Introduction to Neuroanatomy

Regional Anatomy

Why Neuroanatomy
Structure-function relationships
Localization of function in the CNS
Non-invasive brain imaging
CAT: structure, low resolution
MRI: structure, high resolution
PET: function, low resolution
fMRI: function, high resolution

Dual approach to learning neuroanatomy:
Functional anatomy
Neural structures that serve particular functions; e.g., pain path from skin to cortex for perception
Regional anatomy
Localization of structures in particular brain regions

Dual approach to learning neuroanatomy:
Functional anatomy
Neural structures that serve particular functions; e.g., pain path from skin to cortex for perception
Regional anatomy
Localization of structures in particular brain regions
Localization of function

Lecture objectives:
Overview of brain structures to “demystify” anatomical content in Neural Science lectures
Survey brain structure-function relations to provide background for first labs

CNS Organizational Principles
1) Tubular organization of central nervous system
2) Columnar/longitudinal organization of spinal and cranial nerve nuclei
3) Complex C-shaped organization of cerebral cortex and deep structures

Brief Overview of Mature CNS Neuroanatomy
Tubular organization of central nervous system

Slide 9

Brief Overview of Mature CNS Neuroanatomy
Tubular organization of central nervous system

SC

Brief Overview of Mature CNS Neuroanatomy
1) Tubular organization of central nervous system

Lateral Brain View w/curved arrow

Slide 14

Development, as a guide to understanding regional anatomy of the CNS

Neural Induction
•Portion of the dorsal ectoderm becomes committed to become the nervous system:
Neural plate

Slide 17

Neural Tube Closure Defects
Spina bifida: caudal neural tube
Anencephaly: rostral neural tube

NT development

3 ves stage

3 & 5 ves stages

7 major brain divisions

Slide 23

MRI midsag

MidsagBrain

axes

Spinal cord & brain stem have a similar developmental plan
Segmentation

SC dev

Slide 29

"Key differences"
Key differences
1) central canal enlargement  motor medial and sensory lateral
2) migration away from ventricle
3) >> sensory and motor

BS dev

Medulla development

Pons development

Midbrain development

"Key differences"
Key differences
1) CH more complex than BS/SC
2) Cortical gyri more complex anatomy than nuclei
3) Subcortical nuclei are C-shaped
Confusing: structure in two places on image

Diencephalon
Thalamus
Gateway to cortex
Hypothalamus
Control of endocrine and bodily functions
Circadian rhythms
Etc.

Slide 37

CH dev

Cerebral Cortex Development

CH dev

Lateral Brain View w/curved arrow

MidSagDutch

Forebrain Development & C-shaped Structures
Cerebral cortex
Lateral ventricles
Striatum
Hippocampal formation  and fornix

Striatum dev

Slide 45

LV and CP

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HC and amy

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Summary
7 Major components of the central nervous system & Ventricles
All present from ~ 1st prenatal month

Functional Anatomy

Functional Localization
Regional neuroanatomy: spatial relations between brain structures within a portion of the nervous system
Functional neuroanatomy: those parts of the nervous system that work together to accomplish a particular task, for example, visual perception

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Slide 57

Overall Aims of Lecture
Functional localization of neural systems
Functional organization of the thalamo-cortical systems
Cortical circuitry
Topics cut across all lectures
•add to preparation for lab
•basis for better understanding of lectures on neural systems

Specifics…
Functional localization of touch pathway in brain stem
To understand hierarchical organization of a neural system
To begin to become familiar with internal brain structure
Organization of visual pathway
Segue into…
Functional organization of the thalamo-cortical systems
Cortical circuitry

Slide 60

Dorsal column-medial lemniscal system for touch
Sensory receptor neurons
Dorsal column of spinal cord
Medial lemniscus in brain stem
Thalamus
Cortex

UwashDCML

Slide 63

Slide 64

SSthalCXrad

UwashOptic

Slide 67

Functional localization in the Thalamo-cortical systems

Slide 69

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Slide 73

Brodmann’s
areas

Summary
Principle of functional localization