Topography of

the brain
General structure of the brain
Ventricles of the brain
Choroid plexus
Cerebrospinal fluid

The brain
lies in the cranial cavity
It is continuous with the spinal
cord through the foramen
magnum

The brain
meninges
It is surrounded by
three meninges:
the dura mater
the arachnoid
mater
the pia mater
these are
continuous with the
corresponding
meninges of the
spinal cord.

Brain
divisions

The brain
brainstem =medulla oblongata + pons + midbrain

The brain
Hindbrain
Medulla Oblongata
conical in shape
connects the pons
superiorly to the spinal cord
inferiorly
contains many collections of
neurons, called nuclei
serves as a conduit for
ascending and descending
nerve fibers

The brain
Pons/bridges
situated on:
the anterior surface of the
cerebellum
inferior to the midbrain
superior to the medulla
oblongata

Naming= large number of

transverse fibers on its
anterior aspect connecting
the two cerebellar
hemispheres.
contains nuclei and

The brain
Cerebellum
Lies:
within the posterior cranial
fossa of the skull
posterior to the pons and the
medulla oblongata.

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The brain
Cerebellum
It consists of two laterally placed
hemispheres connected by a median
portion, the vermis.

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The brain
Cerebellum
connected to:
midbrain by the superior
cerebellar peduncles
pons by the middle
cerebellar peduncles
medulla by the inferior
cerebellar peduncles
pedunclescomposed of large
bundles of nerve fibers.
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The brain
cerebellar cortex
The surface layer of each
cerebellar hemisphere
is composed of gray matter
is thrown into folds
separated by closely set
transverse fissures.

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The brain
cerebellum
Certain masses of gray matter are
found in the interior of the cerebellum,
embedded in the white matter
the largest of these is known as the
dentate nucleus

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The brain
Fourth ventricle

a cavity surrounded by,

medulla oblongata,
pons, and cerebellum
It is filled with
cerebrospinal fluid
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The brain
Fourth ventricle
It is connected superiorly
to the third ventricle by
the cerebral aqueduct
inferiorly, it is continuous
with the central canal of
the spinal cord

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The brain
Fourth ventricle
communicates with
subarachnoid space
through three openings
in the inferior part of
the roof.
through these openings
the CSF within CNS
enters the
subarachnoid space.
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The brain
Midbrain
is the narrow part of the
brain
connects the forebrain to
the hindbrain
contains many nuclei and
bundles of ascending and
descending nerve fibers
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The brain
Midbrain
The cavity cerebral aqueduct;
connects 3rd and 4th ventricles

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The brain
Diencephalon
It is almost completely hidden from the
surface of the brain.
It consists of epithalamus, thalamus
and hypothalamus

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Diencephalon
Thalamus
is a large, egg-shaped mass
of gray matter
lies on either side of the
third ventricle.
Its anterior end forms
posterior boundary of
inter-ventricular
foramen.
opening between third
and lateral ventricles.

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Diencephalon
Hypothalamus
Forms the lower part of the lateral
wall and floor of the third ventricle

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The brain
Cerebrum
The largest part of the brain

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The brain
Cerebrum
consists of two cerebral hemispheres-connected by corpus callosum (white matter)

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The brain
Cerebral hemisphere
Position of each hemisphere:
extend from the frontal to the
occipital bones
superior to the anterior and middle
cranial fossae
posteriorly, the it lies above the
tentorium cerebelli
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The brain
Cerebral hemisphere
They are separated by a deep cleft, the
longitudinal fissure, into which projects
the falx cerebri

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Cerebrum
Cerebral cortex
The surface layer of each
hemisphere
It is composed of gray
matter.
It is thrown into folds, or
gyri, separated by fissures,
or sulci
Gyri and sulci increase
surface area.
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Cerebrum
structures are within the central
part:
basal ganglia
corona radiata
Internal capsule
caudate nucleus
lentiform nucleus
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Lateral ventricle
The cavity within each cerebral
hemisphere
The largest ventricles
communicate with 3rd ventricle
through inter-ventricular foramina.

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Choroid Plexus
= pia mater + ependymal lining of
ventricular cavity
Is irregular lateral edge of tela
choroidea
tela choroidea is a two-layered fold of
pia mater
Locations:
medial walls of the lateral ventricles
Roof of the fourth ventricle
Roof of the third ventricle

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Cerebrospinal Fluid
Most of it is formed in the lateral
ventricles.
it circulates slowly into the third and
fourth ventricles and into the central
canal of the spinal cord.
also enters the subarachnoid space
through medial and lateral apertures in
the wall of the fourth ventricle
reabsorbed into the blood through the
arachnoid villi of the dural venous
sinuses.

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Cerebrospinal Fluid
Functions:
supports and protects brain and
spinal cord by absorbing forces.
maintains a stable ionic
concentration in the CNS.
provides a pathway to the blood
for wastes.
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