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Anatomy Lec.7.
Anatomy Lec.7.
Nerve Anatomy
synaptic cleft (synapse)- separation axon terminal and next neuron
myelin- covering of most long neurons (axon)
whitish, fatty substance protects, insulates, speeds up neural
transmission
nodes of Ranvier- gaps of myelin sheath, action potential jumps
from node to node- faster
Neurolgia
Anatomy &physiology Lec.( 7) MLT dept.
CNS
white matter- dense bundles of myelinated fibers
(tracts) brain- inside spinal cord- surface
gray matter- unmyelinated fibers and cell bodies
brain- surface spinal cord- inside
Meninges
Meninges cover the brain and spinal cord. The meninges are made
up of 3 layers:
The surface of the cerebrum has a folded appearance called the cortex (gray matter). The cortex contains
about 3/4th of the neurons in the brain. The neurons bodies give the cortex its characteristic grey-brown color.
Beneath the cortex the long connecting axons, rich in myelin, form the brain’s white mater. The brain’s gray
and white matter are best observed in a coronal section
The folding of the cortex increases the brain’s surface area allowing more neurons to fit inside the skull and
enabling higher functions. Each fold is called a gyrus, and each groove between folds is called a sulcus
(separates the lobes). The various gyrus and sulcus areas define specific brain regions.
Anatomy &physiology Lec.( 7) MLT dept.
Right brain – Left-brain
The right and left hemispheres of the brain are connected by the corpus callosum that delivers messages from one side
to the other, and coordinates the functions of the two sides. Each hemisphere controls the opposite site of the body
( lateralization)
Learn to identify the major lobes and fissures of the brain and the function of the major lobes.
Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
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
Occipital lobe
Cerebrospinal fluid
Flows between layers of meninges and helps protect and provide cushion for the brain.
The 12 pairs of Cranial Nerves are PNS nerves which originate in the brain. Some are sensory, some are motor, and
some are mixed.
• The 31 pairs of Spinal Nerves start in the spinal cord and have both sensory and motor functions which are
cervical plexus, brachial ple xus, lumbar plexus and sacrl plexus.
The Blood-Brain Barrier The blood-brain barrier separates the circulating blood from the fluid in the CNS. It
functions to prevent toxins from getting to the brain
Anatomy &physiology Lec.( 7) MLT dept.