Neuroanatomy and Cranial Nerves

Scalp

Extents:

  1. Superior nuchal line – posteriorly
  2. Supraorbital margins – anteriorly
  3. Zygomatic arch – lateral

Layers:

Layers of the scalp mnemonic

NB: Injury to scalp leads to prolonged bleeding due to rich blood supply and separation of vessel ends by connective tissue and aponeurosis. Also heals rapidly due to rich blood supply.

Nerves and arteries:

Image result for nerves and vessels of scalp

Venous:

  1. Supraorbital and supratrochlear drain into – facial vein
  2. Superficial temporal veins – retromandibular vein
  3. Posterior auricular veins – external jugular veins
  4. Occipital vein – vertebral veins

NB: The veins connect with intracranial sinuses through emissary veins (can spread infection)


Cranial meninges

3 layers of connective tissues that:

  1. Protect brain
  2. Provide framework for arteries and veins
  3. Enclose fluid filled cavity

Image result for cranial meninges
dura mater, arachnoid mater. pia mater
parts of cranium

(I) Dura mater:

Made of 2 layers that separate to form sinuses:

  1. Outer periosteal layer
  2. Inner meningeal layer

(II) Arachnoid mater:

  • Avascular layer
  • Attached to pia mater by web like arachnoid trabeculae
  • Held against dura by pressure of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)

(III) Subarachnoid space:

Contains arachnoid trabeculae, CSF, blood vessels and nerves

(IV) Pia mater:

  • Vascularised
  • Thin membrane that adheres to brain surface and follows its contours
  • Prevents blood vessels coming in contact with neural tissue

Arterial supply to meninges:

  • Middle meningeal artery
  • Accessory meningeal artery
  • 2 anterior meningeal arteries
  • 2 posterior meningeal arteries

Clinicals:

  1. Epidural hemorrhage – injury to middle meningeal artery
  2. Subdural hemorrhage – superior saggital veins tear as they drain into superior saggital sinus
  3. Cerebral hemorrhage – middle cerebral artery branch ruptures
  4. Meningitis

Dural folds

Invagination of meningeal layer of dura mater – to compartmentalize and stabilize brain

Dural folds, flax cerebri, flax cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli, diaphragma sellae

Image result for dural folds, sagittal view

  1. Falx cerebri – Separate right and left cerebrum
  2. Falx cerebelli – Separate right and left cerebellum
  3. Tentorium cerebelli – Separates cerebellum and occipital lobes of cerebrum
  4. Diaphragm sellae – Roof of sella turica

Dural sinuses

Image result for dural sinuses

flow of blood in dural sinus

NB: Great cerebral vein joins inferior sagittal sinus to form straight sinus

Blood from superior sagittal sinus favours right transverse sinus


The skull

3 components:

  1. Neurocranium/ calvaria
  2. Chondrocranium/ skull base
  3. Vicerocranium/ facial skeleton

Neurocranium:

Image result for neurocranium
cranial bones
parts of cranium

Chondrocranium:

Image result for Chondrocranium
parts of base of skull

Vicerocranium:

Image result for Viscerocranium
parts of vicerocranium


Sutures of skull

sutures of the skull
neonate and adult

Difference between adult and neonate skull:

1. Ratio of vicerocranium : neurocranium

  •   Neonate 1:8
  •   Adult 3:8

2. In neonate, has fontanelles which close:

  • Posterior – 3 months after birth
  • Sphenoid – 6 months
  • Mastoid – 18 months
  • Anterior – 18-24 months

3. Neonate does not have all air sinuses

4. Neonate has less prominent mastoid

5. Neonate angle of mandible more obtuse

6. Neonate has no alveolar process

7. Neonate has no styloid process

8. Neonate basal skull ossifies after birth

9. Neonate has no diploe – to enable bone molding during birth

10. Neonate has metopic/frontal suture which disappears after 2 years

Functions of sutures:

  • Allow for birth
  • Molding and brain growth
  • Age estimation
  • Draw CSF and blood from fontanelles

Clinicals:

1. Pterion – Thin and weak, made of Frontal, parietal, squamous temporal and greater wing sphenoid. Overlies middle meningeal artery (anterior division). Therefore fracture can damage the artery and lead to epidural hematoma

