Cortical White Matter,
Aging, Diencephalon
Objectives
•
•
•
Identify all of the subcortical fasciculi and tracts
Define projection, commissural, and association fibers
For each fasciculus or tract, identify the type of fibers it consists of and the regions it connects.
•
Compare and contrast the changes that occur to the different regions of the cortex throughout a lifespan.
•
Describe the Anatomy, Blood supply and Functions of Diencephalon structures:
•
Thalamus
•
Hypothalamus & Pituitary Gland
•
Epithalamus & Pineal Gland
•
Subthalamus
White Matter
Projection
Commissural
Association
Projection Fibers
•
•
•
Capsules – Internal, External, Extreme
Subcortical structures that communicate with cerebral cortex
•
•
•
•
Thalamus
Basal Ganglia
Brainstem
Spinal Cord
Examples:
•
Thalamocortical, Corticospinal, Corticobrainstem
Internal capsule
Internal capsule
Your patient has suffered a stroke to their right MCA,
resulting in damage to the internal capsule. Your patient’s
body will likely have sensory deficits on the _____ and
motor deficits on the ______.
t,
rig
ht
25%
:30
Le
f
, le
ft
25%
Ri
gh
t
t,
l
Le
f
Ri
gh
t
,r
ig
ht
A.Right, right
B.Left, left
C.Right, left
D.Left, right
25%
ef
t
25%
Which specific arteries supply the
internal capsule in the patient from
the previous question?
33%
33%
33%
CA
s
to
fM
ar
te
r ie
M
1
se
gm
en
te
St
r ia
Th
al
am
ic
br
an
c
he
s
A.Thalamic branches
B.Striate arteries
C.M1 segment of MCA
:30
Commissural Fibers
• Connect homologous structures between hemispheres
• Corpus callosum
• Anterior commissure
• Posterior commissure
Association Fibers
• Short
• Long
•
•
•
•
Cingulum
Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus
Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus
Uncinate Fasciculus
Table 17-2 LE
Central Nervous System Aging
• Focus on cerebrum
• Focus on anatomical changes
•
Neurological changes are discussed in other courses
• Synapse density (volume)
• Myelination
Cortical trends with age
• Infancy through childhood
•
Gray
•
•
•
•
Visual and Auditory
Motor
Association
White
Cortical trends with age
• Puberty through adolescence
•
Gray
•
•
•
Visual and Auditory
Motor
Association
Cortical trends with age
• Middle-age (35) through old age
•
Gray
•
•
•
Visual and Auditory
Motor
Association
During what 2 periods would the
pre-frontal cortex have the most
synapses? (multiple answer)
25
-3
5
16
-2
5
20%
ye
ar
s
20%
ye
ar
s
20%
ye
ar
s
ye
ar
s
20%
212
02
ye
ar
s
20%
12
-1
6
A.0-2 years
B.2-12 years
C.12-16 years
D.16-25 years
E. 25-35 years
:30
Which of the following is TRUE
concerning a critical period?
33%
33%
33%
ca
lly
st
is
Cr
iti
re
os
u
Ex
p
ca
lp
to
er
io
ds
th
e
ity
ns
de
pt
ic
Sy
na
ty
pi
im
lo
w
ul
us
is
.
du
rin
..
...
during a critical period.
B. Exposure to the
stimulus is necessary to
develop normal
function.
C. Critical periods typically
occur later in life.
oc
cu
...
A. Synaptic density is low
:30
Objectives
•
•
•
Identify all of the subcortical fasciculi and tracts
Define projection, commissural, and association fibers
For each fasciculus or tract, identify the type of fibers it consists of and the regions it connects.
•
Compare and contrast the changes that occur to the different regions of the cortex throughout a lifespan.
•
Describe the Anatomy, Blood supply and Functions of Diencephalon structures:
•
Thalamus
•
Hypothalamus & Pituitary Gland
•
Epithalamus & Pineal Gland
•
Subthalamus
Thalamus
Thalamus
•
3 types of nuclei (by function)
•
Relay nuclei – relays information not involved in a loop
•
•
Association nuclei – nuclei involved in executive functioning loops
•
•
Example: sensory information from face  VPM  somatosensory cortex
Example: mediodorsal nucleus is involved in the limbic loop (pg 421 LE)
Nonspecific nuclei – receive info from several regions, send info to entire
cortex, involved with alertness and arousal
•
Example: intralaminar nuclei
Thalamus Blood Supply
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
•
3 zones:
•
•
Periventricular zone

