Module 6f: Concept of Perception and Coordination

Nervous system – highly specialized system responsible for Cerebrum - Corpus Callosum
the control and regulation of the body’s many activities - consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus and basal o Thick connection of nerve fibers that
ganglia. Divided into 2 hemispheres (Left and Right). connects two hemispheres of the
Main functions: Frontal lobe, Occipital lobe, Parietal lobe, Temporal brain
- motor lobe o Responsible for the transmission of
- sensory activities - composed of Gangli (folded layers to increase surface info from one side of the brain to the
- autonomic activities area of brain and responsible of the high level of activity other (sensation, memory, learned
- cognitive activities of a small appearing organ) discrimination)
- behavioural activities - Sulcus or fissure (located between each gyrus) serves - Thalamus
Major parts: as an anatomical division o Located either side of the third
a. Central Nervous System - Great longitudinal fissure is located in between the ventricle
b. Peripheral Nervous System hemispheres which divides the cerebrum and joined by o Functions: Relay station for all
- cranial nerves the lower fissure by the corpus callosum sensation except sense of smell
- spinal nerves - Gray Matter - Hypothalamus
- autonomic nervous system o external layer of the brain o Located anterior and inferior to the
o 2m-5m deep and contains billions of neuron cell thalamus & beneath and lateral to
Neuron bodies the third ventricle
- basic unit of function of the brain - White Matter o Plays an important role in endocrine
- composed of the Dendrites and Axons o makes up of the innermost layer system
 Dendrites: branched structures for receiving o composed of myelinated nerve fibers and o Regulates pituitary secretions of
electrochemical changes neuralgia cells that form tracks connecting hormones
 Axon: long projections that carry electrical various parts of the brain. These pathways also o Also responsible for:
impulses that carry away from the body connect the cortex, lower parts of the brain and  Appetite control
Note: some axons have myelinated sheets that speeds of spinal cord.  Sleep-wake control
conduction - Cerebral Lobes  Blood pressure
a. temporal lobe  Aggressive and sexual
Ganglia or Nuclei o inferior to the frontal and parietal lobe behaviour
- nerve cell bodies occurring in clusters, the center is o contains the auditory receptive areas  Emotional responses
a cluster of cell bodies with the same function o plays a role in memory of sound and  Control of autonomic
understanding of language and music nervous systems
Neurotransmitters b. frontal lobe - Basal Ganglia
- communicate messages form one neuron to o largest lobe o Masses of nuclei located deep in the
another or from a neuron to a target cell like muscle o located in front of the brain cerebral hemisphere
cells or endocrine cells o functions: concentration, abstract o Responsible for fine motor
- stored in synaptic vesicles though, storage, control of speech, movement
How does it work? person’s affect, judgement, personality
As an electrical action potential moves along with and inhibitions Brainstem
the axon and reaches the nerve terminal, c. parietal lobe - consists of midbrain, pons and medulla
neurotransmitters are released in the synapse. o predominantly sensory lobe posterior - Midbrain
Neurotransmitters are then transported across the to the frontal lobe o Connects the pons and cerebellum
synapse, binding to receptors of the post-synaptic o analyzes sensory information with the cerebral hemispheres
cell membrane. Its effect is either excitatory function o relays information to other cortical o Sensory and motor pathways
or inhibitory function areas o Center for auditory and visual
o essential to a person’s awareness of reflexes
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM body position in space, size & shape o CN 3 and 4 originate in the midbrain
- composed of the brain (covers 2% of the total body discrimination, right & left orientation - Pons
weight, weighs 1,400 grams in a young adult and d. occipital lobe o Located in front of the cerebellum
1,200 grams in an older adult) o located posterior to the parietal lobe between the midbrain and the
- major parts of the brain: cerebrum, brainstem, o responsible for visual interpretation and medulla
cerebellum memory o A bridge between the two halves of
the cerebellum
 o In between the medulla and the
midbrain
o CN 5 and 8 originate in the pons
o Contains sensory and motor
pathways
o Regulates respiration
- Medulla
o Contains motor fiber from the brain to the
spinal cord
o Contains sensory fibers from the spinal cord
to the brain
o CN 8 and 12 originate in the medulla
o Reflex centers for: respiration, blood pressure,
heart rate, coughing, vomiting, swallowing,
sneezing
o Contains center for reticular formation
o Connects with numerous higher structures
Cerebellum
- Location: posterior to the midbrain & pons, below the
occipital lobe.