2. Raised intracranial pressure – bulges anterior fontanelle

3. Sunk anterior fontanelle – dehydration due to diarrhea and vomit

4. Hydrocephaly: Accumulation of CSF, widening spaces called ventricles

  • Communicating – CSF no reabsorbed but can flow from ventricle to ventricle
  • Non communicating – Obstruction in flowing from one ventricle to another

hydrocephalus communicating


Cranial fossa

anterior cranial fossa, middle cranial fossa, posterior cranial fossa

(I) Anterior cranial fossa

Borders:

  • Anterior – Frontal bone
  • Posterior – Lesser wing sphenoid
  • Medial – Cribriform plate
  • Lateral – Orbital of frontal bone
  • Floor – All of the above

Contents: Frontal lobe, olfactory bulb and tract

Clinicals: Cribriform fracture: loss of smell, CSF in nasal

(II) Middle cranial fossa

Borders:

  • Anterior – Lesser wing sphenoid
  • Posterior – Petrous temporal
  • Medial – Greater wing shenoid
  • Lateral – Squamous temporal and parietal bone
  • Floor – Sella turcica and greater wing sphenoid

Contents: Temporal lobes, cavernous sinus, pituitary gland, optic chiasma

Clinicals: Pituitary surgery

(III) Posterior cranial fossa

Borders:

  • Anterior – Dorsum sellae, petrous temporal
  • Posterior – Squamous occipital
  • Medial – Dorsum sellae
  • Lateral – Mastoid temporal
  • Floor – Tentorium cerebelli and occipital bone

Contents: Cerebellum, pons, medulla

Clinicals: Cerebellum tonsillar herniation via foramen magnum


Skull foramina and contents

Image result for skull foramina

1. Foramen cecum: Emissary veins (nasal to superior sagittal sinus)

2. Cribriform foramina: Olfactory nerve (CN 1) – nasal to olfactory bulb

3. Optic canal: 

  • Optic nerve (CN 2) – surrounded with meninges
  • Opthalmic artery branch – lacrimal artery

4. Superior orbital fissure:

  • Oculomotor nerve (CN 3)
  • Trochlear nerve (CN 4)
  • Abducens nerve (CN 6)
  • Opthalmic nerve (CN 5-1)
  • Superior opthalmic vein

5. Foramen rotundum: Maxillary nerve (CN 5-2)

6. Foramen ovale: MALE

  • Mandibular nerve (CN 5-3)
  • Accessory meningeal artery
  • Lesser petrosal nerve
  • Emissary veins (pterygoid plexus – cavernous sinus)

7. Foramen lacerum:

  • Greater petrosal nerve
  • Internal carotid artery

8. Foramen spinosum:

  • Middle meningeal artery
  • Middle meningeal vein
  • Nervous spinosus (nerve branch of 5-3)

9. Carotid canal: Internal carotid artery

10. Internal acoustic meatus:

  • Facial nerve (CN 7)
  • Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN 8)
  • Labyrinthine artery

11. Jugular foramen:

  • Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN 9)
  • Vagus nerve (CN 10)
  • Accessory nerve (CN 11)
  • Inferior petrosal sinus
  • Sigmoid sinus
  • Posterior meningeal artery

12. Mastoid foramen: 

  • Facial nerve (CN 7)
  • Emissary veins

13. Hypoglossal canal: Hypoglossal nerve (CN 12)

14. Foramen magnum:

  • Medulla
  • Meninges
  • Vertebral arteries
  • Spinal arteries

Supraorbital foramen, infraorbital foramen, mental foramen

15. Supraorbital foramen: Supraorbital nerve (from frontal nerve from opthalmic nerve 5-1)

16. Infraorbital foramen: Infraorbital nerve of 5-2

17. Mental foramen: Mental nerve


Cranial nerves

  1. Olfactory – Sensory
  2. Optic – Sensory
  3. Oculomotor – Motor
  4. Trochlear – Motor
  5. Trigeminal – Both
  6. Abducens – Motor
  7. Facial – Both
  8. Vestibulocochlear – Sensory
  9. Glossopharyngeal – Both
  10. Vagus – Both
  11. Accessory – Motor
  12. Hypoglossal – Motor

Mnemonic: Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet Ah Heaven!

