1. Name the embryological origin of the lamina terminalis.

Neural tube

2. What are the functions of the anterior and the posterior commissure? Anterior commissure
connects the middle and the inferior temporal gyri of adjacent hemispheres and the
posterior commissure connects the midbrain to diencephalon structures.

3. List the fibers that are found in the anterior limb of the internal capsule. Frontopontine,
Corticothalamic, Thalamocortical and Caudatoputamenal

4. Name the fibers in the genu of the internal capsule. Corticobulbar and corticoreticular

5. What does the commissure of the fornix connect? To connect the hippocampi to the
mammillary bodies of the hypothalamus

6. What is the main blood supply to the internal capsule? The lenticulostriate arteries, also
called the arteries of stroke

7. Name the three functional zones of the cerebellum and the nuclei that are attached to each of
the zones.

Vermal zone- fastigial nuclei

Paravermal zone- globose and emboliform nuclei (Interposed nuclei)
Lateral zone- dentate nucleus

8. What is the blood supply to the cerebellum? The superior cerebellar artery, anterior
inferior cerebellar artery and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

9. Name two sets of fibers passing through the superior cerebellar peduncle. Anterior
spinocerebellar and tectospinal tract.

10. Locate precisely the fastigium. The apex of the roof of the fourth ventricle

11. Name four tracts that are found in the inferior cerebellar peduncle.

Vestibulocerebellar tract
Olivocerebellar tract
Cuneocerebellar tract
Posterior spinocerebellar tract

12. Name the three dural folds and their location.

· Falx Cerebri- located between the cerebral hemispheres

· Tentorium Cerebelli- located perpendicular to the falx cerebri, separating the cerebrum
anteriorly from the cerebellum posteriorly. It also separates the middle cranial fossa from the
posterior cranial fossa. It also separates the occipital lobe from the parietal lobe.

· Falx Cerebelli- located in the cerebellar vallecula

13. Uncal herniation causes the compression of which cranial nerve? Occulomotor- CN III

14. Where are the olfactory nerves located? In the nose

15. What is the name of the largest basal cistern? Cisterna Magna/Cerebellomedullary cistern

16. Where is the lumbar cistern found? At the distal end of the spinal cord

17. Which cistern does the median aperture opens to? The Cisterna Magna

18. Which cistern does the lateral aperture opens to? The Pontine Cistern

19. What are the structures that can be found in the ambient cistern? Superior cerebellar artery,
posterior cerebral artery, basal vein and oculomotor nerve

20. What are the nerve supplies to the cranial fossae?

Anterior cranial fossa is supplied by the anterior ethmoidal nerve, the middle cranial fossa
is supplied by the nervus spinosos which is the chief nerve supply and the posterior cranial
fossa is supplied by cranial nerves IX and X as well as C2, C3, C4 and C5. C1 and the
hypoglossal nerve have no sensory branches and therefore cannot innervate

21. What is the cerebellum formed from? As an outgrowth from the dorsal surface of the pons
varioli.

22. Name the three lobes of the cerebellum and their phylogenetic origin. Flocculonodular lobe-
Archicerebellum, Middle/Posterior Lobe- Neocerebellum and the Anterior lobe-
paleocerebellum

23. Name the location of the primary auditory, visual and taste area on the brain.

Primary visual area- found on the medial side of the occipital lobe on the lips of the
calcarine sulcus (area 17)

Primary auditory area- found on the superior temporal gyrus (area 41, 42)

Primary taste- Lowermost end of the postcentral gyrus.

24. What is the relation between the primary taste area and primary taste area? The smell of
food stimulates gastric secretions and salivary secretions. What you taste is what you smell
and vice versa.

25. Where is the location of the olfactory cortex? The uncus.

26. Name the nuclei associated with the basal nuclei. The subthalamic nuclei, substantia
nigra, caudate nucleus, corpus striatum

27. Name the two parts of the substantia nigra and their functions. Pars compacta- for sending
nerve fibers/impulses via an efferent pathway. Damage to the dopamine in this area causes
Parkinson’s. Pars reticulata- for receiving impulses via an afferent pathway.

28. What is the function of the pallidum (globus pallidus)? Integratory and distribution center
of the striatum.

29. What are the two major output pathways of the pallidum? Ansa lenticulares and fasciculus
lenticulares

30. What do these two output pathways form? Thalamic fasciculus

31. Name the afferent fibers going to the basal nuclei (ganglia).

C- Cerebral cortex
A- Amygdala
N- Substantia Nigra
T- Thalamus
M- Midbrain (the reticular formation in particular)

32. What is the function of the lateral spinothalamic tract? Ability to use fingers, associated
with discreet movement and for distal limb and fine muscles in the hand (rilled, skilled
movement)

33. What is the precise location of broca’s motor speech area? On the pars triangularis and
pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus on the dominant hemisphere.

