HEMISPHERES 3.0 - LEVEL I BRAIN ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
Periosteum Thick, fibrous, vascular membrane covering skull surface
Potential space between skull and dura mater, seen when
Epidural space
filled with blood, usually from trauma
Tough, fibrous membrane made of two layers, periosteal
Dura mater
and menigeal
outermost layer - adheres to the cranial vault and serves
Periosteal layer of dura mater
as the periosteum of the skull
inner layer
Meningeal layer covers the arachnoid mater and separates in some areas
to form dural folds and venous sinuses
potential space between dura mater and arachnoid mater;
Subdural space
seen when filled with blood, usually from trauma
Arachnoid mater middle spiderweb-like layer
cerebrospinal fluid-filled space between arachnoid mater
subarachnoid space and pia mater and is continuous between the brain and
spinal cord
Delicate, innermost layer completely lining the brain and
Pia mater
its contours containing networks of capillaries
nerve cell bodies that form the thinking part of the brain
Grey Matter
and spinal cord
myelinated nerve fibers involved with nerve conduction of
White matter
the brain and spinal cord
Located between capillaries and interstitial fluid, it selec-
Blood-brain barrier tively regulates what substances circulating in the blood
reach brain tissue
inner meningeal layer of the dura that separates from
Dural folds
the periosteal layer and creases to form dural folds or
,HEMISPHERES 3.0 - LEVEL I BRAIN ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
reflections. Dural folds separate and compartmentalize the
brain into various regions
Largest dural fold
Falx Cerebri Separates cerebrum into left and right hemispheres along
the longitudinal fissure
second largest dural fold, separates the cerebellum and
Tentorium cerebelli
occipital lobe of cerebrum
Term used clinically to describe the area above the tento-
Supratentorial
rium where the cerebrum is located
term used clinically to describe the area below the tento-
Infratentorial
rium where the cerebellum and brainstem are located
contained within the ventricle and form cerebrospinal flu-
Choroid Plexus Structures
id (CSF)
Channels that connect the lateral ventricles with the third
ventricle
Foramen of Monro
Used as a leveling point for intracranial pressure monitor-
ing
Lateral ventricles Both hemispheres - located in the cerbrum
Located in the narrow channel between cerebral hemi-
spheres
Third ventricle
Communicates with lateral ventricles through the foramen
of Monro
Located between pons, medulla, and cerebellum and con-
Fourth ventricle location
tinues to the central canal of spinal cord
connects to the third ventricle through the cerebral aque-
Fourth ventricle connections
duct (of Sylvius) and the most common site of blockages
Cerebral aqueduct (Of Sylvius) narrowest part in the ventricular system
, HEMISPHERES 3.0 - LEVEL I BRAIN ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
distributes CSF to the subarachnoid space, central canal of
Fourth ventricle function
the spinal cord, and other neural tissue
Formed by filtration of plasma in the choroid plexus as
CSF formation water and ions are selectively allowed to pass into the
ventricles
produced at rate of 500 ml per day and constantly reab-
CSF production rate
sorbed so normal circulating volume is about 150 mL
circulates from ventricles through subarachnoid space
CSF circulation and reabsorption of brain and spinal cord and then reabsorbed through
arachnoid granulations (villi)
specialized structures formed from arachnoid mater locat-
Arachnoid granulations
ed in dural venous sinuses to reenter venous circulation
Cushions delicate neural structures
Reduces the average adult brain mass of 1500 grams to a
net weight of 50 grams when floating in CSF
Functions of CSF
Transports nutrients and waste products
Regulates chemical substances in CSF at the blood-CSF
barrier, part of blood brain barrier
may reduce brain ischemia by decreasing CSF volume
Impact of CSF with ischemia in the skull, thereby decreasing intracranial pressure to
increase cerebral perfusion
Appearance clear
Normal specific gravity: 1.006-1.008
Total cell count 0-5 RBCS or WBCs/mm3
Total protein 15-45 mg/dl and up to 70 mg/dL in elderly
Normal findings of CSF
and infants
Glucose 45-80 mg/dl or 2/3 of blood glucose
Intracranial pressure: 0-15 mmHG
Average circulatory volume 100-150 ml
frontal lobe functions
