Neuroanatomy “Top Ten” Topics

1) Diagram the anterior coritcospinal, lateral corticospinal, dorsal columns-medial lemniscus and spinothalamic tracts noting the location of synapses and decussations.

2) Describe in detail the vasculature of the brain and spinal cord noting the structures which are supplied by the various vascular fields.

3) Describe the brainstem noting the structures found at the caudal medulla, rostral medulla, caudal pons, mid pons, inferior colliculus and superior colliculus.

4) Describe the cerebral cortex relating function and location.

5) Describe the cerebellum including its histology, three functional divisions, types of information carried in the peduncles, interaction with the cortex and effects of various types of lesions.

6) Describe the basal ganglia including facilitory and inhibitory loops and explain, in terms of functional neuroanatomy, the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and hemiballismus.

7) Describe the limbic system including the Papez circuit, the amygdala and its projections, Wernicke-Korsakoff’s psychosis and Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

8) Describe the hypothalamus including the function of its nuclei and modes of input and output.

9) Describe the visual system including the layers of the retina, projections to the lateral geniculate nucleus, cortical projections, the papillary light reflex and the locations of lesions that cause the various anopsias.

10) Describe the cranial nerves (excluding CN II) including their modalities, location and function of nuclei and effects of lesions.