1. Your Brain
Pawson, PVMHS
2014

2. The neuron

3. 2 hemispheres: Right & Left
In theory – left brain is analytical and objective, right brain is thoughtful and subjective.

4. Regions of the brain Cerebral hemispheres Diencephalon Cerebellum
Brain stem

5. Cerebral hemispheres: The Cerebrum
Comprised of the left and right hemispheres.
What we generally think of when we picture “the brain”
Makes up more than half of the brain mass
The surface is covered with ridges (called gyri) and grooves (called sulci).

6. Lobes of the Cerebrum
Deep grooves called fissures, divide the cerebrum into lobes.
The surface lobes of the cerebrum are:
Frontal
Temporal
Parietal
Occipital

7. Specialized areas of the brain
Somatic sensory area of the cortex
Receives impulses from the body’s sensory receptors
Motor area of the cortex
Sends impulses to skeletal muscles
Broca’s area
Involved in speech

8. Specialized areas of the brain
Cerebral areas involved in special senses
Gustatory area (taste)
Visual area
Auditory area
Olfactory area
Interpretation areas of the cerebrum
Speech/language region
Language comprehension region
General interpretation area

9. Specialized areas of the brain

10. Layers of the cerebrum Gray matter White matter Corpus callosum
Outer layer
Composed mostly of neuron cell bodies
White matter
Myelinated axons
Transmits signals from one region of the cerebrum to another.
Corpus callosum
Connects the right and left hemisphere
Allows for communication between the hemispheres

11. Diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum

12. The diencephalon Sits on top of the brain stem
Enclosed by the cerebral hemishperes
Made up of 3 parts:
Thalamus: relay station for sensory impulses
Transfers impulses to the correct part of the cortex for interpretation
Hypothalamus: important in autonomic nervous system
Regulates body temperature, water balance, metabolism
Important part of the limbic system
Pituitary gland is attached here
Epithalamus: contains the pineal gland

13. The brain stem Attaches to the spinal cord
Consists of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata.
Midbrain: reflex center for vision and hearing.
Pons: the bulging center part of the brain stem.
Involved in the control of breathing.
Medulla Oblongata: the lowest part of the brain stem.
Contains heart rate control, blood pressure regulation, breathing, swallowing, vomiting

14. Cerebellum Has two hemispheres with a convoluted surface.
Accounts for 10% of brain, but contains 50% of the total neuron in the brain!
Maintains balance and posture, coordinates voluntary movements (walking, running)
Gross motor (hitting a baseball, jumping rope)
Language