Study Guide for Chapter 7

1.       Be sure you are familiar with the specific anatomical reference terms shown at the bottom of page 170.

2.       Be able to identify (in terms of location and function) the parts and organization of the nervous system. How does the CNS differ from the PNS? Where does the cerebellum fit into the picture? What does the brainstem consist of and what does it do? How does the PNS communicate with the CNS?

3.       What are the meninges and how are they layered? What is their function?

4.       Where do you find the ventricular system? How is it arranged in human beings? How is CSF produced and where? How is it extracted and by what mechanism? What happens if the flow of CSF is blocked? What are the important functions of CSF?

5.       How do the following imaging techniques contribute to our understanding of the brain, and what are some of the limitations of each? (Please note that detailed descriptions are not necessary, but an overview level of understanding is important.)

          a.          computed tomography (CT)

          b.          magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

          c.          functional brain imaging

                    1.          positron emission tomography (PET)

                    2.          functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

6.       Often, the best way to understand the anatomy of the human brain is by examining its development, however we will be returning to this later. Skip pages 178-194 (with the exception of the terms on page 180). Feel free to read them, but do not let them overwhelm you--we will come back to them.

7.       Be sure you know the neuroanatomical terms listed in both tables on page 180 (tables 7.1 and 7.2).

8.       Be able to locate and discuss the following structures:

           a.          lateral, third, and fourth ventricles

           b.          thalamus

           c.          hypothalamus

           d.          corpus callosum

           e.          internal capsule

           f.        tectum (differentiates into superior and inferior colliculus--you also need to know these structures)   

           g.       tegmentum (differentiates into substantia nigra and red nucleus—both important for motor activity)

           h.          medulla

           i.          medullary pyramids

           j.          cerebellum

           k.          pyramidal decussation

           l.          spinal canal

           m.          ventral & dorsal horns of the spinal cord

           n.          cortex including the major landmarks (and function):

          frontal lobe

          central sulcus

precentral gyrus (primary motor strip)

postcentral gyrus (primary somatosensory strip)

          temporal lobe

          parietal lobe

                      occipital lobe

o.          hippocampus

p.          olfactory bulbs

q.          olfactory cortex

9.      Your textbook authors discuss several types of cortex in terms of primary sensory, secondary sensory, primary motor, and association. Be sure you are clear on what those terms mean.

10.    Chapter 7 contains an appendix--make sure you use it (the parts that correspond to what we've covered so far). Also complete the exercises within the appendix, as well as the review questions on

          page 203.