ANATOMY LAB ASSIGNMENT 11

Nervous system
Worth 10 points
Due on line 11/06

1. For each of the following secondary brain vesicles, please identify what adult
brain structures (and their associated ventricles or canals) they give rise to:
a. Telencephalon—Cerebrum: cerebral hemispheres (cortex, white matter,
basal nuclei). Lateral ventricles
b. Diencephalon—Thalmus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, retina. Third
ventricle
c. Mesencephalon—Brain stem, midbrain. Cerebral aqueduct
d. Metencephalon—Brain stem, pons, cerebellum. Fourth ventricle
e. Mylencephalon—Brain stem, medulla oblongata. Fourth ventricle
2. Define the following terms as they apply to the nervous system and give
examples of where they occur:
a. Cortex
b. Gyrus—elevated ridges, found in the precentral gyrus
c. Sulcus—shallow grooves, found in the central sulcus
d. Fissure—deep grooves, transverse cerebral fissue
e. Cerebral or cerebellar lobe—cerebellum located under the occipital lobe
and responsible for sensory and motor function
f. White matter—deep to grey matter, and responsible for communication
between cerebral areas and between the cortex and lower CNS centers.
g. Gray matter—routes sensory and motor stimuli in the CNS.
h. Fiber tract- consists of
i. Nerve
j. Nerve plexus
k. Nucleus
l. ganglion
3. Where is the gray matter in the cerebral cortex, the cerebellar cortex, and the
spinal cord?
The gray matter in the cerebral cortex is superficial to the white matter.
The gray matter in the cerebellar cortex is deep to the white matter.
The gray matter in the spinal cord is deep to the white matter.
4. Where is the white matter located in the cerebral cortex, the cerebellar cortex,
and the spinal cord?
The white matter in the cerebral cortex is deep to the gray matter.
The white matter in the cerebellar cortex is superficial to grey matter.
The white matter in the spinal cord is superficial to the grey matter.
 5. List the six types of glia found in the nervous system and where they occur
(CNS vs PNS).
Astrocytes—abundant and most versatile glial cells found in the CNS
Microglia—small ovoid cells with long processes found in CNS
Ependymal—range in shape from squamous to columnar found in CNS
Oligodendrocytes—found in CNS
Satellite—surround neuron cell bodies found in PNS
Schwann—surround and forms myelin sheaths found in PNS
6. Describe a typical neuron, including the location of all the usual organelles.
Neurons have longevity and have a lifetime of up to over 100 years. They
are amitotic meaning once they assume their roles in
communicating, they will loose their ability to divide. Some epithelium
can be replaced though. Neurons also have a very high metabolic rate and
they require a continuous supply of oxygen and glucose.
7. What do the cerebral peduncles contain (think function)?
Cerebral peduncles contain the large motor tracts that descend towards the
spinal cord. It is a fiber tract.
8. What do the superior cerebellar peduncles contain?
Superior cerebellar peduncles contain the same as cereral peduncles but
connect the midbrain to the cerebellum dorsally.
9. What does the interventricular foramen of Monroe separate?
The interventricular foramen of Monroe separates the lateral ventricles
from the third ventricle.
10. What regions of the brain occupy the anterior, middle and posterior cranial
fossa?

11. Describe the meninges that wrap and protect the brain.
The dura mater (tough mother) is the outer most layer consisting of the
periosteal and meningeal layers. The next layer is the arachnoid
mater, it is a loose covering of the brain that contains the CSF. The
pia mater (little mother) is the inner most layer covering the brain.
12. What is the difference between the periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura
mater? In some places, there is a spaces between these two layers. Where
does this occur, and what fills this space?
The periosteal layer is attached to the periosteum of the skull. The
periosteal layer does not extend down to the spinal cord whereas
the meningeal layer is deeper and forms the true covering of the brain
and down the spinal cord. Where they separate is the superior sagittal
sinus, which is where venus blood is collected. In the brain the
meningeal dura separates through the brain to create dural septa to
limit movement of the brain inside the cranium.
13. Where is CSF formed, and what produces it?
CSF is formed in the Choroid Plexus in the lateral ventricles and is also
filtered there.
 14. From its site of generation, trace the circulation of CSF (including the spinal
cord) to the location where it gets reabsorbed.
CSF is produced from choroid plexus, then circulates through the
ventricular system, then it comes out theough the lateral and
median appertures, fills the subarachnoid space, circulates around
the brain and spinal cord, and then gets reabsorbed through the arachnoid
villi.
15. What structures return CSF to the venous system?
The arachnoid villus return the CSF to the venus system to be reabsorbed.
16. For the following arteries, provide the region of the brain they supply:
a. Anterior cerebral artery—supplies blood to the medial surface of the
frontal and parietal lobes of each hemisphere of the cerebrum.
b. Middle cerebral artery—supplies blood to the lateral parts of the temporal,
parietal, and frontal lobes.
c. Vertebral artery—supplies blood to the cervical vertebrae and deep
structures of the neck.
17. Which arteries contribute to the circle of Willis?
The posterior (2) and anterior communicating arteries contribute to the
circle of Willis.
18. What is functionally unique and/or important about the circle of Willis?
It controls the blood pressure in the hemispheres of the brain, and allows
for rerouting of blood when the carotid is blocked.
19. What is a dural sinus?
When the two layers of the dura mater separate to enclose the dural sinus,
which collects the venus blood from the brain and redirects it into
the internal jugular veins.
20. Why are there cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord?

