Cross-sectional Anatomy of the Brain

Amadi O. Ihunwo, PhD

School of Anatomical Sciences

Objectives

Identify the different structures on sections of the brain

• Spinal Cord

• Medulla, Pons, Midbrain

• Cerebrum

Coronal:

Horizontal:

• Cerebellum: Deep nuclei

Spinal Cord – internal structure

Cervical Thoracic

Lumbar Sacral

More white matter

More grey matter

3

Medulla

Pyramidal decussation

Internal arcuate fibres

Inferior olivary Nucleus

NG

NC

Medial Lemniscus

P

Pons

Caudal

Mid-pons

Rostral

Midbrain

Inferior Colliculus

Superior Colliculus

Red

SN

IC

SC

PG CA

} } } CC

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Coronal sections through striatum

A – Close to splenium of corpus callosum

B – Passing through the amygdala

C – Passing through anterior commissure

D – Passing close to the anterior edge of septum pellucidum before the genu

AC – anterior commissure Acc – Nucleus accumbens Am - amygdala C – caudate nucleus G – globus Pallidus P – putamen T – thalamus

Rostro-caudal Coronal section – Head of Caudate Nucleus

Cerebrum

Anterior Commissure

Mammillary Bodies

MRI

Intracerebellar Nuclei

Lateral to medial • Dentate

– largest & most prominent – shape of a wrinkled purse

• Emboliform – oval shape

• Globose – 2-3 small masses

• Fastigial – 2nd largest

15

D

16

Finger movements on MRI

Textbook Reference

Neuroanatomy: An illustrated colour text

5th Edition by AR Crossman and D Neary

FitzGerald et al (2012) Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience. 6th ed.