Mnemonic: Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most


Cranial nerve courses

NB: Summarised notes made from: Teachmeanatomy

(I) Olfactory nerve: Special Viceral Afferent (smell)

  • Olfactory mucosa containing non myelinated axons
  • Axons bundle to form a bundle – filia olfactoria
  • Pass through cribriform plate foramina
  • Enter olfactory bulb
  • Olfactory nerves synapse with mitral cells
  • Forming a synaptic glomeruli
  • The mitral cells run posteriorly in the olfactory tract
  • At the anterior perforated substance, tract divides into medial and lateral stria
  • Lateral stria axons go to primary olfactory cortex – piriform region
  • Medial stria carry axons across anterior commissure to opposite olfactory bulb

Clinicals:

  • Anosmia – loss of sense of smell (cribriform plate fracture/ meningitis etc.)
  • Olfactory hallucinations – detect smells which are not present (tumor/ Parkinson’s disease)

(II) Optic nerve: Special Somatic Afferent

  • NB: covered by oligodendrocytes (not schwaan cells) and meninges
  • Receptor: Rods and cones
  • 1st order: Bipolar cells
  • 2nd order: Ganglion cells
  • Many ganglion cells inside tendinous ring pass through optic canal
  • Optic nerves meet at optic chiasma at pituitary gland
  • Which forms optic tract
  • Goes to lateral geniculate body of thalamus
  • 3rd order neuron from optic radiation to primary visual cortex

Regions where optic tract is projected:

  1. Lateral geniculate body
  2. Superior colliculus
  3. Pretectal nucleus
  4. Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Visual fields:

Image result for visual fields
optic nerve


(III) Oculomotor nerve: General Sympathetic Efferent (eye movement) and General Viceral Efferent (parasympathetic – constriction of pupil)

(A) GSE

  • From oculomotor nucleus
  • Through red nucleus
  • Through substantia nigra
  • Exits through interpeduncular fossa
  • Pierces dura mater
  • Through lateral wall of cavernous sinus
  • Through superior orbital fissure
  • And divides into:
  1. Superior branch – levator palpebrae superioris and superior rectus muscles
  2. Inferior branch – medial rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique muscles

(B) GVE

  • From Edinger-Westphal nucleus
  • Travel in inferior branch
  • To ciliary ganglion (synapse)
  • Post ganglionic, short ciliary nerves pierce sclera
  • Innervates:
  1. Spincter pupillae – smooth muscles of iris, constrict pupil
  2. Ciliary muscle – tighten/relax lens

Clinicals: Oculomotor nerve lesions due to:

  • Increased intracranial pressure
  • Aneurysm of posterior cerebral artery
  • Cavernous sinus infection or trauma

Results in:

  1. External strabismus – eyeball down and lateral
  2. Ptosis – drooping upper eyelid
  3. Dilated pupil

(IV) Trochlear nerve: GSE (Superior oblique muscle)

  • From trochlear nucleus, emerging from posterior midbrain
  • Winds around brainstem
  • Pierce dura of tentorium cerebelli
  • Through lateral wall of cavernous sinus
  • Through superior orbital fissure
  • Enter orbit of eye
  • Innervates superior oblique muscle

Clinicals: Trochlear paralysis – caused by vascular lesions, cavernous thrombosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus etc.

Results in:

  • Verticle diplopia – double vision
  • External strabismus

(V) Trigeminal nerve: GSA and SVE

Nuclei:

  1. Mesenocephalic nucleus – sensory (proprioception)
  2. Main sensory – sensory (touch)
  3. Spinal nucleus – sensory (pain and temperature)
  4. Motor nucleus of trigeminal – motor (muscles of mastication)

pathway of trigeminal nerve

Trigeminal nerve pathway

Course:

  • Emerges from lateral aspect of pons
  • Forms trigeminal ganglion and splits into 3 branches:

V1 – Opthalmic – GSA

  • Pierces dura mater
  • Passes through lateral wall of cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure
  • Branches:
  1. Lacrimal
  2. Frontal (supratrochlear and supraorbital through supraorbital foramen)
  3. Nasociliary (short ciliary, long ciliary, infratrochlear, anterior and posterior ethmoidal)

