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