You are on page 1of 46

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM BRAIN

BRAIN REGIONS
Cerebrum - cerebral hemispheres Diencephalon hypothalamus, thalamus Brainstem
Consists of midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata Spinal cord continuous with medulla oblongata

Cerebellum

CEREBRUM SURFACE ANATOMY


Gyrus elevated ridges of tissue Precentral gyrus motor area Postcentral gyrus somatosensory area Sulcus shallow groove separating gyrus Central sulcus separates frontal from parietal lobe Lateral sulcus separates temporal lobe from parietal and frontal Fissures deep grooves separating brain regions Longitudinal separates hemispheres Transverse separates cerebrum from cerebellum

Figure 12.4c Lobes, sulci, and fissures of the cerebral hemispheres.

Precentral gyrus Frontal lobe

Central sulcus

Postcentral gyrus

Parietal lobe

Lateral sulcus Occipital lobe Temporal lobe Transverse fissure Cerebellum Pons Medulla oblongata Spinal cord Gyrus

Fissure (a deep sulcus)

Cortex (gray matter) Sulcus


White matter Lobes and sulci of the cerebrum
2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

GROSS ANATOMY OF CEREBRUM


Divided into 2 halves cerebral hemispheres Composed of 3 layers Cerebral cortex - outer layer of gray matter associated with consciousness (voluntary behavior) Cerebral white matter communication between cerebral areas and cortex to lower CNS centers Ex. Corpus callosum connects 2 hemispheres integrating information Basal Nuclei (ganglia) -Core of gray matter that controls subconscious contractions of skeletal muscle

CEREBRAL CORTEX
Anatomically divided into 4 lobes frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal Contains 3 functional areas motor, sensory, association Each hemisphere controls opposite (contralateral) part of body Cerebral dominance 1 hemisphere dominant for language (usually left side)

FUNCTIONAL SPECIALIZATION AREAS


Motor area Controls voluntary movement located in posterior part of frontal lobe Sensory area Receive sensory information Involved in perception conscious awareness of a sensation Association areas Involved in more complex integrative functions like memory, intelligence, personality

MOTOR AREAS
Primary motor cortex Located in precentral gyrus of frontal lobe Controls skeletal muscle movement Premotor cortex anterior to precentral gyrus Helps plan movements (skilled motor activities) Brocas area (motor speech area) Located in inferior/lateral area of frontal lobe Controls muscles of tongue, throat and lips to form words Most people on left side

SENSORY AREAS IN PARIETAL LOBE


Primary somatosensory area - in postcentral gyrus of parietal lobe Receives sensory information from skin and skeletal muscles and identifies part of body being stimulated called spatial discrimination Integrates and analyzes different sensory inputs and evaluates what is being felt Receives information on joint and muscle position - Proprioception Gustatory cortex located at base of postcentral gyrus Receives impulses for taste Involved in gustatory (taste) perception

SENSORY AREAS
Visual area posterior occipital lobe Receives visual information from retinas Interprets and evaluates visual stimuli Auditory area superior temporal lobe Auditory stimuli from cochlea evaluated for pitch, rhythm, loudness Identifies sound Olfactory cortex medial aspect of temporal lobe Conscious awareness of odors

ASSOCIATION AREAS
Prefrontal cortex (Anterior association area) anterior part of frontal lobe Involved with intellect, complex learning ability (cognition), personality, working memory (abstract ideas, reasoning and judgment) Somatosensory association cortex - posterior to primary somatosensory area (parietal lobe) Stores memory of sensory experiences Allows you to recognize objects without seeing them

Figure 12.6a Functional and structural areas of the cerebral cortex.

Motor areas Primary motor cortex Premotor cortex

Central sulcus

Sensory areas and related association areas Primary somatosensory cortex Somatic Somatosensory sensation association cortex Gustatory cortex Taste

Broca's area (outlined by dashes)

Wernicke's area (outlined by dashes) Prefrontal cortex Primary visual cortex Visual association area Auditory association area Primary auditory cortex Primary sensory cortex Sensory association cortex Vision

Hearing

Lateral view, left cerebral hemisphere Primary motor cortex Motor association cortex

Multimodal association cortex

2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 12.5 Functional neuroimaging (fMRI) of the cerebral cortex.