V2 – Maxillary – GSA

  • Through lateral wall of cavernous sinus and foramen rotundum
  • Enters pterygopalatine fossa
  • Exits via inferior orbital fissure
  • Through inferior orbital groove and canal
  • Exits through infra orbital foramen
  • Branches:
  1. Meningeal
  2. Infraorbital (inferior palpebral, nasal and superior labial)
  3. Zygomatic
  4. Anterior, middle and posterior superior alveolar
  5. Pterygopalatine nerves

V3 – Mandibular – GSA, SVE

  • Joins motor nerve
  • Through foramen ovale
  • In infratemporal fossa

Innervation:

trigeminal nerve innervation
innervation of head

Clinicals:

  • Paralysis of muscles of mastication – due to trauma, tumor, aneurysm, meningitis, polio, multiple sclerosis, vascular lesions. Jaw deviates to side of lesion.
  • Loss of sensation of soft touch, thermal and pain in face
  • Loss of cornea and sneezing reflex
  • Herpes zoster

(VI) Abducens nerve – GSE (lateral rectus muscle)

  • Abducens nuclei
  • Emerges from the ponto medullary junction
  • Through cavernous sinus (medially)
  • Through superior orbital fissure and common tendinous ring
  • To orbit of eye
  • Innervates lateral rectus – abducts eye

Clinicals: Abducens nerve lesion due to basilar or internal carotid artery aneurysms, cavernous thrombosis

Results in:

  • Internal strabismus – eye down and towards nose
  • Diplopia

(VII) Facial nerve: GVA, GVE, GSA, SVA, SVE

Image result for facial nerve course

  • Facial nerve is made of a motor root and intermediate nerve
  • Both exit through cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory meatus
  • Intermediate nerve synapses in geniculate ganglion (motor root does not)
  • Both go through facial canal
  • After exiting facial canal, intermediate nerve splits into:
  1. Greater petrosal nerve
  2. Chorda tympani (exits via pterygotympanic fissure)
  • Motor nerve gives nerve to stapedius
  • Then exits through mastoid foramen
  • Gives off 3 other nerves: Posterior auricular, nerve to posterior belly diagastric and stylohyoid
  • Pierces body of parotid gland and gives off the facial motor branches

Clinicals:

  • Paralysis of facial nerve – ipsilateral paralysis of facial muscles
  • Bells palsy

Bell's palsy

  • Loss of taste – Chorda tympani, anterior 2/3 tongue
  • Ipsilateral hyperacusis
  • Decrease in gland production – lacrimal, sublingual, submandibular. Leads to dry eyes and dry mouth

(VIII) Vestibulocochlear nerve: SSA

  • From vestibulocochlear nuclei
  • Emerges from cerebellopontine angle
  • Through internal acoustic meatus
  • Divides into:
  1. Vestibular division ⇒ vestibular ganglion ⇒ hair cells etc.
  2. Cochlear division ⇒ spiral ganglion ⇒ spiral organ

NB: Vestibulo ocular reflex – allow images on retina to stabilize when head turns by moving eyes in opposite direction

Image result for Vestibulo ocular reflex

Clinicals:

  1. Vestibular neuritis – inflammed vestibular nerve division. Results in vertigo, nausea, posture imbalance
  2. Labyrinthitis – inflammed membranous labyrinth, results in hearing loss, tinnitus (false ringing sound)

(IX) Glossopharyngeal nerve: GVA, GVE, GSA, SVA, SVE

Nuclei:

Image result for Glossopharyngeal nerve nuclei

Course:

  • Emerges from lateral medulla
  • Leaves via jugular foramen
  • Outside foramen are superior and inferior ganglia (contain cell bodies of sensory fibers)
  • Branches:
  1. Nerve to stylopharyngeus
  2. Carotid sinus
  3. Pharyngeal branch – oropharynx mucosa
  4. Tonsilar branch – palatine tonsils
  5. Lingual branch – general and taste sensation in posterior 1/3 tongue
  6. Tympanic nerve ⇒ Becomes lesser petrosal nerve ⇒ Through foramen ovale ⇒ Synapse at otic ganglion which supplies to parotid gland (salivary secretion and vasodilation)

Clinicals:

  1. Loss of gag reflex
  2. Loss of taste in ipsilateral posterior 1/3 tongue
  3. Reduced parotid secretion – ipsilateral
  4. Ipsilateral weakess in swallowing
  5. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia – pain when swallowing or talking

