An Introduction to Neuroanatomy

Neuroanatomy is the study of nervous system structures and how they relate to function. One focus of neuroanatomists is the macroscopic structures within the central and peripheral nervous systems, like the cortical folds on the surface of the brain. However, scientists in this field are also interested in the microscopic relationships between neurons and glia – the two major cell types of the nervous system.

This video provides a brief overview of the history of neuroanatomical research, which dates back to the 4th century BC, when philosophers first proposed that the soul resides in the brain rather than the heart. Key questions asked by neuroanatomists are also reviewed, including topics like the role cytoarchitecture, or the arrangement of neurons and glia, plays in brain function; and how neuroanatomy changes as a result of experience or disease. Next, some of the tools available to answer these questions, such as histology and magnetic resonance imaging, are described. Finally, the video provides several applications of neuroanatomical research, demonstrating how the field lives on in today’s neuroscience labs.