Central Nervous System (CNS)

— Functional anatomy of the brain —

Brain regions

Cerebral hemispheres

They are paired (left and right) superior parts of the brain

Include more than half of the brain mass

The surface is made of ridges (gyri) and grooves (sulci)

Fissures are deeper grooves

Lobes are named for the cranial bones that lie over them

— Three main regions of cerebral hemisphere —

1. Cortex is superficial gray matter

2. White matter

3. Basal nuclei are deep pockets of gray matter

→ what makes white matter different from gray matter is that it is
myelinated (they have myolin sheets).

Figure 7.12b Development and regions of the human brain

Central Nervous System (CNS) 1

 — All brains emerge from being a neural tube that eventually develops into
an adult brain containing the 4 major parts.

! The cerebrum is divided by its fissure, the lobes are named after the bone
that lies over them.
a) Frontal lobe → controls voluntary functions (primary motor area),
motivation, aggression, mood, and olfaction.
b) Parietal lobe → reception and perception center for most sensory
information.
→ with primary somatic sensory cortex/general sensory area which are
located posteriorly to the central fissure.

Ex. Sensory Speech Area (Wernicke's Area) - (Broca's Area - for

production of children speech)
c) Occipital Lobe → visual area of the brain

d) Temporal Lobe → olfaction and auditory center

→ involved in memory, it is referred as the "psychic cortex" it is for
abstract thinking.

Figure 7.14 Sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex.

→ this would show you how much neurons would be found

Central Nervous System (CNS) 2

 Motor and Sensory Regions of the Cerebral Cortex

Basal nuclei

— "islands" of gray matter buried deep within the white matter of the
cerebrum.

— regulate voluntary motor activities by modifying instructions sent to

skeletal muscles by the primary motor cortex

Diencephalon
→ sits on top of the brain stem

→ enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres

→ Made of three structures

Thalamus

encloses the third ventricle

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 relay station for sensor y impulses passing upward to the cerebral
cortex.

transfers impulses to the correct part of the cortex for localization

and interpretation

Hypothalamus - below the thalamus

important autonomic nervous system center

regulates body temperature

regulates water balance

regulates metabolism

houses the limbic center for emotions.

regulates the nearby pituitary gland because it it hangs in the

hypothalamus by a stalk called infundibulum

houses mammillary bodies for olfaction and associating those things

to past experiences and emotional responses.

Epithalamus - upon or above the thalamus

forms the roof of the third ventricle

houses the pineal body affects the onset of puberty and is

responsible for the release of melatonin (an endocrine system)

includes the choroid flexus—forms the cerebrospinal fluid: cushions

and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Brain stem
→ attaches the cerebrum to the spinal cord

Central Nervous System (CNS) 4

 → Parts of the brain stem

Midbrain - smallest portion of the brain stem.

dorsally located to that area are the four colliculi/corpora

quadrigemina (hearing and balance) pi

auditory and visual reflex center

anteriorly located will be the cerebral peduncles (little feet) for

impulse transmission

with a black mass known as substatia nigra which regulates the

general body movements

Pons - "bridge" because it connects the cerebellum and cerebrum. It is

located above the medulla and regulates breathing, chewing,
swallowing, salivation, and balance

Pyramids - prominent enlargements anterior to the medulla. It is

involved in the voluntary control of the skeletal muscles.

Medulla oblongata

the most inferior part of the brain that merges into spinal bran

contains important centers that control:

heart rate

blood pressure

Central Nervous System (CNS) 5

 breathing

swallowing

vomiting

Brain stem: reticulur formation

→ diffuse mass of gray matter along the brain stem

→ responsible for cyclical motor functions (walking, chewing) and

control over the internal organs.

→ reticular activating system (RAS)

plays a role in awake/sleep cycles and consciousness

filter for incoming sensory information.

Cerebellum

(little brain) - cauliflowerlike mass with gyri (elevations) and sulci (grooves).
It function for balance, muscle tone (state of being ready), coordinated
movement and learning a motor skill ( e.. playing a piano)

→ alcohol has an effect on this area.

→ any damage to this area would result to ataxia, clumsy drunken-like
movement.

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 — Protection of the Central Nervous System —

Meninges

Dura mater (dura: hard)

outermost leathery layer

double-layered external covering

Periosteum—attached to the inner surface of the skull.

(connective tissue)

Meningeal Layer—outer covering of the brain

Folds inward in several areas

Falx cerebri

Tentorium cerebelli

Central Nervous System (CNS) 7

 Arachnoid Layer

Middle layer

weblike extensions span the subarachnoid space to attach it to

the pia mater

subarachnoid space is filled with cerebrospinal fluid

arachnoid granulations protrude through the dura mater and

absorb cerebrospinal fluid into venous blood

Pia mater

internal layer

clings to the surface of the brain and spinal cord

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

→ similar to blood plasma in composition
→ CSF forms a watery cushion to protect the brain and spinal cord

any back blockages in their passageway will cause hydrocephalus.

→ circulated in the arachnoid space, ventricles, and central canal of the

spinal cord.

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 Spinal Cord

— extends from the foramen magnum of the skull to the first or second
lumbar vertebra

— cauda equina is a collection of spinal nerves at the inferior end

— provides a two-way conduction pathway to and from the brain
— 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord

— is consist of a central mass of gray matter and a peripheral array of white

matter

Gray matter — looks like a butterfly or letter "H"

— consists of:

a. dorsal/posterior horns : consist of central processes of sensory

and association neurons that enters the dorsal root.

b. ventral/anterior horns: two anterior projections with cell bodies or

motor and association neurons that leave the ventral root.

— together, the dorsal and ventral root, will form the spinal
nerves
— damaged to the ventral root will result to flaccid paralysis, the
impulses cannot go to the effectors because it cannot go out of
the spinal cord.
— at the center is a Central Canal containing CSF.

White matter — with myelinated fiber tracts

— it is divided into columns/funiculi

a. Posterior column: contains ascending tracts (sensory/afferent

tracts) carrying input to the brain.

b. Lateral and Anterior columns: contain both ascending and

descending motor tracts carrying impulses from the brain to the
skeletal muscles.

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 Blood-brain barrier : the one preventing the entry of toxic materials to the
brain

Central Nervous System (CNS) 10