34. What is the name of the association fibers above the corpus callosum? Cingulum

35. What is the largest input to the striatum? The cerebral cortex

36. What connects the cingulate gyrus with the parahippocampal gyrus? The cingulum

37. What three gyri make up the subcollosal or septal area? The two subcollosal gyri and one
paraterminal gyrus. Note that this is the headquarters of the limbic system.
38. What is the name of the blunted end if the insula where the long and short gyri terminate?
The limen insulae

39. Where is the subcollosal area found and it is the headquarter of which system? Found on the
medial surface of the frontal lobe and is the headquarters of the limbic system

40. What demarcates the change in name of the internal capsule to the corona radiata? The optic
tract

41. What is the function if the superior longitudinal fasciculus? Connects motor speech (broca)
and the sensory speech area (Wernicke's)
42. What is the function if the interthalamic adhesion? Connect the thalamus on both
hemispheric aspect

43. What artery has the potential to supply the whole aspect of the medial surface of the brain?
The anterior cerebral artery

44. Where are dorsal root ganglions located? In the intervertebral canal

45. Where is the lamina terminalis found? At the rostral end of the third ventricle.

46. What are denticulate ligaments and what is their main function? Denticulate ligament is a
pia-arachnoid cord that extends laterally to attach on the dura. Function is to stabilize the
spinal cord.

47. What causes the preoccipital notch to be formed? The petrous portion of the temporal
bone.

48. Name the three things that shows demarcates the spinomedullary junction? The pyramidal
decussation, foramen magnum and the emergence of the first cervical roots.

49. How does the olfactory nerve leaves the nose? Through the cribiform plate to synapse
with the olfactory bulb

48. What passes through the internal acoustic meatus? CN 7, 8, nervous intermedius and
labyrinthine artery

49. What are the features of C1 vertebra (atlas)?

Has no body, no spine, has transverse foramen and superior articular facet to articulate
with occipital condyle.

50. What are the obvious features of C2 vertebra (axis)? Has dens or odontoid process, short
bifid spine, very definite body, transverse foramen and superior and inferior articular
facets.
51.Which cervical vertebra looks like a thoracic vertebra? C7 (projects horizontally)

52. What are the parts of the brain stem? The midbrain, the pons variolli and medulla.

53.Name the three parts of the hind brain. Cerebellum, pons and medulla.
54. Why aren't cranial nerves one and two regarded as cranial nerves? Cranial nerve one is an
extension of the telencephalon and cranial nerve two is an extension of the diencephalon

55. What cranial nerves around found in the midbrain? Cranial nerve three and four.

56. What is the function of the vestibulospinal tract? Stimulates erector and inhibits flexors. It
also has a function of maintaining balance.

57. What is the function of the reticulospinal tract? Proximal limb muscles and swimming.

58. What type of fibers are found in the pyramid? Motor fibers (corticospinal fibers)

59.What percentage of these fibers decussate? 80-85% (the medial fibers)

60.What order neuron is the olfactory tract? Second order

61. What distance is the caudate nucleus from the anterior perforated substance? 1-2 mm

62. What forms the roof of the cerebral vallecula? Anterior perforated substance

63. Where does the lateral sulcus start from? The cerebral vallecula

64. Name the four cranial nerves which are regarded as midline nerves that are associated with
the muscles of the eyes. CN III, IV, VI and XII.

65. Name of cranial nerve that makes it appearance on either side of the frenulum veli- CN 4

66. List some of the nuclei found in the midbrain. CN III and IV, medial longitudinal
fasciculus, red nucleus, and substantia nigra.

67. What forms the roof of the interpeduncular cistern? Hypothalamus

68.What is the difference between the rubrospinal and vestibulospinal tract?

Rubrospinal tract facilitates flexors
Vestibulospinal tract facilitates extensors
69. Immediately prior to the bifurcation of the internal cerebral artery, it gives off a branch which
runs backwards. What is the name of this artery? Posterior communicating artery.
70. Which cranial nerves run together until they leave each other? CN III and IV.
71. Upon inspection of the phone on its outer surface, what is noticed?
Transverse pontine fibers
72. What are the terminal branches of the basilar artery? Posterior cerebral and superior
cerebellar artery

73. Define the medial loingitudial fasciculus. It is a fiber system connecting cranial nerves III,
IV, VI and the vestibular portion of VIII.

