Neuroanatomy Exam Questions And Accurate Answers
Amygdala
Most commonly associated with mediating fear
forms associations between a stimulus and potential reinforcement value (mediates
associative learning)
Provides information about the emotional salience of sensory stimuli to the
hippocampus for memory processing
Considered part of both the basal ganglia and limbic systems
Overlied by the uncus
Cluster of that mediate specific behaviors such as determining the emotional salience of
stimuli
Has direct connectivity to the hippocampus (learning) and hypothalamus (autonomic
nervous system activation) as well as with neocortical areas for higher order cognitive
processes. It is connected bilaterally through the anterior commissure.
more rostral
lateral/ventral to the optic tract & thalamus
basal ganglia
CNS system that includes the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and
subthalamic nuclei.
regulates movement, affective behavior, learning and other cognitive processes
dorsal striatum
Caudate and putamen
The caudate and putamen are interspersed with myelinated fibers of the internal
capsule giving it a striped appearance
Striatal neurons of these regions project their axons to the globus pallidus ad substantia
nigra pars reticulata.
,These inputs are inhibitory, releasing the neurotransmitter GABA
Caudate nucleus
On the floor of the lateral ventricle
Part of the basal ganglia system which mediates movement, learning and memory and
some features of cognitive processing.
Putamen
Lateral to the caudate
Part of the dorsal striatum and basal ganglia.
Receives most efferents from the cortex.
Projects inhibitory GABA neurotransmitters to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra
pars reticulata.
It is involved in learning and motor control.
Ventral Striatum
Formed by the nucleus accumbens and the olfactory tubercle
Considered part of the basal ganglia
Participate in reinforcement
Globus pallidus
Part of the basal ganglia system
Provide all the efferents from the basal ganglia system
These are also inhibitory outputs that are projected to thalamic nuclei and then relayed
back to cortical neurons.
This forms an inhibitory circuit that effectively controls unwanted movements.
, Substantia nigra
Part of basal ganglia system
Bilateral paired midbrain nuclei containing two regions one of which contains
dopaminergic projections pars compacta to the striatum and cerebral cortex.
The pars reticulata sends projection to the thalamus and superior colliculus.
Very ventral
Mediate movement
CNS
Includes brain and spinal cord
SNS
Includes cranial nerves
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure on dorsal surface of brainstem
Mediates smooth movement, coordination, postural balance, learning and motor
memory, mental imagery, attention to novelty, and shifting and orienting attention.
Attached to brainstem by two peduncles near the lateral aspect of the brainstem, each
with three branches.
Composed of cortical grey matter overlying subcortical white matter.
Contains more than 50% of neurons in brain.
Axon afferents from the cerebellum follow ipsilateral-only projections
Divided into three paired longitudinal zones medial, intermediate, lateral and three lobes
anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes.
Regulates neuronal populations in other parts of the brain that control movement,
autonomic function, and cognition.
Cerebral cortex
Outer layer of gray matter that is considered neocortex most recently evolved brain
tissue
Amygdala
Most commonly associated with mediating fear
forms associations between a stimulus and potential reinforcement value (mediates
associative learning)
Provides information about the emotional salience of sensory stimuli to the
hippocampus for memory processing
Considered part of both the basal ganglia and limbic systems
Overlied by the uncus
Cluster of that mediate specific behaviors such as determining the emotional salience of
stimuli
Has direct connectivity to the hippocampus (learning) and hypothalamus (autonomic
nervous system activation) as well as with neocortical areas for higher order cognitive
processes. It is connected bilaterally through the anterior commissure.
more rostral
lateral/ventral to the optic tract & thalamus
basal ganglia
CNS system that includes the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and
subthalamic nuclei.
regulates movement, affective behavior, learning and other cognitive processes
dorsal striatum
Caudate and putamen
The caudate and putamen are interspersed with myelinated fibers of the internal
capsule giving it a striped appearance
Striatal neurons of these regions project their axons to the globus pallidus ad substantia
nigra pars reticulata.
,These inputs are inhibitory, releasing the neurotransmitter GABA
Caudate nucleus
On the floor of the lateral ventricle
Part of the basal ganglia system which mediates movement, learning and memory and
some features of cognitive processing.
Putamen
Lateral to the caudate
Part of the dorsal striatum and basal ganglia.
Receives most efferents from the cortex.
Projects inhibitory GABA neurotransmitters to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra
pars reticulata.
It is involved in learning and motor control.
Ventral Striatum
Formed by the nucleus accumbens and the olfactory tubercle
Considered part of the basal ganglia
Participate in reinforcement
Globus pallidus
Part of the basal ganglia system
Provide all the efferents from the basal ganglia system
These are also inhibitory outputs that are projected to thalamic nuclei and then relayed
back to cortical neurons.
This forms an inhibitory circuit that effectively controls unwanted movements.
, Substantia nigra
Part of basal ganglia system
Bilateral paired midbrain nuclei containing two regions one of which contains
dopaminergic projections pars compacta to the striatum and cerebral cortex.
The pars reticulata sends projection to the thalamus and superior colliculus.
Very ventral
Mediate movement
CNS
Includes brain and spinal cord
SNS
Includes cranial nerves
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure on dorsal surface of brainstem
Mediates smooth movement, coordination, postural balance, learning and motor
memory, mental imagery, attention to novelty, and shifting and orienting attention.
Attached to brainstem by two peduncles near the lateral aspect of the brainstem, each
with three branches.
Composed of cortical grey matter overlying subcortical white matter.
Contains more than 50% of neurons in brain.
Axon afferents from the cerebellum follow ipsilateral-only projections
Divided into three paired longitudinal zones medial, intermediate, lateral and three lobes
anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes.
Regulates neuronal populations in other parts of the brain that control movement,
autonomic function, and cognition.
Cerebral cortex
Outer layer of gray matter that is considered neocortex most recently evolved brain
tissue
