The Brain

Parts of the Brain Cerebrum Diencephalon Cerebellum Brainstem Thalamus hypothalamus Cerebellum Brainstem Midbrain Pons Medulla oblongata Limbic system Ventricles

The human brain

Cerebrum Largest part of the brain Most highly developed part of the human brain Outer portion: cerebral cortex Cell bodies and unmyelinated axons Inner portion: central white matter Myelinated axons How parts of cerebrum communicate with each other and other parts of brain.

Gray v. White Matter

Cerebrum 2 Hemispheres (R and L) Gyri and Sulci

Controls L. side of body Controls R. side of body

Cerebrum Corpus Collosum Connects two hemispheres together

Lobes of Brain

Frontal Lobe

Frontal Lobe Function Function: Higher Level Cognitive Function /Executive Function Judgment and reasoning Control of voluntary muscle movement (MOTOR FUNCTION) Including speech and swallowing

Frontal Lobe- Important Areas Primary Motor Cortex Anterior to Central Sulcus Controls voluntary movements of skeletal mm. More area dedicated to muscles of mouth and fingers (use more) Premotor Cortex Programming of motor movements (except for speech) Prefrontal Cortex Complex cognitive process (reason and judgement) Broca’s Area Coordination of motor movement for production of speech sounds. Creates motor plan which is then sent to primary motor cortex

The lobes of a cerebral hemisphere

Parietal Lobe Posterior to central sulcus Function: Important Parts: Associated with Sensation Touch, kinesthesia, perception of warmth and cold and vibration Important Parts: Primary sensory area Receives sensory information from the joints and tendons in body , organized similar to motor area Somatosensory Association Area: Detailed discrimination and analysis of 1 Sensory area ***angular gyrus: recognition of sensory symbols

Temporal Lobe Function: Important areas: Auditory processing and olfaction (smelling) Involved in semantics / word meaning Important areas: Primary auditory area Wernicke’s Association Area: dominant hem. Understand and produce meaningful speech

Occipital Lobe Function: Vision Important parts: Primary Visual Area: receives input from the optic tract. Secondary visual area: integrates visual information, give meaning to what is seen,visual memories.

Body areas of primary motor and somatosensory areas of the cortex

Basal nuclei Masses of gray matter deep in the cerebrum Integrate motor commands Huntington disease and Parkinson’s disease – uncontrollable movements believed to be from neurotransmitter imbalances in the basal nuclei

Diencephalon

Thalamus – “the router” Function: Relays sensory, spatial sense and motor signals to cerebral cortex Receives auditory, somatosensory and visual sensory signals, sorts data and relays it to proper area in brain Regulation of consciousness Controls sleep and awake states of consciousness Sides of third ventricle

Hypothalamus Function: Maintaining homeostasis Autonomic control Integrating center involved in maintaining homeostasis Regulates hunger, sleep, thirst, temperature and water balance Autonomic control Link between nervous system and endocrine system Involved in emotional responses

The Limbic System

Limbic System: “Emotional Brain” Deals with Emotions- fear, anger, happiness, pleasure Memories/ learning Arousal (stimulation) Several parts above brainstem and within cerebrum Important parts: Amygdala: responsible for memory of emotion (especially fear) Hippocampus: responsible for processing of long term memory and emotional responses Short term to long term memory and learning

Cerebellum

Cerebellum Function: Remember: separated from brain by 4th ventricle Responsible for balance and coordination of muscles in the body Important in preforming voluntary tasks (walking, writing) Maintaining balance and posture Muscle memory Learning new muscle skills Remember: separated from brain by 4th ventricle

Brainstem

Brain Stem- 3main functions: Damage = catastophic Conduction of information/relay center: All information relayed b/n body and cerebrum/cerebellum Cranials nerves emerge from here: Integrative function: Control HR, RR, pain sensitivity, awareness, alertness, consciousness, sleep Damage = catastophic

Brain Stem Midbrain: Pons Medulla Oblongata Response to sight, eye movements, pupil dilation, hearing Pons Communication/coordination center between the two hemispheres Important in arousal and sleep Medulla Oblongata Controls autonomic functions RR, HR, Blood vessel function, swallowing, sneezing