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
Periosteum Thick, fibrous, vascular membrane covering skull surface
Potential space between skull and dura mater, seen when
Epidural space
filled with blood, usually from trauma
Tough, fibrous membrane made of two layers, periosteal
Dura mater
and menigeal
outermost layer - adheres to the cranial vault and serves
Periosteal layer of dura mater
as the periosteum of the skull
inner layer
Meningeal layer covers the arachnoid mater and separates in some areas
to form dural folds and venous sinuses
potential space between dura mater and arachnoid mater;
Subdural space
seen when filled with blood, usually from trauma
Arachnoid mater middle spiderweb-like layer
cerebrospinal fluid-filled space between arachnoid mater
subarachnoid space and pia mater and is continuous between the brain and
spinal cord
Delicate, innermost layer completely lining the brain and
Pia mater
its contours containing networks of capillaries
nerve cell bodies that form the thinking part of the brain
Grey Matter
and spinal cord
myelinated nerve fibers involved with nerve conduction of
White matter
the brain and spinal cord
Located between capillaries and interstitial fluid, it selec-
Blood-brain barrier tively regulates what substances circulating in the blood
reach brain tissue
inner meningeal layer of the dura that separates from
Dural folds
the periosteal layer and creases to form dural folds or
,HEMISPHERES 3.0 - LEVEL I BRAIN ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
reflections. Dural folds separate and compartmentalize the
brain into various regions
Largest dural fold
Falx Cerebri Separates cerebrum into left and right hemispheres along
the longitudinal fissure
second largest dural fold, separates the cerebellum and
Tentorium cerebelli
occipital lobe of cerebrum
Term used clinically to describe the area above the tento-
Supratentorial
rium where the cerebrum is located
term used clinically to describe the area below the tento-
Infratentorial
rium where the cerebellum and brainstem are located
contained within the ventricle and form cerebrospinal flu-
Choroid Plexus Structures
id (CSF)
Channels that connect the lateral ventricles with the third
ventricle
Foramen of Monro
Used as a leveling point for intracranial pressure monitor-
ing
Lateral ventricles Both hemispheres - located in the cerbrum
Located in the narrow channel between cerebral hemi-
spheres
Third ventricle
Communicates with lateral ventricles through the foramen
of Monro
Located between pons, medulla, and cerebellum and con-
Fourth ventricle location
tinues to the central canal of spinal cord
connects to the third ventricle through the cerebral aque-
Fourth ventricle connections
duct (of Sylvius) and the most common site of blockages
Cerebral aqueduct (Of Sylvius) narrowest part in the ventricular system
, HEMISPHERES 3.0 - LEVEL I BRAIN ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIOS AND ANSWERS
distributes CSF to the subarachnoid space, central canal of
Fourth ventricle function
the spinal cord, and other neural tissue
Formed by filtration of plasma in the choroid plexus as
CSF formation water and ions are selectively allowed to pass into the
ventricles
produced at rate of 500 ml per day and constantly reab-
CSF production rate
sorbed so normal circulating volume is about 150 mL
circulates from ventricles through subarachnoid space
CSF circulation and reabsorption of brain and spinal cord and then reabsorbed through
arachnoid granulations (villi)
specialized structures formed from arachnoid mater locat-
Arachnoid granulations
ed in dural venous sinuses to reenter venous circulation
Cushions delicate neural structures
Reduces the average adult brain mass of 1500 grams to a
net weight of 50 grams when floating in CSF
Functions of CSF
Transports nutrients and waste products
Regulates chemical substances in CSF at the blood-CSF
barrier, part of blood brain barrier
may reduce brain ischemia by decreasing CSF volume
Impact of CSF with ischemia in the skull, thereby decreasing intracranial pressure to
increase cerebral perfusion
Appearance clear
Normal specific gravity: 1.006-1.008
Total cell count 0-5 RBCS or WBCs/mm3
Total protein 15-45 mg/dl and up to 70 mg/dL in elderly
Normal findings of CSF
and infants
Glucose 45-80 mg/dl or 2/3 of blood glucose
Intracranial pressure: 0-15 mmHG
Average circulatory volume 100-150 ml
frontal lobe functions
