Lab 3: The brainstem
Parts of the brainstem Midbrain Mesencephalon Pons Metencephalon Medulla Myelencephalon See Figure 3.1, Review 3.1, and Review 3.2. The basal subdivision of the brainstem is the most anterior and contains mostly the descending fiber tracts. The tegmentum is the location of the cranial nerve nuclei, ascending fiber tracts, and the reticular formation. In the medulla, […]
Lab 2. Diencephalon
Thalamus See Check Yourself 2.1. The thalamus is key structure that relays information to the cortex associated with motor and sensory information. (These will further be described during the Functional Neuroanatomy lectures.) There are also thalamus nuclei that form the connections in the memory and emotion circuit from the hippocampal formation. This portion of the […]
1. Development of the Nervous System
Neurulation and formation of the Central Nervous System A quick review of neurulation from FMS 501 . . . 1. After migration and patterning, the dorsal layer of ectoderm further differentiates into neuroectoderm. Read More Neuroectoderm begins to invaginate at ~18 days, forming a neural groove between paired neural folds. The neural folds later fuse […]
Lab 1. Cerebrum, sulci, and gyri
Introduction to neuroanatomy Figure 1.1. Anatomic directional terms. From Neuroanatomy: A Laboratory Guide (2e); Jansen and Lampa. Introduction to the Central Nervous System Watch this excellent Introduction to the Central Nervous System from University of British Columbia Neuroanatomy. Cerebrum, sulci, and gyri Lobes of the cerebrum See Interactive 1.1 and Figure 1.2. The limbic (limbus=margin […]
3. Functional neuroanatomy and vasculature, part 2
Long ascending and descending pathways The three major longitudinal pathways the corticospinal tract, posterior column-medial lemniscus, and anterolateral system can be followed systematically to and from the cerebral cortex, through brain stem and to and from spinal cord. A key feature of all these pathways is to note the location where their tracts cross to […]
3. Functional neuroanatomy and vasculature, part 1: The brain stem, cerebellum, cerebrum, and spinal cord
Blood supply to the 
Central Nervous System An understanding of the brain’s blood supply is crucial to understanding normal CNS function. Conversely, the consequences of cerebrovascular disease affecting the brainstem and cerebrum leading to a loss of function is also vital. Figure 3.3. Schematic of blood supply to brain stem regions (in transverse section). Simon, […]
Hematologic malignancy overview​
Hematopoietic System
Overview of red blood cells More on RBC metabolism From Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: Red Blood Cell Metabolism
2. The meninges and ventricles
The meninges and meningeal spaces Figure 2.1. Meninges and meningeal spaces. By OpenStax, CC BY 4.0. Modified July 9, 2018, by Lampa. The meninges can be subdivided into cranial and spinal portions. The meninges function to protect, to act as a scaffold supporting blood vessels and venous sinuses, and finally to form a continuous sac, […]
Nervous System
The material contained in the Nervous System volumes on the Medicine Digital Learning site addresses fundamental concepts of Neuroanatomy and Basic Neurology that will serve to reinforce the content in FMS 512. These resources are supplemental but succinctly organized and include: A review of nervous system development starting with neurulation, neural crest formation, and partitioning […]