1. The Anatomy of the Brain
Guide to Dissection Lab

2. The cerebral cortex:
The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that functions to make human beings unique.
These distinctly human traits include:
higher thought
language
human consciousness
the ability to think, reason and imagine
These all originate in the cerebral cortex.

3. The cerebral cortex:

4. Definitions to know:
sulchus: a groove or a furrow sulchi- plural
gyrus: a prominent fold or ridge on the surface of the brain (cerebral hemispheres) gyri - plural

5. More definitions:
Corpus callosum: large band of nervous tissue that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
Pineal body: endocrine gland located in the roof of the third ventricle, secretes melatonin

6. The 4 lobes are:
Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal

7. The lobes of the brain:

8. The lobes and their functions:

9. The frontal lobe:
The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher level cognition, and expressive language.
At the back of the frontal lobe, near the central sulcus, lies the motor cortex. This area of the brain receives information from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this information to carry out body movements.

10. The frontal lobe
Just FYI…..this is interesting: Don’t write it down.
One of the primary causes of sociopathic behavior is believed to be neurological abnormalities mainly in the frontal lobe of the brain.
This area of the brain is responsible for:
self-control
planning
judgment
decision-making (right from wrong)

11. Theory:
Sociopaths have frontal lobe abnormalities or damage

12. The parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain:
processes tactile sensory information:
pressure
touch
pain
Damage to the parietal lobe can result in problems with verbal memory, an impaired ability to control eye gaze and problems with language.

13. The occipital lobe
The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain
interprets visual stimuli and information
primary visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe.
Damage to this lobe can cause visual problems such as difficulty recognizing objects, an inability to identify colors, and trouble recognizing words.

14. The temporal lobe:
The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain
interprets sounds and the language we hear
the hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion of the brain is also heavily associated with the formation of memories
Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, speech perception, and language skills

15. The cerebellum
The cerebellum is involved in several functions of the body including:
fine movement coordination
balance and equilibrium
muscle tone

16. The cerebellum
In Latin it means “little brain”:

17. The brain stem:
The brain stem is comprised of the hindbrain and midbrain.
The hindbrain contains:
medulla
the pons
the spinal cord

18. The brainstem

19. The hindbrain
The hindbrain is the structure that connects the spinal cord to the brain.
The medulla is located directly above the spinal cord and controls many vital autonomic functions such as:
heart rate
breathing
blood pressure

20. The pons
The pons connects the medulla to the cerebellum and helps coordinate movement on each side of the body.
(Latin = bridge)
The pons deal primarily with:
sleep
respiration
swallowing
bladder control
hearing
equilibrium
taste
eye movement
facial expressions and facial sensation
posture

21. The midbrain
The midbrain is the smallest region of the brain that acts as a relay station for auditory and visual information.
The midbrain controls many important functions:
the visual and auditory systems
eye movement
involved in the control of body movement
The degeneration of neurons in the midbrain is associated with Parkinson’s disease.

22. Midbrain

23. Diencephalon
The diencephalon (Latin = between brain) It represents the highest part of the brain stem and is capped by the cerebral hemispheres.

24. hypothalmus
Hypothalmus: part of the diencephalon; responsible for the maintenance of internal homeostasis.
Internal homeostasis includes:
controlling body temperature
appetite
fluid balance

25. thalmus thalmus: part of the diencephalon; is the sensory relay center
Most of the sensory nerves of the brain enter it and their impulses are sent to the appropriate cerebral region.

26. Cerebral cortex The cerebral cortex is also know as the hippocampus.
This region in involved with emotional states and converting short-term memory to long-term memory