Central sulcus

Longitudinal fissure
2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

Left frontal lobe

Left temporal lobe

Areas active in speech and hearing (fMRI)

DIENCEPHALON
Extends from brainstem to cerebrum Surrounds 3rd ventricle Includes thalamus, hypothalamus

THALAMUS
Bilateral masses of gray matter in center of brain Functions include: Relay station for all sensory impulses and relayed to appropriate area Transmits motor information from cerebellum to primary motor area Helps maintain consciousness Interprets some sensory information (pain, pressure, touch) Learning and memory

Figure 12.10 Midsagittal section of the brain.


Cerebral hemisphere intermediate mass of Thalamus

Corpus callosum
Choroid plexus Thalamus (encloses third ventricle)

Pineal gland Hypothalamus Optic chiasma Pituitary gland Pons Medulla oblongata Spinal cord Midbrain

Arbor vitae (of cerebellum) Fourth ventricle Choroid plexus Cerebellum

Corpus callosum Lateral ventricle Thalamus

Third ventricle Midbrain Hypothalamus Arbor vitae Fourth ventricle Optic chiasma Pons Medulla oblongata 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Cerebellum

HYPOTHALAMUS
Inferior to thalamus Connected to pituitary gland by infundibulum Functions include: Control of autonomic nervous system to regulate homeostasis Initiates physical response to emotions increased heart rate, etc. when scared Regulates body temperature Regulates food and water intake Regulates sleep-wake cycle Controls endocrine function by producing hormones that act on pituitary gland

BRAINSTEM
Located between cerebrum and spinal cord Contain tracts and nuclei Tracts (bundles of axons) conduct impulses Nuclei - contain cell bodies of 10 cranial nerves Three sections: Midbrain inferior to diencephalon Pons superior to medulla, anterior to cerebellum Medulla oblongata most inferior part that is continuous inferiorly with spinal cord

MIDBRAIN
Tracts include: Motor tracts descending from motor area to spinal cord Sensory tracts ascending to thalamus Nuclei include: Reflex center for startle reflex (visual and auditory involvement) Contains cell bodies for oculomotor (III) and trochlear (IV) cranial nerves Substantia nigra releases dopamine to control subconscious muscle movements (loss = Parkinsons)

PONS
Tracts include: Conduction between cerebrum and cerebellum Connects 2 sides of cerebellum Nuclei include: Pneumotaxic center regulates normal rhythm of breathing Contains cell bodies for trigeminal (V), abducens (VI) and facial (VII) cranial nerves

MEDULLA OBLONGATA
Hypothalamus relays instructions through medulla for visceral function: Cardiovascular center regulates heart beat and blood pressure Respiratory center generates respiratory rate Controls reflexes for vomiting, sneezing, swallowing, hiccups, etc. (autonomic reflexes) Tracts include: Decussation (crossing over) of motor tracts occurs here explains contralateral control of hemispheres Nuclei include: Contains cranial nerve bodies for vestibulocochlear (VIII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII)

Figure 12.13ab Three views of the brain stem (green) and the diencephalon (purple).
Thalamus Hypothalamus Midbrain Pons Medulla oblongata View (b) Brain stem Diencephalon View (a) View (c)

Optic chiasma Diencephalon Thalamus Hypothalamus Optic nerve (II) Optic tract Infundibulum Pituitary gland Midbrain Trigeminal nerve (V) Pons Facial nerve (VII) Abducens nerve (VI) Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) Abducens nerve (VI) Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) Hypoglossal nerve (XII) Vagus nerve (X) Accessory nerve (XI) Decussation of pyramids Spinal cord Ventral view
2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

Thalamus

Oculomotor nerve (III) Trochlear nerve (IV)

Trochlear nerve (IV)

Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) Olive

Left lateral view

CEREBELLUM
Located posterior to pons and medulla, inferior to occipital lobe contains inner layer of white matter tracts called arbor vitae conducts impulses between cerebellum and cerebrum Functions: Provide smooth coordinated movements of skeletal muscles Regulates posture and balance

Figure 12.15 Cerebellum.

