Central Nervous System Anatomy of the Brain

Parts of the Brain

1. 2. Cerebrum Largest part of brain Composed of right and left hemispheres Performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision and hearing etc. Cerebellum Located under cerebrum Coordinate muscle movements, maintain posture and balance.

3.

Brainstem Includes pons, midbrain and medulla Acts as relay center connecting cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord

Lobes of the brain

FRONTAL LOBE - Personality, behavior, emotions - Judgment, planning, problem solving - Speech: speaking and writing (Brocas area) - Body movement (motor strip) - Intelligence, concentration, self awareness

Functional Areas of Frontal Lobe

Primary motor area (Brodmann Area 4) Premotor Area (area 6 of Brodmann) Broca area (area 44, 45) Prefrontal area

PARIETAL LOBE
Interprets

language, words Sense of touch, pain, temperature (sensory strip)

Interprets signals from vision, hearing, motor, sensory and memory

Spatial and visual perception

Functional Areas of Parietal Lobe

Primary sensory area (Areas 3,1,2 of Brodmann) Wernickes area (area 39, 40) Sensory association area (area 5,7 of Brodmann)

TEMPORAL LOBE Memory Hearing Sequencing and organization

Functional Areas of Temporal Lobe

Primary auditory area (Brodmann area of 41,42) Secondary auditory area (Brodmann area 22)

OCCIPITAL LOBE Interprets vision (color, light, movement)

Functional Areas of Occipital Lobe

Primary visual area (Brodmann area 17) Secondary visual area (Brodmann area 18,19)

Cerebellum

Functions
Maintenance of equilibrium (responsible for maintaining the position of body in space) Control crude movement of the limbs Smooth performance of highly skilled voluntary movements of precision

Brainstem

Brainstem
Connects the spinal cord with the forebrain Consists of : medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain Serves 4 major functions: 1. Provides passage to various ascending and descending tracts that connect the spinal cord to the different parts of the forebrain 2. Contains important autonomic reflex centres (vital centres) associated with the control of respiration heart rate and blood pressure 3. Contains reticular activating system which controls consciousness 4. Contains important nuclei of the last ten cranial nerves (i.e. IIIrd to XIIth)

Other parts of the brain

Basal Ganglia - Large masses of grey matter situated within the white core of each cerebral hemisphere - Are important in organizing and coordinating somatic motor activities especially willed movements. - Also involved in automatic stereotyped postural and reflex motor activities (eg: normal individuals swing their arms when they walk)

 Thalamus - Sensory integration and relay station of all the sensory pathways except for the olfactory pathway, which is projected directly to the cerebral cortex without being relayed in the thalamus. - Influences voluntary movements by receiving impulses from basal ganglia and cerebellum and relaying them to the motor cortex, which in turn influences lower motor neurons through corticonuclear and corticospinal pathways. - lays a role in pain sensation, attention, maintenance of state of wakefulness and alertness, mood and memory.

Hypothalamus Autonomic control Endocrine control Neurosecretion by secreting vasopressin and oxytocin Regulation of food and water intake Emotional expression Regulates sexual behaviour and reproduction Temperature regulation Biological clock

Blood Supply of the Brain

The brain receives its arterial supply from two pairs of vessels: (a)Vertebral artery (b)Internal carotid arteries Which are interconnected in the cranial cavity to produce an arterial circle of Willis.

Blood Supply of the Brain

Functional significance of circle of Willis: - Provides various alternative roots for collateral circulation like an arterial traffic circle