An Introduction to Neuroanatomy

B. Nursing & Midwifery | B.Sc. Dietetics | B.Sc. Physiotherapy | B. Occupational Therapy

Keegan Meiring, M.Sc. (Med)

 Objectives
Overview of Nervous System (NS)
Organization of NS

AGENDA Early Development of the Nervous System

Divisions of NS
The Spinal Cord
The Brain = Hindbrain | Midbrain | Forebrain
Major Division of the Peripheral Nervous System
 OBJECTIVES

• Understand the basic organization of the main structures that form the
nervous system

• Gain a 3D appreciation of the parts of the brain and their relative position
to one another
 OVERVIEW

• The two parts of the nervous system

• The central nervous system (CNS) = brain and spinal
cord
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) = cranial and
spinal nerves and their associated ganglia

• Brain and spinal cord: Protected by the skull and vertebral

column
• Covered by a system of membranes, i.e. the meninges
• Suspended in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• CNS is composed of neurons
 OVERVIEW

Gray matter vs. White matter

• Colour & Contents
In PNS, cranial and spinal nerves conduct
information to and from the CNS
Autonomic Nervous System Innervates the
body's involuntary structures (i.e. heart, smooth
muscle, and glands)
Distributed throughout the CNS and PNS
Divided into two parts: Sympathetic division
Parasympathetic division
ORGANISATION
EMBRYOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
EMBRYOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
four brain lobes
frontal lobe executive decisions
temporal
cerebellum, cerebrum,

DIVISIONS

Forebrain
= Cerebrum + Diencephalon

Midbrain

Hindbrain
= Medulla + Pons + Cerebellum

Brainstem = Medulla oblongata +

Pons + Midbrain
natters atlas!
 Sectional
Planes

sagittal between the center at the outside

coronal section is from the anterior to the interior or interior to the interior
 DIVISIONS – FOREBRAIN: Cerebrum

central sulcus divides the two lobes, frontal and parietal lobe. it the premotor cortex of the brain.
parietal lobe sensory
frontal is used for executive decisions and
lateral fissure is responsible for separating the temporal lobe inferiorly to occipital lobe that is superior
DIVISIONS – FOREBRAIN: Cerebrum

• The largest part of the brain

• Two hemispheres connected by the corpus corpus means
body, callosum
callosum (white matter) means large, then it
is a large body

• Extends from frontal to occipital bones of the skull,

superior to the anterior and middle cranial fossae
Located superiorly to the tentorium cerebelli
posteriorly
• The hemispheres are separated by a deep cleft,
separati
longitudinal fissure ontwoof
lobes
• Falx cerebri projects into the longitudinal fissure
DIVISIONS - MIDBRAIN
draw and label,
dopamine
cerebral ..... CSF to the spinal cord, spinal fluid provides nutrients to the brain
 DIVISIONS - HINDBRAIN
Pons

• Located on the anterior surface of the brainstem, in front of

the cerebellum.
• It is 2.5 cm in length and forms the origin of the middle
cerebellar peduncles.

Medulla oblongata

• The most inferior portion of the brainstem and 3cm in

length.
• Continuous with the spinal cord and extends superiorly
from the foramen magnum.
 DIVISIONS – HINDBRAIN: Cerebellum
most primitive part of the brain

• Lies in the posterior cranial fossa

• Located posterior to the pons and medulla

oblongata

• Two laterally placed hemispheres connected by

vermis

• Midbrain via superior cerebellar peduncles

Medulla oblongata via inferior cerebellar
peduncles
tumor
• Gray matter = Folia - separated by closely set
transverse fissures

• Contain masses of gray matter (nuclei)

• Largest of the nuclei = the dentate nucleus one of four nuclei in the cerebellum are responsible for fine moto skills and the ability to coordinate
SPINAL CORD

• Embedding in the vertebral column

• Surrounded by 3 meninges
• Dura mater - it is durable and toughest and provides protection
• Arachnoid mater - under dura mater- it has granulation for production of the
CSF and for its storage
• Pia mater - thinnest part, in direct contact with the brain and the spinal cord
• Further protection provided by CSF located within
the subarachnoid space
SPINAL CORD

• Consist of bundles of nerve fibres supported by

connective tissue
• 12 pairs of cranial nerves leave the brain and pass
through foramina in the skull cranial nerves are central to the performance of
the body, they originate from the brain.

• 31 pairs of spinal nerves leave the spinal cord and

pass through the intervertebral foramina in the
vertebral column each spinal nerve is connected with a matching vertebra
• 8 cervical (but only 7 cervical vertebrae)
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacral
• 1 coccygeal
 SPINAL CORD

• 31 pairs of spinal nerves attached by

anterior (motor) roots and posterior
(sensory) roots
• Each root is attached to the cord by
series of rootlets, which extend the
whole length of the corresponding
segment of the cord
• Each posterior root possess a posterior
(dorsal) root ganglion (DRG)
• Cells of DRG give rise to peripheral and
central nerve fibres (i.e. axons)
• Ganglion = collection of nerve cell
bodies located outside the CNS
 6

7 8
CRANIAL
NERVES

two moves to the body, cranial accessory nerve in the brain and below the head it is known as the spinal cranial nerve
Clinical investigation
Diagnosis? ganglionsist- swelling of the ganglion

Cause?

Treatment?
Thank you