Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Oral examination
The course of Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology focuses on structure and function of central and peripheral nervous systems, whose autonomic and voluntary divisions are discussed. Reference is constantly made to essential radiological anatomy as soon as new anatomical structures are introduced. Such knowledge base warrants a thorough understanding of basic cranial and spinal pathologies. At the end of the course, the students should be able to describe essential structural and functional features of the nervous system and how their disruption acts as the basis of the most common neurosurgical pathologies.
Fundamentals of cellular neurophysiology
Functional systems
Essentials of cranial neurosurgical diseases
Essentials of spinal neurosurgical diseases
Topographical and radiological neurocranial anatomy
• Osteology of neurocranium
• Cerebral meninges
• Encephalon: topographical anatomy of brain, cerebellum and brainstem
• Ventricular system
• Arterial flow into and venous drainage from CNS
• CT physical principles
• MRI physical principles
• Anatomical landmarks for proper axial images reconstruction
• Main MRI sequences: T1, T2, FLAIR, Gradient Echo e T1+
Topographical and radiological spinal anatomy
• Spinal osteology
• Ligaments of craniovertebral junction and spine
• Spinal meninges
• Spinal cord topographical anatomy
• Arterial flow into and venous drainage from spinal cord
• Physical principles and usage of spinal X-ray
• Physical principles and usage of spinal CT
• Spinal MRI and main sequences: T1, T2, T1+
Structure and function of peripheral nervous system
• Peripheral nerve ultrastructure
• Cranial nerves function
• Spinal nerve structure
• Dermatomes and myotomes: definition
• Reflex arches
• Braxchial plexus nerves: axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median, ulnar
• Lumbosacral plexus nerves: obturator, femora, sciatic, tibial, common peroneal
Structure and function of autonomic nervous system
• Organisation of sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
Fundamentals of cellular neurophysiology
• Cell types withiin the CNS
• Microscopical anatomy of cerebral and cerebellar cortexes and spinal cord
• Structure and function of electrical and chemical synapses and of neuromuscular junction
Functional systems
• Somatic mechanosensory system
• Somatic pain and temperature system
• Visual system
• Auditory system
• Corticospinal tract
• Essential cerebellar cicuitry
• Essential basal ganglia circuitry
Essentials of cranial neurosurgical diseases
• Hydrocephalus
• CNS primary intra-axial tumors
• CNS primary extra-axial tumors
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Epidural, subdural and intraparenchymal hematoma
• SAH and cerebral aneurysms
Essentials of spinal neurosurgical diseases
• Cervical spine trauma
• Thoracic and dorsolumbar spine trauma
• Intervertebral disc herniation
• Spondylotic cervical myelopathy
Lectures, slides and video
Netter's Atlas of Neuroscience, 3rd Edition, by David L. Felten, MD, PhD, Michael K. O'Banion, M.D., Ph.D. and Mary E Maida, Ph.D., 2016, Elsevier, 496pp.
Head, Neck, and Neuroanatomy (THIEME Atlas of Anatomy), 2nd Edition, by Schuenke, Schulte, Schumacher, Stefan, 2016, Thieme, 600pp.
Neuroanatomy Text and Atlas, 4th Edition, by John H.