Neuroanatomy

Gross Anatomy of the Brain

1. Which one of the following structures is found in the
diencephalon?

(A) thalamus
(B) cerebral hemispheres
(C) globus pallidus
(D) caudate nucleus
(E) internal capsule
1–A. The thalamus, along with the epithalamus,
hypothalamus and the subthalamus comprise
the diencephalon. The diencephalon lies deep to
the prosencephalon and rostral to the midbrain.
2. The hippocampal formation is part of the

(A) frontal lobe

(B) parietal lobe
(C) insular lobe
(D) limbic lobe
(E) occipital lobe
2–D. The hippocampus is part of the limbic
system and plays a role in memory. The name
derives
from Greek and is based on its jelly-roll shape,
which resembles a sea horse. The hippocampus is
one of the first regions damaged in Alzheimer’s
disease.
3. Which one of the cranial nerves exits the
brainstem from the dorsal aspect?

(A) CN I
(B) CN II
(C) CN III
(D) CN IV
(E) CN VI
3–D. The trochlear nerve (CN IV) is the only
cranial nerve to exit the brainstem from the dorsal
aspect.
4. Heschl’s gyrus receives input from which of
the following neural structures?

(A) angular gyrus

(B) medial geniculate nucleus
(C) primary auditory cortex
(D) sensory strip
(E) supramarginal gyrus
4–B. Primary auditory cortex (41, 42) is found in the Heschl
gyrus, and receives input from the medial geniculate nucleus.
The postcentral gyrus is the “sensory strip,” the somatosensory
cortex (3,1,2). The parietal lobe includes the angular gyrus,
which receives visual impulses (39) and supramarginal gyrus,
which interrelates somatosensory, auditory, and visual input
(40). Destruction of the angular and supramarginal gyri on the
dominant (usually left) side gives rise to the Gerstmann
syndrome, whose symptoms include agraphia, acalculia, finger
agnosia and left-right disorientation.
5. Lies within the cavernous sinus
6. Lies within the sella turcica
7. Is part of the striatum
8. Is part of the limbic lobe
9. Lies within a cistern
5–D. The carotid artery
lies within the cavernous
sinus, in company with
CN III, CN IV, CN V-1,
CN V-2, and CN VI;
aneurysms of the internal
carotid artery and tumors
of the cavernous sinus
may cause cranial nerve
palsies.
6–E. The hypophysis
(pituitary gland) lies
within the hypophyseal
fossa of the sella turcica;
common
tumors in this region are
pituitary adenomas,
craniopharyngiomas, and
meningiomas.
7–B. The caudate nucleus
and putamen are parts of
the striatum. In
Huntington disease there is
a loss of neurons in the
caudate nucleus; in
Parkinson disease there is
a loss of pigmented
neurons in the substantia
nigra.
8–A. The cingulate gyrus
is part of the limbic lobe;
lesions may result in
akinesia, mutism, apathy,
and indifference to pain.
9–C. The optic chiasm lies
within the chiasmatic
cistern.
10. Has reciprocal connections
between the hippocampal
formation and the septal nuclei

11. Largest nucleus of the

diencephalon

12. Internal capsule

13. Cingulate gyrus

14. Caudate nucleus

10–E. The fornix contains
fibers from the
hippocampal formation
and from the septal
nuclei. The fornix projects
massively to the
mamillary nuclei of the
hypothalamus.
11–C. The pulvinar nucleus
is the largest nucleus of the
thalamus. It has reciprocal
connections with the
association cortex of the
occipital, parietal, and
posterior lobes and is
concerned with
the integration of visual,
auditory, and somesthetic
input.
12–D. The posterior limb of
the internal capsule lies
between the lentiform
nucleus and the thalamus.
It contains the corticospinal
tract and is perfused by the
lateral striate arteries
(branches of
MCA) and the anterior
choroidal artery.
13–A. The cingulate gyrus
contains the cingulum, a fiber
bundle that interconnects the
hippocampal
formation with the septal
nucleus. Bilateral destruction
of the cingulate gyrus causes
loss of inhibition as well as
dulling of the emotions.
Memory is unaffected.
Lesions of the anterior
cingulate gyri cause placidity;
cingulectomy is used to treat
severe anxiety and depression.
14–B. The caudate nucleus and
the putamen comprise the
striatum, a basal ganglion. In
Huntington disease, massive loss
of neurons in the head of the
caudate nucleus results in
hydrocephalus ex vacuo. The
globus pallidus and subthalamic
nucleus are also basal ganglia.
Meninges and CSF
1. A 25-year-old housewife complains of headaches of 4 months’
duration. She is obese and has bilateral papilledema, and her vision
is
deteriorating. Her opening CSF pressure is elevated; other CSF
findings are normal. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
scans are normal. These signs are due to impairment of CSF egress.
Obstruction at which of the following loci is most likely?

