Introduction to Neuroanatomy

• Structure-function relationships
– Localization of function in the CNS
• Non-invasive brain imaging
– CAT: structure, low resolution
– MRI: structure, high resolution
– PET: function, low resolution
– fMRI: function, high resolution
 Dual approach to learning
neuroanatomy:
• Functional anatomy
– Neural structures that serve particular
functions; e.g., pain path from skin to
cortex for perception
• Regional anatomy
– Localization of structures in particular brain
regions
 Lecture objectives:
• Overview of brain structures to “demystify”
anatomical content in Neural Science lectures
• Survey brain structure-function relations to
provide background for first labs

First half of lecture:

• Quick review of basic CNS organization
• Use development to understand principles of
structural organization of CNS

Second half: Functional localization

Introduction to Neuroanatomy I:
Regional Anatomy
 CNS Organizational Principles

• 1) Tubular organization of central

nervous system
• 2) Columnar/longitudinal organization of
spinal and cranial nerve nuclei
• 3) Complex C-shaped organization of
cerebral cortex and deep structures
 Brief Overview of Mature CNS
Neuroanatomy
• Tubular organization of central nervous
system
• Columnar/longitudinal organization of spinal
and cranial nerve nuclei

Nuclei: locations of Ganglia: locations of

neuron cell bodies w/in neuron cell bodies in
the central nervous the periphery
system

Tracts: locations of Nerves: locations of

axons w/in the central axons in the periphery
nervous system
 Dorsal surface

Dorsal
root

Gray matter Ventral

White matter root
Spinal nerve

Ventral surface
NTA 1-4
 Brief Overview of Mature CNS
Neuroanatomy
• 1) Tubular organization of central nervous
system
• 2) Columnar/longitudinal organization of spinal and
cranial nerve nuclei
• 3) Complex C-shaped organization of cerebral cortex
and nuclei and structures located beneath cortex
– Lateral ventricle
– Basal ganglia
– Hippocampal formation & Fornix
 Neural Induction

•Portion of the dorsal ectoderm becomes

committed to become the nervous system:
Neural plate
 Neural Ectoderm
plate

Neural
groove Neural tube wall:
neurons & glia of CNS
Neural Neural tube cavity:
tube
ventricular system

Neural crest: PNS

White matter
neurons, etc
Gray matter
NTA 3-1
 Brain vesicles:
Rostral
Forebrain

Midbrain
Neural Tube Development
Hindbrain

Rostral neural tube forms the

brain
Spinal cord
Caudal neural tube forms
Caudal the spinal cord
Cephalic
flexure

NTA 3-2
 3-vesicle stage 5-vesicle stage

Cerebral Lateral
Forebrain hemisphere ventricle
Midbrain Diencephalon

Midbrain 3rd
Hindbrain
Pons & ventricle
Cerebellum Cerebral
Medulla aqueduct
4th
ventricle

Spinal cord
Central
canal

Cephalic
flexure

NTA 3-2 …by the 5 vesicle stage, all 7 major

brain divisions are present
 The cephalic flexure persists into maturity

Cephalic
flexure
NTA 1-13
 Spinal cord & brain stem have a
similar developmental plan
• Segmentation

• Nuclear organization:
columnar
 Dorsal horn
Alar plate Sulcus
limitans

Central
canal

Basal plate Ventral horn

Dorsal horn

Central
canal

Ventral horn NTA 3-7

 Dorsal horn

Dorsal
root

Ventral
root
Ventral horn
 Similarities between SC and
brain stem development
•Sulcus limitans separates sensory and
motor nuclei
•Nuclei have columnar shape
Key differences
• 1) central canal enlargement motor medial
and sensory lateral
• 2) migration away from ventricle
• 3) >> sensory and motor
 Alar plate and
migrating
neuroblasts
Basal plate

NTA 3-8
Medulla development

Striated/branchio.
4th Vent Striated/somite Autonomic.
Alar plate
Vestibular/auditory.

Somatic sensory.

Taste/viscerosensory
Sulcus limitans Basal plate Inferior olivary
nucleus

Alar plate

Basal plate

NTA 3-9
Pons development

4th Vent Alar plate Striated/branchio.

Striated/somite
Vestibular/auditory.
Somatic sensory.
Taste/viscerosensory
Autonomic.
Basal plate Pontine nuclei
Sulcus limitans

Alar plate
Basal plate
NTA 3-10
Midbrain development

Cerebral aq.
Alar plate Somatic sensory.

Autonomic.

Red Striated/somite
Basal plate Sub. nigra
Sulcus limitans nucleus

More like spinal

Cord b/c fewer
nuclear classes
and cerebral aqueduct

Basal plate

NTA 3-11
 Similarities between forebrain and
hindbrain/spinal development
•Tubular

Key differences
• 1) CH more complex than BS/SC
• 2) Cortical gyri more complex anatomy than nuclei
• 3) Subcortical nuclei are C-shaped
– Confusing: structure in two places on image
 Diencephalon
• Thalamus
– Gateway to cortex
• Hypothalamus
– Control of endocrine and
bodily functions
– Circadian rhythms
– Etc.
NTA 3-14
Cerebral Cortex Development

Parietal

Frontal Occipital

Temporal
 Forebrain Development & C-shaped
Structures
• Cerebral cortex (NTA 3-15)
• Lateral ventricles (NTA 3-16)
• Striatum (NTA 3-16)
• Hippocampal formation and fornix
(NTA 3-17)
 Summary
• 7 Major components of the central nervous system &
Ventricles
• All present from ~ 1st prenatal month

• Longitudinal organization of SC and BS nuclei

– Columns
– Anatomical and functional divisions

• C-shape organization of cerebral hemisphere

structures and diencephalic
– Cerebral cortex
– Lateral ventricle
– Striatum
– Hippocampal formation and fornix