(X) Vagus nerve: GVA, GVE, GSA, SVA, SVE

NB: Longest CN

Nuclei:

Image result for vagus nuclei

Course:

  • Emerges from medulla of brainstem
  • Gives out auricular branch (innervates external ear and external auditory canal)
  • Goes through jugular foramen
  • Through carotid sheath with internal jugular vein and common carotid artery
  • Posterior to sternoclavicular joint, enter thorax

Branches in neck:

  • Pharyngeal branches – motor to pharynx and soft palate muscle (except tensor palatine)
  • Internal laryngeal nerve – Sensory to superior pharynx
  • External laryngeal nerve – cricothyroid muscle
  • Right recurrent laryngeal nerve – intrinsic larynx muscles

In thorax:

  • Right vagus nerve forms posterior vagal trunk
  • Left forms anterior vagal trunk
  • Branches:
  1. Left recurrent laryngeal nerve – intrinsic larynx muscles
  2. Cardiac branches 
  3. Contribute to oesophageal plexus

In abdomen:

  • Vagal trunks enter abdomen via oesophageal hiatus in diaphragm
  • In abdomen terminate by dividing into branches that supply: esophagus, stomach, small and large bowel, anterior and posterior gastric, celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, splenic and gastric branches, pancreatic and pyloric branches, and to small and large intestines

NB: Palatoglossus innervated by vagus nerve

Clinicals:

Injury by aneurysm, cerebellopontine angle lesions, hydrocephalus, tumors, vascular lesions of brainstem

Results in:

  • Dysphonia – difficulty in speaking
  • Dysphagia – difficulty in swallowing
  • Loss of gag reflex
  • Deviation of uvula
  • Hyperacidity
  • Gastric ulcers

(XI) Spinal accessory nerve: SVE (sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscle)

  • Nerve from spinal accessory nucleus
  • Goes through foramen magnum
  • Joins with nerve from nucleus ambiguus
  • Together exit jugular foramen
  • Splits to innervate trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles

Clinicals:

  • Drooping shoulders
  • Assymetrical neck line
  • Can’t rotate head down and away

(XII) Hypoglossal nerve: GSE (tongue muscles except palatoglossus)

  • From hypoglossal nucleus
  • Emerges from medulla oblongata between olive and pyramid
  • Exits via hypoglossal canal
  • Passes inferior to angle of mandible
  • Crosses internal and external carotid arteries
  • Enters tongue

Clinicals: Deviated tongue – ipsilateral


Spinal cord

Parts:

parts of the spinal cord

Extents: Foramen magnum to L1/L2 in adults, L3 in infants

Enlargements: Cervical (C4-T1), Lumbosacral (L2-S3)

Blood supply: 

  • 1 anterior spinal artery – anterior 2/3 of spinal cord
  • 2 posterior spinal arteries – posterior 1/3 of spinal cord
  • Radicular arteries – from ascending cervical, inferior thyroid, intercostal, lumbar and sacral arteries

Image result for blood supply of spinal cord

Image result for blood supply of spinal cord

Spinal veins:

  • Drain into internal vertebral venous plexus (epidural)
  • Which consists of anterior and posterior longitudinal venous channels – made of 6 longitudinal veins
  • Also connect with external venous plexus 
  • Connect intracranial sinuses to superior vena cava

6  longitudinal veins of spinal cord

Contents of intervertebral foramen: Spinal nerve, dorsal root ganglion, radicular vessels, associated sympathetic plexus

Support: Spinal nerves, continuation of brain stem, denticulate ligaments (pia mater to dura mater)

Protection: Vertebral column bones, spinal meninges, CSF


Spinal nerves:

Image result for spinal nerves

Image result for spinal nerves
spinal nerves labelled

  • From C1-C7, spinal nerves exit above respective vertebra
  • C8 spinal nerve exits below C7 vertebra
  • From T1 onwards, spinal nerves exit below their respective vertebra
  • Conus medullaris – Cone shaped end of spinal cord
  • Cauda equina – Nerve roots after spinal cord has ended

Image result for conus medullaris, cauda equina

Dermatomes:

