs: inferior, middle, and superior.

Diencephalon and Its Components

Diencephalon: Composed of thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.
Hypothalamus: Major control center for endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, regulating multiple functions including hormone secretion and thermoregulation.

Cerebral Anatomy

Cerebral White Matter: Contains myelinated nerve fibers that connect various cerebrum regions, categorized into projection, commissural, and association tracts.
Cerebral Cortex: The outer layer of the cerebrum, composed of stellate and pyramidal neurons, approximately 2-3 mm thick.
Neocortex: Constitutes about 90% of the cerebral cortex, organized into six layers.

Basal Nuclei and Limbic System

Basal Nuclei: Groups of gray matter interconnected with the substantia nigra and cerebral cortex, playing a role in motor control.
Limbic System: Integrates emotions and learning processes, highlighted by structures such as the cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and amygdala.

Cranial Nerves Overview

Cranial Nerves: Twelve pairs with specific functions; for instance, CN I detects smell, CN II processes vision, and CN III controls eye movement and pupil response.

Specific Cranial Nerves Details

CN I (Olfactory): Responsible for the sense of smell.
CN II (Optic): Governs visual processing.
CN III (Oculomotor): Controls eye movements and pupil constriction, with damage leading to drooping eyelids and pupil dilation.
CN IV (Trochlear): Involved in eye movements; damage can cause double vision.
CN V (Trigeminal): Sensation from the face and motor functions for mastication; damage results in impaired sensation or chewing.
CN VI (Abducens): Responsible for lateral eye movement.
CN VII (Facial): Manages taste, facial expression, and secretion of tears; damage affects facial muscle control and taste perception.
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear): Concerned with hearing and balance; damage may cause hearing loss and dizziness.
CN IX (Glossopharyngeal): Regulates taste and swallowing; damage can impair these functions.
CN X (Vagus): Affects taste, digestion, and heart rate; damage may lead to severe complications including impaired swallowing.
CN XI (Accessory): Controls head, neck, and shoulder movements; damage affects these functions.
CN XII (Hypoglossal): Involved in tongue movements for speech and swallowing; impairments result in speech difficulties.

Other Neural Components

Substantia Nigra: A motor center in the midbrain involved in modulating movement through its inhibitory signals to the thalamus.
Thalamus: Acts as a relay station for sensory information and plays a pivotal role in motor control, memory, and emotion.

Reflex Arc Structure

Five Components: Somatic receptors, afferent nerve fibers, integrating center, efferent nerve fibers, and effectors work together in reflex actions.

Nervous System Organization

Peripheral Nervous System: Divided into sensory (visceral and somatic) and motor divisions (somatic motor and autonomic including sympathetic and parasympathetic).
Ascending Tracts: Involve first order (detection), second order (thalamus), and third order (cortex) neurons for sensory signaling.
Descending Tracts: Composed of upper motor neurons (originating in the brain) and lower motor neurons (targeting muscles).

Neural Endings

Muscle Spindle: Proprioceptors monitor muscle length and movement, crucial for motor control and posture.
Nerve Types:
- Unencapsulated Nerve Endings: Free sensory dendrites for touch and pressure.
- Encapsulated Nerve Endings: Glial or connective tissue-wrapped, specialized for sensations like touch and pressure.

Development and Disorders

Ectoderm: The tissue layer from which the nervous system develops.
Huntington Disease: Characterized by basal ganglia degeneration and reduced GABA production, affecting movement and coordination.

Adrenergic Receptors

Alpha and Beta Adrenergic: Two main categories of norepinephrine receptors, with alpha usually having excitatory effects and beta typically inhibitory, affecting various physiological processes.

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Study the essential terms and concepts related to the brain and cranial nerves with these flashcards. Each card provides vital definitions that will help deepen your understanding of neuroanatomy. Perfect for students in neuroscience or medicine.