Arbor vitae Cerebellum

Cerebellum Arbor vitae

Pons Fourth ventricle Medulla oblongata Choroid plexus Medulla oblongata Choroid plexus of fourth ventricle

Anterior lobe

Posterior lobe

2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

OTHER BRAIN SYSTEMS


Limbic system encircles midbrain and corpus callosum Center for emotions (pain or pleasure centers), memory and olfaction Reticular formation Located throughout brainstem Contains the RAS which maintain consciousness, active during awakening Filters out repetitive stimuli Regulates muscle tone

PROTECTION OF BRAIN
Meninges 3 connective tissue membranes that cover and protect CNS Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) liquid cushion for CNS Blood Brain Barrier - maintains stable environment of brain

MENINGES
Dura mater tough double-layered outer membrane Outer layer connects to crista galli of ethmoid Contains dural venous sinuses which collects blood from brain and sends it to jugular veins head trauma can cause bleed into Subdural space (between dura and arachnoid mater) Arachnoid mater spidery middle layer Subarachnoid space filled with CSF Contains largest blood vessel to brain Pia mater attached directly to brain Highly vascular

Figure 12.22 Meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Skin of scalp Periosteum Bone of skull Dura mater Periosteal layer Meningeal layer Subdural space Arachnoid mater Pia mater

Subarachnoid space

Blood vessel

2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)


Colorless fluid surrounding brain and spinal cord Contains water, glucose, albumin, gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) and metabolic wastes (urea, creatine) No red blood cells or platelets, some white blood cells may be present Provides buoyancy to reduce brain weight Provides chemical stability for nervous tissu Cushions and nourishes nervous tissue Produced by choroid plexus that hang from roof of ventricles (cavities in brain)

BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER


Maintains stable environment prevents overstimulation Brain capillaries impermeable to most substances
allows nutrients (glucose, amino acids) Lipid soluble substances can also enter oxygen, carbon dioxide, fats, alcohol, nicotine, anesthetics

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM SPINAL CORD

GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF SPINAL CORD


Provides two way conduction pathway to and from brain Initiates complex patterns of motor activities like walking Major reflex center

GROSS ANATOMY
Vertebrae bone surrounding spinal cord Meninges connective tissue coverings that protect spinal cord Spinal cord nervous tissue

VERTEBRAE
Surround and protect spinal cord 31 pairs of spinal nerves exit via intervertebral foramen C1 to C7 nerves leave cord superior to vertebrae, rest of nerves leave inferior to vertebrae

MENINGES
Epidural space space between vertebra and dura mater filled with fat and blood vessels Cushions and protects spinal cord from vertebra Same layers as brain dura (single layer), arachnoid and pia mater (contains blood vessels) Subarachnoid space contains CSF Extends to S2 creates sac of CSF (used in lumbar puncture or spinal tap)

SPINAL CORD
Contains gray and white matter Gray matter is butterfly shaped area containing unmyelinated multipolar neurons White matter myelinated nerve fibers surrounding gray matter Roots - sensory and motor axons that exit spinal cord via intervertebral foramen Central canal cavity in center of gray matter that contains CSF Cord ends around L1 spinal taps done below L3 Cauda equina lumbar and sacral nerve roots at end of spinal cord

GRAY MATTER
Ventral (anterior) horn contains cell bodies of somatic motor neurons Lateral horns contain autonomic motor neurons that serve visceral organs (only in thoracic and upper lumbar) Dorsal (posterior) horn contains cell bodies of association neurons ** Sensory neuron cell bodies are outside the spinal cord in the Dorsal (posterior) root ganglion**

WHITE MATTER
Ascending tracts sensory axons running up to brain Descending tracts motor axons running down from brain Transverse (commissural) tracts cross from 1 side of cord to the other

SPINAL ROOTS
Dorsal contains sensory axons that run from sensory cell bodies in dorsal (posterior) root ganglion to dorsal (posterior) horns Ventral contain motor axons exiting from ventral (anterior) horn Ventral Root unites with Sensory nerve distal to dorsal (posterior) root ganglion to form Spinal nerve which exit through intervertebral foramen out to body

You might also like