74. Where is the posterior cranial fossa located? Below the tentorium cerebelli

75. What structure passes through the tentorial notch? The midbrain (the superior part)

76. Where is the hindbrain located? In the posterior cranial fossa.

77. What arteries pierce the head of the caudate nucleus? Striate arteries

78. Where does the anterior cerebral artery divides? In the anterior perforated substance

79.What is the function of the posterior communicating artery? Connects the posterior cerebral
artery with the internal carotid artery. In other words, this causes the connection of the
internal carotid system anteriorly and the vertebra-basilar system posteriorly.

80. Where does the fourth cranial nerve emerge? Emerges from the dorsal aspect of the
brainstem at the level of the inferior colliculi. It crosses and then winds around the
brainstem in order to go anteriorly.

81. What is the location of the 12th Cranial nerve? Between the olives and pyramids.

82. Where does the posterior cerebral artery supply? Important sensory area of the visual
cortex.
83. What two gyri are associated with the visual area of the occipital lobe? Lingual and cuneate
gyri.

84. Name the blood vessel running in the calcarine sulcus. Posterior cerebellar artery

85. Name the structures running in the ambient cistern. 3rd cranial nerve, 4th cranial nerve,
posterior cerebral artery, superior cerebellar artery and basal vein.

85. Obstruction of the anterior cerebral artery causes what? Loss of function of lower
extremities

86. Name the structures in the lateral sulcus. Middle cerebral artery, superficial
Middle cerebral vein, deep middle cerebral vein and sphenoparietal sinus.

87. Where does the superficial middle cerebral vein drain? Into the cavernous sinus.
88. What constitutes the choroid plexus? Vascular pia mater and ependyma

89. What ridge lies in the stem of the lateral sulcus? Sphenoparietal ridge

90. What structures pass through the cavernous sinus? Cranial nerves 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6 and the
internal carotid artery.

91. Where is the trigeminal ganglion located? In Meckel’s cave on the petrous temporal bone.

92. What are structures in the epidural space of the cavernous sinus? Fat and lymph

93. Where does the superior sagittal sinus start? At the foramen cecum

94. What attaches to the crista galli? Falx cerebri

95. What attaches the superior sagittal sinus to the foramen cecum? Sharpie's fibers

96. Where does the lesser petrosal nerve emerge from? Tympanic plexus of CN IX

97. What are the components of the clivus? Basi sphenoid and basi occipital

98. What sticks the basilar artery on the pons? Short and long pontine arteries.

99. What are the two veins that make up the great cerebral vein of Galen? Two internal cerebral
veins

100. What are the three veins that make up the internal cerebral vein? Choroidal,
thalamostriate and septal vein.

101. What causes cerebellar tonsil herniation? Compression of the tonsils against foramen
magnum.

102. Describe the course of the middle cerebral artery. The middle cerebral artery leaves from
the cerebral vallecula then goes to the stem of the lateral sulcus and divide into several
branches that winds around the insula. It runs with the deep middle cerebral vein.

103. Where does the brain sit? On the anterior cranial fossa and the tentorium

104. What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal fissure? Longitudinal fissure
separates two hemispheres and the transverse fissure separates cerebrum from cerebellum

105. Name two functions of the falx cerebri. Act as a mechanical buffer and prevent twisting
of the brain stem.
106. What two sulci are important in separating the brain into lobes? Posterior ramus of the
lateral sulcus and parieto-occiptal sulcus.

107. Where is the frontal eye field area and what is the function? Conjugate movements of the
eyes- found in the middle frontal gyrus.

107. What is the superior and inferior parietal lobes associated with? Superior parietal lobe is
associated with interpretation and analytics. Eg. Keys in pocket
The inferior parietal lobule is associated with interpretation of speech

108. Where can the transverse temporal gyrus be found? Below the sensory strip of the parietal
lobe (post central gyrus)

109. What is the function of the uncinate fasciculus? Connect the frontal lobe to the anterior
portion of the temporal lobe

110. Describe the course of the posterior cerebral artery. Arises in the interpeduncular fossa,
winds around the brainstem and goes to the calcarine sulcus.

