The Autonomic Nervous System

This chapter provides an overview of the autonomic nervous system and respective instructions for drawing its various components. These include the, parasympathetic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, lower urinary system, baroreceptor reflex, respiration, and digestive tract. The chapter discusses the various functions of elements of these systems, and it presents conditions and illnesses specifically related to disorders in elements of the autonomic nervous system, such as cardiac rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias), respiratory failure, gut dysmotility, bladder dysmotility, and skin manifestations, such as hair fiber loss and sweating.

The Diencephalon, Basal Ganglia, & Limbic System

This chapter focuses on learning the anatomy of the diencephalon, basal ganglia, and limbic system. It provides instruction on how to draw the basal ganglia, the thalamus, the hypothalamus, diencephalon, limbic system, hippocampus, Papez circuit, parahippocampal gyrus, intrahippocampal circuitry, olfactory cortex, and basal forebrain. Also addressed is the neurocircuitry of sleep, including the anatomical location of the sleep center, the physiology of the thalamocortical circuits, the pathway for the generation of REM sleep, and the biology of sleep and wakefulness. The chapter concludes with key discoveries in the biology of sleep and wakefulness.

The Cerebrum, Cerebellum, & Cognitive Disorders

This chapter focuses on the cerebral lobes and some additional key features of the superior and inferior surfaces of the brain, as well as on the structures of the cerebellum. Instructions are provided on how to draw the multiple lobes and surfaces of the cerebrum, gyri, sulci, insula, Sylvian fissure, Brodmann areas, neocortical layers, cerebellum, cerebellar peduncles, the corticopontocerebellar pathway, cerebellar midline structures, arterial supply, cerebral white matter, and commissural fibers. Also discussed are features of histology of neurons and glia and cerebellar histology. Cerebral and cerebellar disorders are also presented, including cognitive disorders, apraxia, and neglect.

Introduction to Neuroanatomy

This chapter focuses on learning the origination and organization of the nervous system and how to draw all the various elements that comprise it. Instructions are given for drawing the cerebrum, basal ganglia, thalamus, limbic systems, brainstem, cranial nerves, vertebral column, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system (PNS), autonomic nervous system (ANS), formation of neural plates, and neural tubes. Additionally, the chapter addresses how the elements of the nervous system are related to each other, notes their function, and outlines their respective sensorimotor and cognitive activities.

Cranial Neuropathies & Brainstem Syndromes

This chapter addresses the various cranial neuropathies and brainstem syndromes and their respective anatomical components. Included among these disorders are pupillary reflex pathologies, oral-palatal deviations, gag reflex, facial palsy, Bell’s palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, midbrain syndromes, pontine syndromes, and medullary syndromes. Instructions are presented on how to draw the elements of the neuropathies and syndromes, as well as the trigeminal nerve, central pathways, central somatotopic maps, and smooth pursuit eye movements. Finally, case histories of specific disorders are presented along with discussion of the elements involved in making the diagnosis.

The Brainstem & Cranial Nerves

This chapter focuses on learning about the brainstem and cranial nerves—their components, function, and anatomy. The chapter provides instruction on how to draw the brainstem, the midbrain, the pons, the medulla, cranial nerves, the skull base, the somatomotor set, pharyngeal arch set, and solely sensory set. Also discussed are neurological disorders associated with the brainstem and cranial nerves and their mechanisms, and the mechanics of the extraocular muscles and their associated disorders.

Cerebral Vasculature, Cerebrospinal Fluid, & Meninges

This chapter focuses on learning about the cerebral vasculature, cerebrospinal fluid, and the meninges. Instructions are given for drawing the circle of Willis, brainstem, cerebellar arteries, intracranial hemorrhage, brain herniation, cerebral ventricles, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways, and spinal meninges. The chapter also covers specific areas that are vulnerable to lesions and to illness such as stroke and other disorders, and indicates where procedures such a lumbar puncture take place.

Neuromuscular Innervation

This chapter focuses on learning the process and components of neuromuscular innervation. Instructions are given on how to draw the brachial plexus, terminal nerves, lumbosacral plexus, peroneal nerves, tibial nerves, and dermatomal maps of spinal nerve sensory innervation. The chapter provides key landmarks along the dermatomal maps of sensory innervation, as well as syndromes associated with the various structures involved in neuromuscular innervation.

The Special Senses: Vision, Audition, & Olfaction

This chapter focuses on learning about the anatomical elements that make up the processes of vision, audition, and olfaction. Instructions are provided on how to draw the eye, aqueous humor, visual pathways, the ear, semicircular canals, and the olfactory system. Also provided are the mechanics of focusing light, optic refraction, light detection, and phototransduction and signs for recognizing retina histology, visual field deficits, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Finally, case histories of specific disorders are presented along with discussion of the elements involved in making the diagnosis.

The Peripheral Nervous System

This chapter focuses on learning the origination and components of the peripheral nervous system and how to draw them. Structures addressed include the neuron, glial cells, neuroglia, neurotransmitters, peripheral nerves, muscle tissues, motor units, and skeletal muscle myofibril. The processes of membrane potential, neural signaling, postsynaptic neuronal integration, and histology are also illustrated in detail,.