(A) Arachnoid villi

(B) Cerebral aqueduct
(C) Foramen of Luschka
(D) Foramen of Magendie
(E) Foramen of Monro
1–A. The thalamus, along with the epithalamus,
hypothalamus and the subthalamus comprise
the diencephalon. The diencephalon lies deep to
the prosencephalon and rostral to the midbrain.
2. The total volume of CSF found in the subarachnoid
space and cerebral ventricles is

(A) 110 ml
(B) 140 ml
(C) 160 ml
(D) 170 ml
(E) 190 ml
2–D. The hippocampus is part of the limbic
system and plays a role in memory. The name
derives
from Greek and is based on its jelly-roll shape,
which resembles a sea horse. The hippocampus is
one of the first regions damaged in Alzheimer’s
disease.
4. Which part of the ventricular system contains
choroid plexus?

(A) Frontal horn

(B) Occipital horn
(C) Cerebral aqueduct
(D) Third ventricle
(E) Terminal ventricle
3–D. The trochlear nerve (CN IV) is the only
cranial nerve to exit the brainstem from the dorsal
aspect.
6. Choose the normal quantity of CSF daily
production.

(A) 300 ml
(B) 400 ml
(C) 500 ml
(D) 600 ml
(E) 700 ml
4–B. Primary auditory cortex (41, 42) is found in the Heschl
gyrus, and receives input from the medial geniculate nucleus.
The postcentral gyrus is the “sensory strip,” the somatosensory
cortex (3,1,2). The parietal lobe includes the angular gyrus,
which receives visual impulses (39) and supramarginal gyrus,
which interrelates somatosensory, auditory, and visual input
(40). Destruction of the angular and supramarginal gyri on the
dominant (usually left) side gives rise to the Gerstmann
syndrome, whose symptoms include agraphia, acalculia, finger
agnosia and left-right disorientation.
8. Olive
9. It contains the trochlear nerve
10. Its stenosis results in hydrocephalus
11. Contains a calcified glomus
12. Receives CSF from the arachnoid
villi
5–D. The carotid artery
lies within the cavernous
sinus, in company with
CN III, CN IV, CN V-1,
CN V-2, and CN VI;
aneurysms of the internal
carotid artery and tumors
of the cavernous sinus
may cause cranial nerve
palsies.
6–E. The hypophysis
(pituitary gland) lies
within the hypophyseal
fossa of the sella turcica;
common
tumors in this region are
pituitary adenomas,
craniopharyngiomas, and
meningiomas.
7–B. The caudate nucleus
and putamen are parts of
the striatum. In
Huntington disease there is
a loss of neurons in the
caudate nucleus; in
Parkinson disease there is
a loss of pigmented
neurons in the substantia
nigra.
8–A. The cingulate gyrus
is part of the limbic lobe;
lesions may result in
akinesia, mutism, apathy,
and indifference to pain.
9–C. The optic chiasm lies
within the chiasmatic
cistern.
10. Has reciprocal connections
between the hippocampal
formation and the septal nuclei

11. Largest nucleus of the

diencephalon

12. Internal capsule

13. Cingulate gyrus

14. Caudate nucleus

10–E. The fornix contains
fibers from the
hippocampal formation
and from the septal
nuclei. The fornix projects
massively to the
mamillary nuclei of the
hypothalamus.
11–C. The pulvinar nucleus
is the largest nucleus of the
thalamus. It has reciprocal
connections with the
association cortex of the
occipital, parietal, and
posterior lobes and is
concerned with
the integration of visual,
auditory, and somesthetic
input.
12–D. The posterior limb of
the internal capsule lies
between the lentiform
nucleus and the thalamus.
It contains the corticospinal
tract and is perfused by the
lateral striate arteries
(branches of
MCA) and the anterior
choroidal artery.
13–A. The cingulate gyrus
contains the cingulum, a fiber
bundle that interconnects the
hippocampal
formation with the septal
nucleus. Bilateral destruction
of the cingulate gyrus causes
loss of inhibition as well as
dulling of the emotions.
Memory is unaffected.
Lesions of the anterior
cingulate gyri cause placidity;
cingulectomy is used to treat
severe anxiety and depression.
14–B. The caudate nucleus and
the putamen comprise the
striatum, a basal ganglion. In
Huntington disease, massive loss
of neurons in the head of the
caudate nucleus results in
hydrocephalus ex vacuo. The
globus pallidus and subthalamic
nucleus are also basal ganglia.