21. Why are lumbar punctures (to withdraw CSF samples) done between L3 and
L4 or between L4 and L5?
LP’s are done at that level because the functional part of the spinal cord
has already exited the vertebral column at that point.
22. What is the function of the filum terminale?
The filum terminale anchors the spinal cord into place so body movements
do not jostle it.
23. What is the cauda equina?
The cauda equina is found in the lower spinal cord and consists of nerves
and fibers.
24. Which horns of the spinal gray matter contain mainly sensory neurons?
Which horms contain primarily motor neurons?
25. What regions of the spinal cord contain lateral horns? Why only here?
26. Do spinal funiculi contain fiber tracts or neuronal cell bodies?
27. For each of the spinal nerves, provide the foramina through which the nerve
exits the skull, and its function(s), INCLUDING whether it is motor, sensory,
or both:
 a. Olfactory—exits through the olfactory foramina of the ethmoid, transmits
the sense of smell, and is a sensory nerve.
b. Optic—exits throught the optic canal, transmits visual information to
brain, sensory nerve.
c. Occulomotor—exits through the superior orbital fissure, innervates the
levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus,
and inferior oblique for eye movements, it is a motor nerve.
d. Trochlear—exits through the superior orbital fissure, it innervates the
superior oblique muscle, it is a motor nerve.
e. Trigeminal—exits the skull in the superior orbital fissure, receives
sensation from the face and innervates the muscles for mastication, it is
both a sensory and motor nerve.
i. Ophthalmic
ii. Maxillary
iii. Mandibular
f. Abducens—exits the skull at the superior orbital fissures, innervates the
lateral rectus to abduct the eye, it is a motor nerve.
g. Facial—exits through the stylomastoid foramen, innervates the muscles
for facial expression, both a sensory and motor nerve.
h. Vestibulococlear—exits at the internal acoustic canal, senses sound,
rotation and gravity, it is a sensory nerve.
i. Glossopharyngeal—exits at the jugular foramen, receives taste from the
tongue and innervates the parotid glad, it is both a sensory and motor
nerve.
j. Vagus—exits at the jugular foramen, supplies innervation to the laryngeal
and pharyngeal muscles, provides parasympathetic fivers to almost all
thoracic and abdominal viscera, it is both a sensory and motor nerve.
k. Accessory—exits through the jugular foramen, controls the neck muscles
and trapezeus and overlaps functions with the vagus nerve, it is a motor
nerve.
l. Hypoglossal—exits through the hypoglossal canal, innervates the muscles
of the tongue, it is a motor nerve.
28. From what plexus does the phrenic nerve arise? What is the sensory and/or
motor distrubution of the phrenic nerve (what structures/muscles does it have
motor and/or sensory control over, in general)?
The phrenic nerve arises from the cervical plexus of the neck. The phrenic
nerve innervates the diaphragm and is very important for breathing. It
receives its information from C2, C3, so when you have a high
cervical spine injury, frequently the patient looses the ability to
breathe.
29. What are the sensory and motor distributions of the following terminal nerves,
AND from what plexus do they arise?
a. Axillary—arises from the brachial plexus, serves the deltoid and teres
minor muscles and some of the skin of the shoulder region
b. Radial—arises from the brachial plexus, serves the posterior muscles of
the arm, forearm, and hand, also the skin of the posterolateral seface of the
limb.
c. Musculocutaneous—arises from the brachial plexus, serves the flexor
muscles in the anterior arm and the skin on the anterolateral forearm.
d. Median nerve—arises from the brachial plexus, serves the flexor group of
the anterior forearm and the skin of the hand, plam, and 2nd and 3rd fingers.
e. Ulnar nerve—arises from the brachial plexus, serves the flexor muscle in
the anterior forearm, and the skin of the medial third of the hand.
f. Femoral nerve—arises from the lumbar plexus, serves the skin of the
anterior and medial thigh, skin of the medial leg and foot, and the anterior
muscles of the thigh.
g. Obturator nerve—arises from the lumbar plexus, serves the adductor
magnus, longus and brevis, gracilis muscle, obturator exturnus, and the
sensory for the skin of the medial thigh and hip and knee joints.
h. Sciatic nerve—arises from the sacral plexus, serves the common peroneal
nerve and the tibial nerve.
i. Common peroneal nerve—arises from the sacral plexus and the sciatic
nerve, serves the skin of the anterior surface of leg and the dorsum of the
foot, the short head of the biceps femoris, the fibular muscles, tibialis
anterior, extensor muscles
j. Tibial nerve--