VET 404: NEUROSCIENCE, SENSES, BEHAVIOR
MODULE 1: NEUROANATOMY & SPINAL CORD
- Spinal cord organization: white matter (ascending/descending tracts), gray matter (dorsal/ventral horns)
- Ascending tracts: dorsal columns (proprioception, vibration), spinothalamic (pain, temperature)
- Descending tracts: corticospinal (voluntary movement), rubrospinal (coordination)
- Spinal nerve anatomy: dorsal/ventral roots, formation of peripheral nerves
- Myelination: oligodendrocytes (CNS) vs Schwann cells (PNS)
MODULE 2: BRAINSTEM, CEREBELLUM, CRANIAL NERVES
- Brainstem divisions: midbrain, pons, medulla
- Medullary functions: respiration, cardiovascular regulation, vital reflexes
- Cerebellum: coordination, balance, proprioception, no direct movement initiation
- Cranial nerves I-XII: nuclei, functions, assessment
- CN V (trigeminal): sensory face, motor mastication
- CN VII (facial): motor face, parasympathetic glands, taste anterior 2/3 tongue
- CN IX (glossopharyngeal): taste posterior 1/3, swallowing, gag reflex
- CN X (vagus): pharyngeal/laryngeal innervation, GI parasympathetic, cardiac
- CN XII (hypoglossal): tongue motor, lingual deviation
MODULE 3: CEREBROSPINAL FLUID & INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE
- CSF production: choroid plexus, ventricles, subarachnoid circulation
- CSF functions: cushioning, nutrient transport, waste removal
- Intracranial pressure regulation: Monro-Kellie hypothesis
- Hydrocephalus: obstruction of CSF flow
- Meningitis/encephalitis: CSF analysis (cell count, protein, glucose, culture)
MODULE 4: REFLEXES & NEUROLOGIC LOCALIZATION
- Reflex arc: sensory neuron → spinal cord synapse → motor neuron → effector
- Patellar reflex (spinal level L4-L6 in dogs): normal, exaggerated (UMN lesion), absent (LMN lesion)
- Cranial nerve reflexes: pupillary light reflex (CN II/III), corneal reflex (CN V/VII), gag reflex (CN IX/X)
- Spinal cord lesion localization: loss of pain/temperature below lesion, proprioceptive ataxia, paresis
- Upper motor neuron (UMN) vs Lower motor neuron (LMN): tone, reflex status, muscle atrophy pattern
MODULE 5: OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISION
- Cornea, lens, retina: optical pathway and accommodation
- Pupillary light reflex: afferent CN II, efferent CN III, mediated by midbrain pretectal nucleus
- Vision pathway: retina → optic nerve (CN II) → lateral geniculate → visual cortex
- Common ocular diseases: cataracts, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, corneal ulcers
- Fundoscopy: optic disc, blood vessels, tapetum lucidum (reflective layer)
MODULE 6: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & ETHOLOGY
- Behavioral neurobiology: limbic system (emotional response), hypothalamus (drives), amygdala (fear)
- Fear and aggression: genetics, learning, social factors, neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine)
- Socialization periods: critical windows for normal behavior development
- Behavioral diagnosis: anxiety disorders, aggression types, stereotypic behaviors
- Environmental enrichment and behavioral rehabilitation