111. What is the largest band of commissural fiber? Corpus callosum

112. What is the limen insulae continuous with? The anterior perforated substance.

113. What commissure is located above the posterior commissure? Habenular commissure

114. What is the gateway to the cortex? The thalamus

115. What is the anterior extent of the cavernous sinus? The lateral border of the superior
orbital fissure.

116. What is the anterior extent of the tentorium cerebelli? Anterior clinoid process

117. Through what plexus can cancer spread from the pelvis to the skull? Valve less vertebral
venous plexus of batson.

118. What does the posterior superior alveolar nerve supply? The 2nd and third molars and the
gums

119. What are the three parts of the lateral sulcus (sylvian fissure)? Anterior, ascending and
posterior ramus.

120. Name the structures of the diencephalon. Hypothalamus, epithalamus, subthalamus,

thalamus, neural retina and pineal body.

121. What does the sylvian point correspond to on the skull? The pterion
122. What part on the inside of the skull corresponds to the pterion? The Sphenoparietal ridge.

123. What is the consequence to a new born baby during forceps delivery? Damage to the facial
nerve because there is no mastoid process. Therefore there is no mastoid process to shield
this nerve whilst on its way to the stylomastoid foramen.
124. Where is the cavernous sinus? On either side of the body of the sphenoid, from the
petrous temporal bone to the lateral border of the superior orbital fissure.

125. What structure on the skull in the midline is the junction between the head and neck? The
external occipital protuberance.

126. What sinuses make up the confluence? The right and left transverse sinus, occipital
sinus, straight sinus and superior sagittal sinus.

127. Where does the posterior root ganglion originate? The neural crest cells.

128. What is the lamina terminalis attached to? The corpus callosum.

129. What are the three parts of the cerebral peduncle? Crus cerebri, substantia nigra and
tegmentum.

130. What is another name for the crus cerebri? Basis pedunculi

131. Where would the lateral horn of the spinal cord be found? T1-L2 and S2-S4.

132. What are the names of some of the nuclei found in the posterior horn? Nucleus proprius,
substantia gelatinosa

133. What is the site of lumbar puncture and how is it identified? The site is between L4 and L5
or L3 and L4. This is identified by allowing the patient to lie on his/her side and find the
subcostal plane (L3) and the supracristal plane (L4) and then draw a line between these
two levels.

134. What are the indications for doing a lumbar puncture? Hemorrhage and infection of the
brain and meninges (meningitis and encephalitis).

135. Which patients are most likely to get bleeding in the bridging veins of the skull? Elderly.

136. What are the factors affecting the flow of CSF? Production pressure, arterial pressure,
suction pressure and negative pressure in the superior sagittal sinus.

137. What are the causes of fluid running in the back of the nose and how can they be
differentiated? Rhinitis and CSF draining. Can be differentiated by doing a pH test. If the
color changes from blue to red, then it is CSF.
138. Name two arteries or blood vessels in relation to the cisterna magna. PICA and Vertebral
artery

139. What is hydrocephalus? Accumulation of CSF in the ventricles due to the

overproduction of CSF or the blockage of the ventricles at the expense of damage to the
cortex.

140. If the left foramen of monro is blocked, what is the result? Non-communicating
hydrocephalus.

141. How is this treated? Shunt from the ventricle into the peritoneal cavity, called VP
shunting.

142. What is the first branch of the anterior cerebral artery? Recurrent artery of Huebner

143. What is another name for this artery? Medial striate artery

144. What causes the curvature of the Great Cerebral Vein of Galen? The splenium of the
corpus callosum

145. Name three types of arteries supplying the brain. Superficial/cortical which supplies the
cerebral cortex, deep/ganglionic which supplies the basal ganglia and perforating arteries.

146. Where is the internal cerebral vein formed? At the level of the interventricular foramen
of monro.

147. Name the nucleus stuck unto the tail of the caudate nucleus? Amygdala.

148. Name the fibers connecting the amygdala to the caudate nucleus. There are no fibers.

149. Name the veins that form the basal vein. The deep middle cerebral vein, small anterior
cerebral vein and inferior striate vein.

150. Name an afferent fiber going to the substantia nigra. Striatum

151. Name two blood vessels draining to the cavernous sinus. Superficial middle cerebral vein,
Sphenoparietal sinus, superior ophthalmic vein and all hypophyseal veins

152. Have does cranial nerve 6 enters the cavernous sinus. It starts about half way down the
clivus, runs up the clivus and enters the inferior petrosal sinus at its first opportunity and
then enters the floor of the cavernous sinus.

153. What separates the sites from where nerve leaves versus where veins leave? A bony shelf

154. What is the function of the mammillary bodies? Short term memory.