Overview

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The Nervous System: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology This course works through the major structures of the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord, then turns to the sensory and autonomic systems, including visual, auditory, vestibular, and chemical sensory transduction. Particular attention goes to clinical localization. The course traces the corticospinal tracts, the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway, and the anterolateral system in detail, along with the twelve cranial nerves, so a deficit can be reasoned back to the site of the lesion. Neurotransmission, glial function, and the physiology of the action potential are covered as the mechanistic basis for all of this. Clinical correlations run throughout, including Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, medullary and pontine syndromes, Brown-Séquard syndrome, and hydrocephalus, grounding the anatomy in cases encountered in clinical training.

Syllabus

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- This module introduces the organization of the autonomic nervous system and the distinct output pathways of its parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions.
Meninges
- This module covers the structure of the cranial meninges, the spaces between their layers, and the blood and nerve supply of the dura mater.
Limbic System
- This module introduces the structures and circuits of the limbic system and the clinical disorders that result from their damage.
Cerebral Cortex
- This module covers the anatomy and function of the cerebral cortex lobes, the clinical syndromes caused by their lesions, and the arterial blood supply of the cerebrum.
Diencephalon
- This module examines the anatomical components of the diencephalon and their functional roles.
Visual Pathways
- This module traces the visual pathway from the structure of the eye through the retina, optic pathways, and visual cortex, along with the clinical effects of lesions along this pathway.
Basal Ganglia
- This module covers the anatomy and circuitry of the basal ganglia and how their dysfunction produces the movement disorders of Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.
Cerebellum
- This module introduces the structural organization of the cerebellum and its three functional divisions.
Auditory System and Vestibular System
- This module covers the anatomy of the auditory and vestibular systems, how their function is tested clinically, and the disorders that arise from their dysfunction.
12 Cranial Nerves and Their Functions
- This module reviews the anatomy, functional components, and clinical disorders of each of the 12 cranial nerves.
Brain Stem
- This module covers the anatomy and vascular supply of the brainstem and how vascular lesions in different brainstem regions produce distinct clinical syndromes.
Spinal Cord
- This module examines the structural organization of the spinal cord, its ascending and descending pathways, and the clinical syndromes that result from spinal cord lesions.
Ventricular System
- This module covers the anatomy of the brain's ventricular system, cerebrospinal fluid production and circulation, and the causes of hydrocephalus.
Dural Venous Sinuses
- This module covers the structure and drainage of the dural venous sinuses, with particular attention to the cavernous sinuses and their clinical relevance.
Neurophysiology
- This module covers the physiological basis of neuronal signaling, the special senses, somatosensory and reflex physiology, and the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system.