brain
cerebellum
"little brain" posterior to brainstem, in posterior cranial fossa -coordination center for motor skills -uses brainstem to connect with cerebrum to execute posture, balance, and coordination -the two cerebellar hemispheres connected by the vermis
pia mater
"tender mother" inner layer of meninges -highly vascular and adheres closely to brain
dura mater
"tough mother" outermost and strongest membrane made up of 2 layers of fibrous CT: periostea and meningeal layers
right cerebral hemisphere functions
-sensory stimulus from LEFT side of body -motor control of LEFT side of body -creativity -spatial ability -context/perception -recognition of faces, places, and objects
left cerebral hemisphere functions
-sensory stimulus from RIGHT side of body -motor control of RIGHT side of body -speech, language, comprehension -analysis and calculations -time and sequencing -recognition of words, letters, and numbers
meninges functions
-surrounds and protects brain -protects blood vessels and encloses venous sinuses -contains CSF -forms partition in skull
adenohypophysis
anterior lobe of pituitary gland
periosteal layer (dura mater)
attaches to inner surface of skull -found only in brain; not spinal cord peri = around
insular lobe
buried under portions of temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes
superior colliculi
center for visual reflexes that coordinate movements of eye with head and neck located in tectum of midbrain
cerebral lobes
cerebral cortex divides cerebrum into 5 individual lobes: insula, frontal, parietal, occipital, temoral
cerebral aqueduct
connects the third and fourth ventricles
vermis
connects two hemispheres of cerebellum
tectum (midbrain)
consists of 4 protuberances (colliculi) -superior and inferior colliculi
diencephalon
consists of thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus functions as a relay station for sensory info, interactive site between CNS and endocrine systems, and closely associated with limbic system
Broca's area
controls motor speech and language, located in frontal lobe
fissures
deeper grooves longitudinal and lateral (Sylvian) fissure in cerebrum
meninges layers
dura mater arachnoid mater pia mater
pituitary gland
endocrine gland located in the sella turcica -"master gland" due to importance in regulating many other glands through action of its 6 major types of hormones -can be broken up into anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) and posterior lobe (neurohypophysis)
pineal gland
endocrine structure that secretes hormone melatonin that aids in regulation of day-night cycles and reproductive functions -sometimes calcified, helps detect on CT scan -in epithalamus
medulla oblongata
extends from pons to foramen magnum where it continues down as the spinal cord -most inferior portion of brainstem -contains all fiber tracts between brain and spinal cord -regulates internal activities of body such as control of heart rate, respiratory rhythm, blood pressure
meningeal layer (dura mater)
external covering of brain -extends into vertebral canal as spinal dura mater
gyri
foldes/ridges in cerebral tissue pre central and post central gyrus
temporal lobe
functions perception of auditory (hearing) and olfactory (smelling) stimuli, speech, memory processing
parietal lobe
functions: perception of temp, touch, pressure, vibration, pain, tase; involved in writing and some aspects of reading
HA-WBRT
hippocampus avoiding whole brain radiation therapy -have patient tuck chin down to spare hippocampus -improves cognitive memory and function -common in palliative care
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges -may spread to CNS which could lead to brain inflammation (encephalitis)
cerebrum
largest portion of brain and divided into R/L cerebral hemispheres surface markings: gyri, sulci, fissures
foramen of luschka
lateral aperture that connects fourth ventricle to subarachnoid space
midbrain
located above pons, smallest and most superior portion of brainstem -made up of massive bundles of nerve fiber tracts -surrounds cerebral aqueduct which contains CSF and connects to 3rd and 4th ventricles -two major segments: tectum and cerebral peduncles
cerebral peduncles (midbrain)
located anterior to cerebral aqueduct
hypothalamus
located below thalamus and posterior to optic nerve -maintains homeostasis (body's internal balance) by regulating temp, appetite, water balance, thirst, sex drive, sleep patterns -regulates hormonal output of pituitary gland by releasing neurohormones
pons
located between midbrain and medulla oblongata -anterior to cerebellum and posterior to clivus -relays info between spinal cord and cerebral and cerebellar cortices
central sulcus
main sulcus that can be identified on CT divides pre central gyrus from post central gyrus
arachnoid mater
middle layer of meninges with spiderweb like extensions -follow contour of dura mater -separated from duty by the subdural space
frontal lobe
most anterior lobe of brain functions: reasoning, judgement, emotional response, planning and execution of complex actions, control of voluntary muscle movements, involved in speech production, contains motor speech area (Broca's area)
medulloblastoma
most common brain tumor in children (20%), found in cerebellum and spread through CSF; can last months to years -25% of kids with surgical removal develop posterior fossa syndrome -loss of muscle tone, memory issues, decreased speaking ability, unsteadiness/inability to walk, facial paralysis
occipital lobe
most posterior lobe functions: involved in conscious perception of visual stimuli
epithalamus
most posterior portion of diencephalon -contains pineal gland and posterior commissure
pre central gyrus
motor strip of brain in cerebrum
choroid plexus
network of blood vessels that produce CSF and a continuous circulation of it around the brain -located between the ventricles -partially calcified making it noticeable on CT scans
lateral ventricles
paired and lie within each cerebral hemisphere, separated at midline by the septum pellucidum -frontal horn, temporal horn, and occipital horn of lateral ventricle
thalamus
paired gray matter structure, located in center of brain, and makes up portion of walls of 3rd ventricle -relays sensory impulses to and from cerebral cortex -involved in memory processing
neurohypophysis
posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
inferior colliculi
provides auditory info to thalamus located in tectum of midbrain
ventricular system
provides pathway for circulation of CSF through CNS composed of 4 fluid filled cavities (ventricles): lateral ventricles, 3rd and 4th ventricle choroid plexus
post central gyrus
sensory strip of brain in cerebrum
subarachnoid space
separates arachnoid and pia mater -contains CSF that circulates around brain and spinal cord providing further protection to CNS
lateral fissure (Sylvian fissure) cerebrum
separates frontal and parietal lobes from temporal lobe
septum pellucidum
separates lateral ventricles at midline of cerebral hemispheres
longitudinal fissure cerebrum
separates the two cerebral hemispheres
sulci
shallow grooves separating gyri in cerebrum -central sulcus
brainstem
small mass of tissue packed with motor and sensory nuclei, vital for normal brain function -10/12 cranial nerves originate from the nuclei -major segments include midbrain, pons, and medulla obglongata
3rd ventricle
thin, slit like structure that communicates with the 4th ventricle through long passageway called cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of sylvius) -lateral walls formed by thalamus
craniospinal irradiation
treatment of whole brain and spinal cord to avoid mets from tumor resection
meningioma
tumor in meninges that can grow large enough to push into the brain (common)
4th ventricle
two lateral apertures (foramen of luschka) allow for passage of CSF between ventricles and subarachnoid space -anterior to cerebellum, posterior to pons *looks like upside down 4