Neuroscience

 Review  I  

9.24.15  
 Terminology  
•  Ganglia:  collec;ons  of  cell  bodies  
•  Nerves:  collec;ons  of  axons  
•  Decussa/on:  fibers  cross  the  midline  
•  Dermatome:  area  of  skin  innervated  by  a  single  spinal  nerve  
•  Homunculus:  cor;cal  representa;on  of  dis;nct  body  parts  
–  Sensory:  S1/postcentral  gyrus  
–  Motor:  M1/precentral  gyrus  
•  Grey  ma6er:  cell  bodies  
•  White  ma6er:  axons  
•  Brodmann’s  Areas:  cor;cal  divisions  based  on  differences  in  
cytoarchitecture  
•  Fasciculus:  bundle  of  nerves  
 Central  Nervous  System  
•  Cerebrum  
–  Cerebral  hemispheres:  sensory,  motor,  integra;ve  and  
cogni;ve  func;ons  
–  Hippocampus:  spa;al  memory  
–  Basal  ganglia:  motor  control  
•  Diencephalon  
–  Thalamus:  relays  sensory  informa;on  to  the  cortex  
–  Hypothalamus:  regulates  autonomic,  endocrine  and  
visceral  func;on  
•  Brainstem  
–  Midbrain:  integrates  motor  and  sensory  func;ons  
–  Pons:  movement  control  
–  Medulla  oblongata:  vital  func;ons:  breathing,  heart  rate,  
etc.  
•  Cerebellum  
–  Motor  coordina;on  
•  Spinal  cord  
–  Dorsal  roots:  afferent  axons  carrying  sensory  informa;on  
from  the  periphery  
–  Ventral  roots:  efferent  axons  to  control  muscles  and  glands  
 Dorsal  Column/Medial  Lemniscal  Pathway:  TOUCH  

1.  Axons  enter  from  dorsal  root  

and  ascend  ipsilaterally  in  dorsal  
column  
1.  T6  and  above:  Cuneate  
fasciculus  
2.  T7  and  below:  Gracile  fasciculus  
2.  Axons  ascend  to  lower  medulla  
and  synapse  in  cuneate  and  
gracile  nuclei  
3.  Postsynap;c  cells  cross  the  
midline  and  their  axons  form  
the  ascending  medial  lemniscus  
4.  Axons  of  the  medial  lemniscus  
ascend  to  the  VPL  of  the  
thalamus  and  synapse  
5.  Postsynap;c  cells  send  axons  
through  the  internal  capsule  to  
primary  sensory  cortex  S1  
 Spinothalamic  Tract:  PAIN  AND  
TEMPERATURE  
1.  Axons  of  nociceptors  
enter  in  lateral  dorsal  
root,  enter  the  dorsal  
horn  and  terminate  on  
dorsal  horn  neurons  
2.  Dorsal  horn  neurons  
cross  the  midline  and  
ascend  contralaterally  in  
the  spinothalamic  tract  
to  the  VPL  of  the  
thalamus  and  synapse  
3.  Postsynap;c  cells  project  
to  sensory  cortex  
 Cor;cospinal  Tract:  VOLUNTARY  
MOVEMENT  
1.  Motor  cortex  
2.  Internal  capsule  
3.  Cerebral  peduncle  (midbrain)  
4.  Medullary  pyramids    
5.  Cross  midline  at  pyramidal  
decussa;on  
6.  Descend  in  cerebrospinal  tract  
7.  Terminate  in  ventral  horn  of  
spinal  cord  
 Rubrospinal  Tract:  upper  limb  
voluntary  motor  control  
1.  Red  nucleus  
2.  Decussa;on  at  
midbrain  
3.  Descends  in  
rubrospinal  tract  
4.  Terminates  in  
ventral  horn  of  
cervical  SC  
Ves;bulospinal  Tract:  upright  posture/
head  stabiliza;on  
Tectospinal  Tract:  head  and  eye  
movements  
Autonomic  Nervous  System  
 Cranial  Nerves  
I.  Olfactory:  smell  
II.  Op/c:  vision  
III.  Oculomotor:  eye  movements  
IV.  Trochlear:  eye  movements  
V.  Trigeminal:  bi;ng/chewing  
VI.  Abducens:  eye  movements  
VII.  Facial:  facial  expressions  
VIII. Ves/bulocochlear:  sound    
IX.  Glossopharyngeal:  swallowing/
speech  
X.  Vagus:  heart  rate,  diges;on  
XI.  Spinal  Accessory:  neck  movement  
XII.  Hypoglossal:  tongue  
 Glia    
(The  “Support”  Cells)  
•  Non-­‐neuronal  cells  in  the  
CNS  &  PNS  
–  i.e.  astrocytes,  oligodendrocytes,  
Schwann  cells  

•  Func;ons:  
–  Provide  nutrients  to  neurons  
–  Supports  neuronal  func;ons      
–  Recycles  neurotransmiders  
–  Oligodendrocytes  &  Schwann  cells  
•  myelinate  axons  in  CNS  &  PNS,  
respec;vely  
 
 Tools  for  visualizing  neurons  
•  Immunohistochemistry  –  bind  fluorescent  protein  to  protein  of  interest  
•  Fluorescence  –  expression  of  fluorescent  protein  in  cells  
•  Calcium  indicator  dyes  –  label  ac;ve  cells  
•  Optogene;cs  –  neuromodula;on  technique  using  light  to  ac;vate  neurons.  

Fluorescence  imaging   Immunohistochemistry   Calcium  ac;vity