Limbic System and Diencephalon Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the structure that connects parts of the cerebrum, but is technically not considered to be part of the cerebrum?

Fornix

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Transforming short-term to long-term memory

What part of the brain is responsible for fear?

Amygdala

What is the name of the circuit that is involved in transforming short-term to long-term memory and controlling the interaction between the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system and emotions?

Papez circuit Signup and view all the answers

What is the area of the brain surrounding the 3rd ventricle?

Diencephalon Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is positioned superiorly and posteriorly in the diencephalon and functions as a relay for all sensory systems (except for olfaction), which is integrated with taste before arriving at the thalamus via the mammillothalamic tract?

Thalamus Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the area that is inferior to the thalamus and superior to the midbrain?

Subthalamus Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is located near the posterior thalamus and contains the habenular nucleus and pineal gland?

Epithalamus Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is anterior-inferior to the thalamus and contains many hypothalamic nuclei?

Hypothalamus Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain connects tracts that travel between the spinal cord, diencephalon, and cerebrum?

Brainstem Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is bounded caudally by the spinal cord and rostrally by the pons?

Medulla oblongata Signup and view all the answers

What are the two bumps on the lateral medulla and lateral to the pyramids?

Olives Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is located ventral to the cerebellum and is remarkable for many visible transverse fibers, within which is the basilar groove?

Pons Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is the posterior-most portion of the midbrain?

Tectum Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is a pigmented strip of gray matter that functions as a motor nucleus?

Substantia nigra Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is anterior to the substantia nigra and connects the cerebral cortex with the spinal cord, pons, cerebellum, and cranial nerve nuclei?

Crus cerebri Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is a network of nerve cells that runs vertically from the spinal cord to the thalamus?

Reticular formation Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that integrates proprioceptive information with balance and sight information, and sends inhibitory signals to the nuclei of origin of certain efferent tracts to the spinal cord and motor cortex?

Cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

What are the three layers of the cerebellar cortex?

Molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, Granular layer Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is the most caudal portion of the CNS and travels in the vertebral canal of the vertebral column?

Spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What are the three meninges?

Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, Pia mater Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure that is the gray matter core of the spinal cord?

Gray matter Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of ascending neuronal pathways?

Spinothalamic (anterolateral) tract, Dorsal column (posterior funiculus) – medial lemniscal tract Signup and view all the answers

What type of information does the spinothalamic (anterolateral) tract carry?

Course touch, pressure as well as pain and temperature sensation Signup and view all the answers

What type of information does the dorsal column (posterior funiculus) – medial lemniscal tract carry?

Light touch, vibration, proprioception from joints and musculature (body posture, balance) and 2-point discrimination sensation Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of corticospinal tract fibers?

Lateral corticospinal tract, Anterior corticospinal tract Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Limbic System

The hippocampus is an extension of the cerebral cortex in the medial temporal lobe, projecting to the fornix.
It's involved in converting short-term to long-term memories.
The fornix is a white matter pathway carrying hippocampal axons to other brain regions.
The amygdala mediates fear, connecting to olfactory tracts, septal nuclei, diencephalon, and midbrain.
Phobias might stem from early amygdala responses before the hippocampus was fully developed.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect the hippocampus and long-term memory, triggering flashbacks.

Diencephalon

The diencephalon surrounds the third ventricle.
It stretches from the optic chiasm to the mammillary bodies.
Structures visible on the inferior surface include: the optic chiasm, optic tracts, tuber cinereum, infundibulum, and pituitary gland.
Mammillary bodies are gray matter protuberances with a white matter capsule.
The thalamus relays sensory information (except smell).
The thalamus is divided into medial-posterior, lateral-posterior, and anteriorsuperior divisions.
These divisions contain nuclei for various functions. The anterior and medial posterior divisions are involved in memory and emotional state.
The lateral posterior division involves sensory and emotional information.
The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is a visual relay center.
The medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) is an auditory relay center.

Brainstem

The brainstem connects the spinal cord to the diencephalon and cerebrum.
It houses reflex centers for respiration, cardiovascular function, and consciousness and contains nuclei for cranial nerves III through XII.
The brainstem includes the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain.
The medulla oblongata is located between the pons and spinal cord.
It contains the pyramids which are the major efferent tracts.
The pons is above the medulla and below the midbrain.
It primarily consists of transverse fibers (corticospinal, corticobulbar, etc) used in the corticospinal pathway.
The midbrain connects the pons to the diencephalon.
It contains the superior and inferior colliculi.

Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a network of nerve cells running through the brainstem.
It receives sensory information from several areas and transmits efferent information.
The reticular formation contributes to consciousness and arousal states, and regulates cardiovascular and respiratory control.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is located below the occipital lobe of the cerebrum.
It receives sensory information about body position and movement and sends signals to adjust and coordinate movements.
The cerebellum has two hemispheres connected by the vermis.
It contains several lobes, including the anterior, posterior, and flocculonodular lobes.
The cerebellar cortex is organized into three layers.
The cerebellum receives input via climbing and mossy fibers and sends output through efferent cerebellar fibers.

Spinal Cord and Ascending/Descending Tracts

The spinal cord is the most caudal part of the central nervous system, extending from the medulla oblongata to the lumbar region.
It contains 31 spinal nerve pairs.
The spinal cord is divided into anterior and posterior median fissures internally.
The grey matter forms a butterfly-like shape within the spinal cord and contains cell bodies of neurons.
The white matter surrounds the grey matter, and contains ascending and descending tracts of myelinated axons.
Ascending tracts carry sensory information from the periphery to the brain.
Descending tracts carry motor commands from brain to the periphery.
Specific ascending tracts, such as the spinothalamic tract, carry sensory information about pain, temperature, and touch; another important ascending tract is the dorsal column-medial lemniscus.
The spinothalamic system is responsible for carrying temperature and pain information from the body's periphery to the brain.
The dorsal column-medial lemniscus carries sensory input on fine touch, vibration, and proprioception.
Ascending pathways (e.g., spinothalamic, dorsal column-medial lemniscus) are important in sensory perception.
Descending pathways (e.g., corticospinal) are involved in motor control.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the limbic system and diencephalon, focusing on the roles of the hippocampus, amygdala, and key structures. This quiz covers the functions of memory, emotional responses, and the anatomy of the brain regions discussed. Perfect for students of neuroscience or psychology.