ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

HUMAN BRAIN
Human Brain
 4 PARTS OF THE BRAIN
 Cerebrum
 Cerebellum
 Brain stem
 Limbic system
 CEREBRUM
 Most high level brain function takes
place
 Divided into 2 hemisphere: right &
left hemisphere
 Right hemisphere is responsible for
music & art awareness, insight and
controls the left part of the body
CONT’N CEREBRUM…
 Left hemisphere is responsible for
mathematical skills, language,
reading, writing and controls the
right part of the body
 Have 4 lobes: frontal, temporal,
parietal and occipital lobe.
 Covers 85% of the brain’s weight
 CEREBELLUM
 “little brain”
 Located at lower back of brain
beneath the occipital lobe
 Center for coordination of
movement and postural adjustment
 CONT’N CEREBELLUM...
 Receives & integrates information
from all areas of body such as:
muscles, joints, organs & other
components of CNS
 Inhibited the transmission of
dopamine in this area.
 BRAIN STEM
 Connects spinal cord to the rest of the brain
 Composed of the following:

-MEDULLA- located at top of spinal cord, contains

vital centers for respirations & cardiovascular
function.
-PONS- bridges the gap both structurally &
functionally serving as primary motor pathway.
-MIDBRAIN- connects pons & cerebellum with the
cerebrum.
-LOCUS CERULEUS- a small group of
norepinephrine- producing neurons in brain stem.
 LIMBIC SYSTEM
 “Emotional brain”- emotional responses such as;
anger, fear, anxiety, pleasure, sorrow & sexual
feelings generated in limbic system but interpreted
in frontal lobe.
 Parts of the limbic system:

-THALAMUS- regulates activity, sensation & emotion.

-HYPOTHALAMUS- involved in temperature
regulation, appetite control, endocrine function,
sexual drive & impulsiveness behavior associated
with feelings of anger, rage & excitement.
-HIPPOCAMPUS & AMYGDALA- involved in
emotional arousal & memory.
 STRESS
HYPOTHALAMUS-
PITUITARY- ADRENAL
AXIS
STRESS HPA HYPOTHALAMUS
STRESS
AXIS

PITUITARY CRF
STRESS GLAD

ADRENAL
ACTH CORTISOL
CORTEX

STRESS HPA AXIS

NEUROTRANSMISSION
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
 Neurotransmitters are chemicals which
transmit signals from a neuron to a target
cell across a synapse. Neurotransmitters
are packaged into synaptic vesicles
clustered beneath the membrane on the
presynaptic side of a synapse, and are
released into the synaptic cleft, where
they bind to receptors in the membrane
on the postsynaptic side of the synapse.
 
 ACETYLCHOLINE
 Found in the brain, spinal cord and
PNS.
 Can be inhibitory and excitatory
 Synthesized from dietary choline
found in red meat and vegetables
 Affects sleep- wake cycle and to
signal muscles to become active
 DOPAMINE
 Essential to the functioning of CNS
 Excitatory
 Involved in emotions, moods and
regulation of motor control.
 Dopamine forms from a precursor
molecule called dopa- manufactured
from liver from amino acid tyrosine.
 NOREPINEPHRINE &
EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALIN)
 Most prevalent neurotransmitter in
nervous system.
 Excitatory
 Has limited distribution in brain but
controls fight or flight in PNS
 Play a role in attention, learning &
memory, sleep and wakefulness and
mood regulation.
 SEROTONIN
 Its function is mostly inhibitory that
includes induction of sleep and
wakefulness, pain control, temperature
regulation, control of mood, memory,
and sexual behavior.
 Inhibitory
 Serotonin is produced in brain from
amino acid tryptophan- derived from
foods high in CHON.
 HISTAMINE
 Involved in emotions, regulation of
body temperature and water
balance.
 Neuromodulators
 GLUTAMATE
 Excitatory amino acid that at high
levels that can have major neurotoxic
effects.
 GABA
 Most abundant neurotransmitters
within the CNS and in cerebral
cortex.
 Largely responsible for such higher
brain functions as thought and
interpreting sensations.
 Major inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the brain.