The teaching of Neuroanatomy aims to provide students with an adequate knowledge of the central and peripheral nervous system both anatomically and functionally, and its relationship with the structures of the locomotor system that are presented during the course. The ultimate goal of the course is to provide students with a good understanding of the different structures of the nervous system and how they are interconnected for proper functioning. The comprehension of the topics covered in class will allow the student to deepen further specific topics in complete autonomy.

General organization of the nervous system.

Meninges and cavities.

The spinal cord: external and internal configuration. Organization of gray matter and white matter.

Brain stem: external and internal configuration. Main nuclei of the bulb (gracile nucleus, cuneate nucleus, inferior olivar nucleus), of the bridge (nuclei proper to the bridge) and of the midbrain (red nucleus, black substance). The quadrigemine plate. The reticular formation.

Cerebellum organization: external and internal configuration. Cerebellar nuclei and cortex.

Diencephalus: organization of the thalamus, subthalamic, hypothalamus and epithalamus.

Telencephalon: external configuration (lobes, cleavages and gyrus). Structure of the telencephalic cortex. Telencephalic nuclei. Organization of the white substance. Generality on the limbic system. Functional subdivision of the telencephalon (associative, sensitive, effector, language areas). Internal configuration of the telencephalon: white matter, telencephalic nuclei.

Afferent systems. The receptors of external and proprioceptive sensitivity. The pathways of general sensitivity (spino-bulbo-thalamus-cortical pathways, spino-cerebellar pathways, spino-thalamus-cortical pathways). Specific sensitivity pathways: optical pathways (direct, reflex), vestibular pathways, acoustic pathways.

Effector systems. Motor control pathways: pyramidal and non-pyramidal pathways (definition of base nuclei).

Peripheral nervous system: spinal nerves

Posterior and posterior branches of the spinal nerves and organization of the main plexi

Peripheral nervous system:  encephalic nerves and relationship with the nuclei of the brain stem.

Sympathetic nervous system.

In case of certification of specific learning disability, disability or
other special educational needs, please contact both the Department
contact person, Prof. Nicola Girtler, and the lecturer at the beginning
of the lectures to agree on teaching and exam methods which, in
compliance of the teaching objectives, take into account individual
learning methods and provide suitable compensatory/dispensatory tools
recognized by the University SLD Student Service.