Neuroanatomi

Neuroanatomi is the study of the structural organization of the nervous system. It covers the arrangement of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), their connections, vascular supply, and developmental origins. The field integrates gross anatomy, cellular anatomy, and neuroimaging to explain how form supports function and how structure underlies behavior and sensation.

The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord. The brain includes the cerebrum with its cortical areas and subcortical nuclei, the cerebellum, and the brainstem (midbrain, pons, and medulla). The spinal cord extends within the vertebral column and features gray matter internal horns and surrounding white matter tracts that relay and modulate information. The meninges protect these structures, and the ventricular system produces and circulates cerebrospinal fluid.

The PNS consists of cranial and spinal nerves, sensory and autonomic ganglia, and the enteric nervous system. It connects the CNS to peripheral targets, enabling motor control, sensation, and autonomic regulation of organs.

At the cellular level, neuroanatomy examines neurons and glial cells, synaptic connections, and the organization of neural networks. White matter tracts interconnect distant brain regions, while gray matter contains neuronal cell bodies and synapses. Cytoarchitectural patterns, such as cortical layering, support regional functions.

Methods in neuroanatomy include dissection, histology, and modern imaging techniques like MRI, CT, and diffusion tensor imaging. Clinically, neuroanatomy aids localization of lesions, guides neurosurgical planning, and informs interpretation of neurological deficits, development, and comparative anatomy.