oxytocin - intimacy

vasopressin - water retention
Medial zone (3 regions):
•
Supraoptic region
 satiety center – body composition
 Suprachiasmatic n. - circadian rhythm
•
Tuberal region
 satiety center – body composition
 behavioral center – aggression, rage
•
Mammillary region
 converts short term memory to long term memory (by connections with hippocampus through fornix)
•
Lateral zone

involved with satiety
Hypothalamus and Pituitary
It’s Complicated!!
•
Do NOT need to know
Full list of functions of hypothalamus
and pituitary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Growth
Blood pressure
Some aspects of pregnancy and childbirth including stimulation of uterine contractions
during childbirth
Breast milk production
Sex organ functions in both males and females
Thyroid gland function
The conversion of food into energy (metabolism)
Water and osmolarity regulation in the body
Water balance via the control of reabsorption of water by the kidneys
Temperature regulation
Pain relief
Source: Wikipedia
Hypothalamus Blood Supply
Same as Thalamus!
Epithalamus
• Pineal Gland
•
•
Releases melatonin
Collects mineral deposits
•
Calcium, flouride, phosphorous
• Blood supply – no BBB!
•
Posterior Choroidal A.
Subthalamus
• Involved in motor control
• Associated with the Basal Ganglia (striatum,
lentiform, PPN, substantia nigra)
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
•
•
Literature Review Outlines
•
•
Send your outline to both teammates
Read two team members’ outlines for Monday
Plan for audience
Plan for genre
Plan for semantic structure/schema of entire piece
Scaffold reader - expect what they know/do not know and account
for every piece of information that they will need
"Novice [writers]… were concerned about what to write next and
limited their planning to thinking about the topic or assignment and
the last sentence they had written. Thus they failed to develop an
adequate goal structure for the total work to guide their sentence
planning" (Doyle, 1983, p. 168).
Primary Content
Neuroembryology
Normal development of the nervous system
Development of the nervous system in the presence of
teratogens and trauma
Course Objectives

Summarize the principles and the time sequence for
neurodevelopment.

Differentiate the sequelae of impaired development during
various critical periods of sensorimotor systems.

Integrate knowledge of maturation of the nervous system with
knowledge about automatic and volitional movements.

Summarize genetic and epigenetic influences of CNS
development.
Neuroanatomy
Classification of neurons
Ascending pathways, descending pathways, and
interconnections
Composition and functions of regions or systems (e.g.
cerebrum, brainstem, cerebellum, cranial nerves, spinal cord)
Blood supply of cerebrum, brainstem, cerebellum and spinal
cord
Ventricular system / cerebrospinal fluid
Meninges and meningeal spaces
Plasticity and somatotopic organization

Neurological Function
Cognition – memory, language, arousal and attention,
reasoning, problem-solving, and categorization
Sensory systems – neuroanatomy and physiology of sensory
systems (vision, auditory, olfaction, gustatory)
Affective control – limbic system











Describe the gross anatomy of the cerebrum, brainstem,
cerebellum, and spinal cord.
Correlate the role of major ascending and descending systems
to clinical signs and symptoms.
Describe the role of the extrapyramidal system (e.g. cerebellum,
basal ganglia) with regard to movements and motivation.
Explain the function of the meningeal layers.
Compare and contrast cerebral and systemic circulation.
Correlate results from imaging techniques to the structure and
function of the nervous system.
Describe the effects of aging on the nervous system.
Describe processes involved with higher cognitive function.
Describe the theories of memory formation.
Explain the arousal and attention mechanisms of the CNS.
Describe the gross anatomy of the sensory systems (vision,
auditory, olfaction, gustatory).
Describe clinical influences of emotion.
Organization of the Course
Spinal Cord
Brainstem/
Cerebellum
Sensory Pathways
Overview and
Development
Cerebrum
Other Pieces
of the puzzle
Cranial Nerves
Motor Pathways
Presentations!