Basic Neuroanatomy
Maryann Martone, Ph. D.
1/7/10
Organization of the Nervous System
•CNS (neural plate)
•Brain
•Spinal cord
•PNS (neural crest)
•Somatic
•Autonomic
•Sympathetic
•Parasympathetic
•Enteric
•Gut motility and secretion
“Gross anatomical convenience”-Swanson
Directions
MedialLateralLateral
Planes of Section
Coronal (frontal)HorizontalSagittal
Fig 2.8: Squire et al, Fundamental neuroscience, 2nd ed
Development of the Nervous System
Divisions of the Brain
Embryonic vesicles form the fundamental regional brain divisions in the adult
Alar vs Basal Plates
Sylvian Fissure
Gyri and sulci
Dividing up the brain
Gross anatomy:
•White matter vs gray matter
•Cortex vs Subcortical nuclei
•Nuclei vs Ganglia
Nissl vs Myelin Stain
Corpus Callosum
Callosum (L): hard, tough
Commissure vs decussation
More white matter terms
• White matter:
• Tract: common origin and destination
• Fasciculus, funiculus, peduncle or brachium: distinct collection of nerve fibers (may contain many tracts)
• Lemiscus: Ascending fibers in the brainstem
Brain is divided into “regional parts” based on:Gross appearance: e.g., gray matter vs white matterLandmarks, e.g., sulciHistologyCytoarchitectureChemoarchitectureProjection patternsFunctional considerations
Don’t all agree with one another!
MotorSomatosensory
FF PP
TTOO
Vision
Audition
General Functions Associated with each Lobe
Structure-function relationships
Features sometimes form useful landmarks to delineate different functional areas
The Ventricles
Cerebral ventricles
•Lateral ventricles•Interventricular foramen•Third ventricle•Cerebral aqueduct•Fourth ventricle
Ventricular system in mid-sagittal section
Useful guides for identification
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Ventricles are not mere landmarks however
CSF
•125 ml in adult human
•500 ml/24 hr period
•Produced by choroid plexus, principally in the lateral ventricles
•Forms “water cushion” for brain
•Bathes neural tissue, extending into perivascular spaces
Hydrocephalus
Flow of CSF
Meninges
Leptomeninges =
Arachnoid + pia mater
Pachymeninges=dura mater
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neuroroot.html
– Greek and Latin roots of neuroscience (especially neuroanatomy) words
Sinuses
Cerebral Blood Supply