Neuroanatomy Courseware

This courseware pertains to the Veterinary Neurobiology course (CVM 6100) at the University of Minnesota, which deals with the central nervous system and special senses. Courseware pertaining to the peripheral nervous system (Autonomic Nervous System Tutor and Cranial Nerve Reference) is categorized under Gross Anatomy.

The following independent study programs were written in HyperCard or SuperCard and run on Macintosh computers. Click a title to view a summary description of a courseware program:

• Basic Eye Tutor
• Canine Brain Atlas
• Cranial Nerve Nuclei
• Neuroembryology
• Spinal Cord Tutor

Basic Eye Tutor 1.0.2 by R. Miller & T.F. Fletcher © 1994

This HyperCard application presents basic science information about the eye & adnexia through text and graphics, with some animation. Core information is organized sequentially; ancillary information is accessible via look-up buttons. The Tutor has five sections, each followed by a multiple-choice quiz. The sections are: Embryology; Anatomy of the Eyeball; Anatomy of Adnexia; Biochemistry of Vision; and Visual Neurobiology.

Disk size: 2.6 MB.. Minimum hardware: Macintosh (9” b&w screen); requires 2 MB RAM.

Canine Brain Atlas 2.0.1 by T.F. Fletcher © 1998, 1999

A SuperCard application that presents color plates of 16 transverse sections through a canine brain along with the names of brain structures that veterinary students are expected to know. For each color plate, clicking on a name selects the name and evokes pop-ups of both its definition and its indicator label on the color plate. The name of the selected term can be heard when a Pronounce button is clicked. Alternatively, a Display Labels button will cause all plate labels to be shown; whereupon, clicking a label causes its corresponding definition to appear and name to be selected. Optionally, you can step or cycle through enlarged images of the brain sections. Another section of the courseware, accessible via button click, displays labeled sketches of surface and dissection views of the canine brain organized by major brain divisions.

Disk size: 25 MB. Minimum hardware: Macintosh (640 x 480 pixels, color); requires 10 MB RAM.

Cranial Nerve Nuclei 1.2 by T.F. Fletcher ©1999

This courseware is a SuperCard application intended for veterinary students studying cranial nerve nuclei within the brain. Cartoons of cranial nerve cell columns, color-coded by type (SE, VE, GSA, GVA, etc.), are shown in dorsal, transverse, and sagittal views of a canine brainstem.Cranial nerve nuclei are also labeled in transverse sections through a canine brain.

There are five sections:
1. Introduction to general features of afferent/efferent & somatic/visceral nuclei;
2. Illustration of cranial nerves plus a synopsis of innervation/fiber-type per nerve;
3. Neurological deficits resulting from damage per cranial nerve;
4. General afferent and efferent cell columns & cranial nerve nuclei; and
5. Special afferent pathways and nuclei (vision, hearing, kinesthesia, taste, & olfaction.

Disk size: 35 MB. Minimum hardware: Macintosh (640 x 480 pixels, color); requires 8 MB RAM.

Neuroembryology 1.0 by T.F. Fletcher © 1995, 1999

This HyperCard application presents development of the nervous system. It features: a list of Major Topics (with links to tutorial screens), a detailed Topical Outline (with links to tutorial screens), Objectives, Summary, Glossary, Tutorial (a series of didactic screens), and a Quiz. The series of tutorial screens presents basic information through text and graphics, with additional information optionally available via button clicks. The multiple-choice quiz offers instructor commentary and the option of reviewing tutorial screens that are pertinent to the current question.

Disk size: 5 MB (including all lessons). Minimum hardware: Macintosh (9” b&w screen); requires 2 MB RAM.

Spinal Cord Tutor 1.1 by T.F. Fletcher © 1994

This HyperCard application comprehensively presents information about the development, structural organization and function of the spinal cord. A series of text and graphics tutorial screens is organized into a surface layer of basic information with additional information optionally available via button click. An Index is available for looking up selected topics or entering the tutorial at various points. A multiple-choice quiz offers instructor commentary and the option of reviewing tutorial screens that are pertinent to the current question.

Disk size: 2.8 MB. Minimum hardware: Macintosh (9” b&w screen); requires 2 MB RAM.