Image result for dermatomes full body


Spinal tracts: (Tractology in next chapter)

ascending and descending tracts

(I) Ascending tracts – afferent nerves

1st order – Dorsal root ganglion

  • General sensation (psuedounipolar neuron) – pain, temperature, touch, pressure, vibration and proprioception
  • Special sensation (bipolar neuron) – hear, vision, taste, smell, balance

2nd order:

  • Synapse with 1st order in spinal cord
  • Cross over
  • Terminate in thalamus

3rd order:

  • Synapse with 2nd order in thalamus
  • Terminate in cortex

(II) Descending tracts – efferent nerves

  • Upper motor – From brain to anterior horn of brainstem/spinal cord
  • Lower motor – From anterior horn of brainstem/spinal cord to effectors

Spinal segments:

Image result for cervical spinal segment


Clinicals:

  1. Central cord syndrome:

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2. Anterior cord syndrome:

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3. Posterior cord syndrome:

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4. Brown sequard syndrome:

Image result for Brown sequard syndrome:

5. Chicken pox – virus can travel through sensory axons of single dermatome and erupt onto skin in a single dermatome – known as Herpes zoster/Shingles (reactivation of latet chicken pox)

6. Quadriplegia – damage below C3; paralysis of whole trunk, arms and legs

7. Paraplegia – damage to middle spinal cord T1-L4; paralysis to legs and part of trunk

Image result for paraplegia, quadriplegia

8. Lumbar cistern:

  • Subarachnoid space at L3-L4 after spinal cord terminates
  • Site for lumbar puncture – Patient curls so spinous process spaced. Drain CSF to diagnose meningitis.
  • Pierces skin ⇒ subcutaneous tissue ⇒ thoracolumbar fascia ⇒ supraspinous ligament ⇒ interspinous ligament ⇒ epidural space ⇒ dura mater ⇒ subdural space ⇒ arachnoid mater

Image result for lumbar puncture


Cerebrum

Deep median longitudinal fissure – separates the 2 hemispheres

The main sulci – Central and lateral, divide cerebrum into frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes

Parts of cerebrum, lobes

1. Frontal lobe

From central sulcus to frontal pole, from longitudinal median fissure to lateral sulcus

4 principle gyri:

  1. Precentral gyrus
  2. Superior frontal gyrus
  3. Middle frontal gyrus
  4. Inferior frontal gyrus

The lateral sulcus divides inferior frontal gyrus into:

  • Pars orbitale
  • Pars triangularis
  • Pars opercularis

Olfactory tract divides into:

  • Lateral olfactory stria
  • Medial olfactory stria

2. Parietal lobe

Is divided into:

  • Superior parietal lobule – somatosensory association
  • Inferior parietal lobule – consists of supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus

NB: Lower part of supramarginal gyrus forms Wernicke’s area (sensory speech)

3. Temporal lobe

On the outer bank of lateral sulcus is transverse gyri of Heschl (primary auditory area)

4. Occipital lobe

Contains primary and secondary visual cortex on either side of calcarine sulcus

blood supply of cerebrum

Blood supply of cerebrum

Image result for Inferior surface cerebrum gyri


Functional areas of brain:

Brodmanns functional areas on supero-lateral surface

  1. Primary motor area – Precentral gyrus (somatic motor activity)
  2. Premotor area – Plans motor activity
  3. Prefrontal area – High CNS function (intelligence, memory, reasoning)
  4. Broca’s area – Motor speech (pars opercularis + pars triangularis) – if you are right handed, it is found on the left hemisphere and vice versa
  5. Primary sensory area – Post central gyrus (awareness of sensation)
  6. Wernicke’s area – Sensory or understanding speech (supramarginal gyrus)
  7. Primary auditory area – Transverse gyri of Heschl in superior temporal gyrus (awareness of sound)
  8. Secondary auditory area – Superior temporal gyrus
  9. Primary visual area – Both banks of calcarine sulcus
  10. Secondary visual area
  11. Olfactory area – uncus (for smell)
  12. Gustatory area – Taste (shown in diagram)
  13. Horizontal eye movement – Middle frontal gyrus, middle part

Gustatory cortex, olfactory cortex


Circle of Willis:

  • Internal carotid artery
  • Vertebral artery

Circle of Willis


Cerebrum blood supply:

(I) Anterior cerebral artery:

