Human Brain Divisions
cerebrum, brainstem, diencephalon, cerebellum
What protects the brain?
skull, meninges, and BBB
Ventricles of the
... [Show More] brain
cavities within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid; 2 lateral, 3rd ventricle, 4th ventricle
Meninges
3 layers of connective tissue that cover and protect the CNS organs and enclose CSF.
Dura Mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
pia mater
the delicate innermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.
CSF
special fluid formed in walls of ventricles from blood plasma by permeating through the choroid plexus; cushions the brain and spinal cord by providing buoyancy, allowing the brain to float.
BBB
diffusion barrier that prevents most particles from entering CNS tissue; brain and spinal cord separate from general blood circulation. Formed by impermeable brain capillaries, due to astrocytes due to need for stable chemical environment.
Cerebrum
largest part of the brain, 83%; includes median longitudinal fissure, left and right cerebral hemispheres, gyri, sulci, and fissures
corpus callosum
A bridge of white nerve fibers that connect cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral cortex
outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain
Deep sulci
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
Frontal sulci
controls higher level executive fx like reasoning and decision making; controls motor fx and control over voluntary muscle actions
parietal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch; receive sensory info from receptors in mouth for taste and in skn four touch, pain, and pressure.
Occipital
interprets visual input
Temporal
sensory areas for hearing and smelling
Association areas
act mainly to integrate more than 1 type of sensory info for purposeful action
Primary motor cortex
the section of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement
Primary sensory cortex
regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses
Broca's area
controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech; speech production
Wernicke's Area
located in temporal lobe; speech comprehension
Conciousness
state of being awake/aware, located in the cerebrum.
Cerebrum controls:
Cerebrum controls activities of the lower parts of the brain, can override functioning of lower parts of brain (i.e. via biofeedback, meditation, etc.), initiates voluntary motor activities and controls actions of cerebellum by acting on sensory input via thalamus.
Brainstem
medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain
medulla oblongata
Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion; vasoconstriction, reflex centers for vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping and swallowing, tracts that ascend or descend between SC and brains higher centers
vasoconstriction
the constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.
Pons
Contains axon bundles traveling between cerebellum and rest of CNS; fx with medulla to regulate breathing rate and has reflex centers concerned with head movements in response to auditory and visual stimuli
Midbrain
Acts as a relay center for tracts passing between the cerebrum, SC or cerebellum; reflex-centers for higher levl fxs involved in visual, auditory, and tactile responses.
Superior and inferior colliculi
located at the rostral end of the brainstem, control reflexes for head, neck in response to sudden visual or auditory stimulus
Diencephalon
thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus
maintains homeostasis, regulates basic body fx like hinger, sleep, thirst, body temp, water balance, and BP
Controls pituitary gland by regulating hormones of endocrine
link between nervous and endocrine systems
Thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla; filters out unimportant sensory info and directs it to appropriate regions of cerebruum for interpretation.
Epithalamus
contains the pineal gland (melatonin for sleep-wake cycle)
Cerebellum
Mini-Brain
composed of thin outer cortex of gray matter and internal white matter
Maintain balance, certain eye movements, normal muscle tone, and posture
keeps joints and bones in place
Anterior and posterior lobes
receive info from body trunk and influence motor activities of trunk, shoulders, and pectoral girdle muscles
Vermis
intermediate portion/ coordinates limb movements
cerebellar peduncles
fiber tracts that communicate with other parts of the brain [Show Less]