Meninges and blood-brain barrier — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Identify the brainstem level characterized by the following features: - Colliculi - Cerebral aqueduct - Cerebral peduncles - Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

Answer: Rostral midbrain

Extra: The presence of CN III (oculomotor nerve) nuclei and exiting fibers specifically identifies the **rostral** level of the midbrain (at the level of the superior colliculus). The caudal midbrain is characterized by the inferior colliculus and the trochlear nerve (CN IV).

Flashcard 2: _____ help maintain the blood-brain-barrier via foot processes

Answer: Astrocytes

Flashcard 3: What syndrome is associated with a lesion of the following areas? 1. Spinothalamic tract 2. Spinal trigeminal nucleus 3. Hypothalamospinal tract 4. Facial nucleus (CN VII) 5. Cochlear nucleus (CN VIII) 6. Vestibular nucleus (CN VIII) 7. Middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles 8. Labyrinthine artery

Answer: Lateral pontine syndrome (AICA syndrome / Marie-Foix syndrome)

Flashcard 4: The major outflow from the cerebellum travels in the _____ peduncle

Answer: superior cerebellar

Flashcard 5: Which dural venous sinus is the main location of CSF return via arachnoid granulations? _____

Answer: Superior sagittal sinus

Flashcard 6: What is an Argyll-Robertson pupil?

Answer: pupil that is unreactive to light but constricts with accomodation

Flashcard 7: Embryological origin of the neurohypophysis

Answer: Neuroectoderm (Diencephalon)

Extra: The neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) develops from a downward extension of the neuroectoderm from the floor of the diencephalon (the infundibulum). In contrast, the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) develops from Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm).

Flashcard 8: pineal gland

Answer: neuroectoderm

Flashcard 9: retina

Answer: neuroectoderm

Flashcard 10: optic nerve

Answer: neuroectoderm