Anterior cerebral artery course and branches

  • Runs in callosal sulcus
  • Supplies medial surface of cerebrum

Clinicals:

  • Contralateral hemiplegia – Paracentral lobule: Motor and sensory loss of lower limbs
  • Apraxia – Corpus callosum: Difficulty in doing tasks or learned movements
  • Agnosia – Loss of sensation
  • Hemihyperacusis – Increase sensitivity to sound

(II) Middle cerebral artery:

Image result for middle cerebral artery lateral
middle cerebral artery course and branches

  • Runs in lateral sulcus
  • Supplies lateral surface of cerebrum

Clinicals:

  • Contralateral loss of discriminating touch
  • Contralateral hemiplegia – Motor and sensory loss of upper extremity and face
  • Global aphasia – Broca’s area, Motor speech lost
  • Partial deafness – Superior temporal gyrus

(III) Posterior cerebral artery:

Image result for posterior cerebral artery
posterior cerebral artery course and branches

  • Supplies occipital lobe, midbrain, brainstem, choroid plexus and visual cortex

Clinicals:

  • Blindness
  • Tunneling of vision
  • Superior alternating hemiplegia/ Weber’s syndrome

Cerebral veins:

(I) Superficial cerebral veins: Run in subarachnoid space

External cerebral veins

  1. Superior cerebral veins – drain into superior sagittal sinus
  2. Superficial middle cerebral vein (runs in lateral sulcus) – drains into cavernous sinus

Also divides into:

  • Superior anastomotic vein – drains into superior sagittal sinus
  • Inferior anastomotic vein – drains into transverse sinus

3. Inferior cerebral vein – drains into cavernous and transverse sinus

(II) Deep cerebral veins

Basal veins (paired) and internal cerebral veins (paired) drain into great cerebral vein

Image result for deep cerebral veins


Clinicals:

  1. Agnosia – can’t interpret sensation or recognize things
  2. Hemineglect – not aware of one side of body
  3. Visual agnosia – can’t interpret visual information
  4. Prosopagnosia – can’t recognize familiar faces or recall visual memories
  5. Apraxia – unable to perform tasks or learned movements
  6. Aphasia – can’t understand or express speech
  7. Alexia – can’t read
  8. Dyslexia – inability to read more than a few lines with understanding

Brain stem

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Origin of cranial nerves from brainstem

Nuclei of brain stem:

Image result for nuclei of brainstem
Cranial nerve nuclei

Vascular lesions of:

(I) Midbrain – Superior alternating hemiplegia/Weber’s syndrome

Occlusion of mesencephalic branch of posterior cerebral artery

  • Pyramidal fibers – contralateral hemiparesis
  • Occulomotor nerve – ipsilateral paralysis of occular muscles except lateral rectus and superior oblique muscles

(II) Pons – Middle alternating hemiplegia

Occlusion of pontine branches

  • Corticospinal fibers – contralateral hemiparesis
  • Abducens nerve – ipsilateral paralysis of lateral rectus muscle

(III) Medulla – Inferior alternating hemiplegia

A) Medial medullary syndrome

Occlusion of medullary branch of anterior spinal artery/bulbar branch of vertebral artery

  • Medial lemniscus – contralateral loss of discriminating touch, vibration, position and movement sensations
  • Hypoglossal nerve – ipsilateral tongue paralysis

B) Lateral medullary syndrome/ Wellenbergs syndrome

Occlusion of medullary branch of posterior inferior cerebeller artery

  • Spinal lemniscus – Contralateral loss of pain and temperature
  • Nucleus ambiguus – ipsilateral palate muscle paralysis in swallowing and phonation
  • Trigeminal nerve – ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature on face

Cerebellum

Image result for cerebellum flocculonodular lobe

Lobes of cerebellum

Blood supply:

  • Posterior inferior cerebeller artery (PICA)
  • Anterior inferior cerebeller artery (AICA)
  • Superior cerebeller artery (SCA)

Vein: Great cerebral vein

Nuclei:

Image result for cerebellum nuclei

Cerebeller peduncles:

  • Superior – Midbrain
  • Middle – Pons
  • Inferior – Medulla

Others

1. Cerebellopontine angle:

Cerrebello-pontine angle

Contents:

  • Facial nerve
  • Vestibulocochlear nerve
  • Labyrinthine artery

Clinicals: Cerebellopontine tumor – compress nerves, cerebellum and pyramids


2. Interpeduncular fossa:

Interpeduncular fossa

Image result for Mammillary bodies Oculomotor nerve Infundibulum stalk Tuber cinereum Posterior perforated substance

Contents:

  • Mammillary bodies
  • Occulomotor nerve
  • Infundibulum stalk
  • Tuber cinereum
  • Posterior perforated substance

Clinicals: Tumors – compress nerves, hypothalamus and crus cerebri


3. Pineal body:

Image result for relations of pineal body
Pituitary and pineal glands

Relations:

  • Laterally – Cerebral hemispheres (thalamic bodies)
  • Rostrally: Wall of 3rd ventricle
  • Inferiorly: Superior colliculus

Functions:

  • Produce melatonin
  • Regulate circadian rhythm
  • Modulation of sleep patterns
  • Delays puberty
  • Neuroendocrine transducer

Clinicals:

  • Vertical gaze palsy – can’t move eyes up, pineal gland tumor
  • Pseudopuberty precocious

4. Corpus callosum

Corpus callosum

Blood supply:

  • Pericallosal artery
  • Subcallosal artery
  • Median callosal artery

Image result for corpus callosum functions


5. Commissural fibers:

Connect the 2 hemispheres of the brain:

Image result for Commissural fibers:


6. Association fibers:

Image result for association fibers:

Image result for association fibers:


7. Cavernous sinus:

Image result for cavernous sinus relations

Cavernous sinus contents

Relations:

  • Superior – Temporal lobe
  • Inferior – Sphenoid air sinus
  • Medial – Pituitary gland
  • Lateral – Trigeminal ganglion
  • Anterior – Optic nerve
  • Posterior – Petrous temporal bone

Contents: Internal carotid artery, CN 3, 4, 5-1, 5-2, 6

Clinical: Spread of infection, cavernous sinus thrombosis

NB: Drains in pterygoid plexus


8. Pituitary gland:

Location: On sella turcica

Relations:

  • Superior – Optic chiasma
  • Inferior – Sphenoid air sinus
  • Lateral – Cavernous sinus
  • Anterior – Spenoid air sinus
  • Posterior – Dorsum sellae

Clinical: Pituitary tumor – endocrine dysfunction


9. Diencephalon:

Image result for diencephalon

(I) Thalamus:

Relations: 

  • Superior – Floor of lateral ventricle
  • Inferior – Hypothalamus
  • Medial – 3rd ventricle
  • Lateral – Internal capsule

Blood supply: Posterior communicating, posterior cerebral, anterior choroidal

Nuclei:

Image result for thalamus nuclei
Classification of thalamic nuclei

(II) Hypothalamus:

Relations:

  • Superior – Thalamus
  • Inferior – Optic chiasma
  • Anterior – Frontal lobe
  • Posterior – Midbrain
  • Lateral – Internal capsule
  • Medial – 3rd ventricle

10. CSF and ventricular system:

Ventricles of brain

Production and flow of CSF:

  • Choroid plexus in lateral ventricle produces CSF
  • Flows in 3rd ventricle via intraventricular foramina 
  • To 4th ventricle via cerebral aqueduct 
  • Flows into subarachnoid space over brain and spinal cord vis paired lateral foramina of Lushka and median foramen of Magendi
  • Resorption into venous sinus by arachnoid granulations in superior sagittal sinus
  • Flows by pulsation of spinal arteries

Functions of CSF:

  • Cushion brain
  • Support brain weight
  • Provide nutrients, remove waste
  • Integration of endocrine functions

11. Basal ganglia: Deep nuclei of cerebrum which regulate motor activity

  1. Caudate nucleus
  2. Putamen
  3. Globus pallidus – Medial and Lateral
  4. Subthalamic nucleus
  5. Substantia nigra
  • Striatum: Caudate nucleus and putamen
  • Lentiform nucleus: Putamen and globus pallidus

12. Horizontal cross section of cerebrum:

Image result for Horizontal cross section of cerebrum internal capsule

Image result for Horizontal cross section of cerebrum internal capsule


13. Papez circuit of emotions:

Papez circuit of emotion


These are summarized notes from various sources, mainly TeachMeAnatomy and Wikipedia