- Integrates sensory information to provide smooth
coordinated movement
- Controls fine movement, balance and position or
proprioception
STRUCTURES PROTECTING THE BRAIN
a. Skull
- safeguards the brain
- bones are joined together at the suture lines and
form the base of the skull
- Major bones: frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital
and sphenoid
- Fossae
o Indentations of the brain
o Anterior fossae: contains the frontal lobe
o Middle fossae: contains the temporal
lobe
o Posterior fossae: contains
cerebellum and brain stem
b. Meninges
- Fibrous connective tissue that cover the brain
and spinal cord
- Provide protection, support and nourishment
- 3 layers: Dura mater, Arachnoid, Pia mater
DURAMATER
o Outermost layer
o Covers the brain and spinal cord
o Tough, thick, inelastic, fibrous and
gray
o Three major extensions:
Falx Cerebri: folds between two
hemispheres
Tentorium: folds between o Blood originates from common carotid
occipital lobe and cerebellum to artery
form a tough membranous shelf o Circle of willis consist of anterior cerebral
Falx cerebelli: located at left and artery, anterior communicating artery,
right side of cerebellum internal carotid artery, posterior
Note: Increased intracranial pressure causes the tissues to communicating artery and posterior
be compressed against these dura folds causing Herniation cerebral artery
Note: Extracellular spaces in some parts of the brain exists - Posterior circulation of the brain
composed of fluids similar to brain ventricles that promotes o Supply comes from the subclavian
homeostasis. Epidural space exists between the dura and the arteries
skull and between the periosteum and dura in the vertebral CEREBRAL VENOUS CIRCULATION
column. Subdural space exists below the dura. Blood and - Cerebral veins do not have valves to prevent
abscess can accumulate in the spaces causing disturbances backflow and dependent both on gravity and
in the neurological system. blood pressure for the flow
ARACHNOID SPINAL CORD
o Protect the brain and the spinal cord - Continuous with the medulla extending from
o Middle membrane, extremely thin and the cerebral hemispheres, serving as a
delicate membrane that resembles a connection from the brain and the periphery.
spider web. - 45 cm or 18 inches long and about the
o Contains CSF in the spaces between the thickness of a finger, surrounded by
subarachnoid space meninges.
o Contains arachnoid villi that are unique - Has an “H” shaped central core of nerve cell
fingerlike projections that absorbs CSF to bodies (gray matter) surrounded by
the venous system ascending and descending tracks (white
PIA MATTER matter).
o Innermost membrane - Anterior horn
o Thin, transparent layer that hugs the o Contains cell fibers that form the
brain closely and extends into every fold anterior (motor) root.
of the brain’s surface o Essential for the voluntary and
reflex activity they innervate
Cerebrospinal Fluid - Upper horns
- Clear, colorless fluid produce in the choroid plexus of o Relay station in the sensory/reflex
the ventricles and circulates around the brain and spinal pathway
cord - Lateral horns
- Blockage of the CSF anywhere in the ventricle system o Contains cells that give rise to
is called “Obstructive hydrocephalus” autonomic fibers of the
- Plays and important role in immune and metabolic sympathetic division
the functions of the brain
- Choroid plexus produces around 500 Ml CSF/day. SPINAL TRACT
Ventricles and subarachnoid space contains 150 ml - 8 descending tract which control muscle
- Used to test for the presence of immunoglobulin and activity and 3 vestibulo spinal tract involved
bacteria in some autonomic function such as
sweating, pupil dilation and involuntary
Cerebral Circulation muscle control
- Brains requires constant supply of oxygen - Corticobulbar tract conducts impulses
Brain receives 15% or 750 ml/minute of the cardiac responsible for voluntary head and facial
output muscle movements and processes at the
- Arterial and venous vessels are not parallel level of the brain stem.
- Collateral circulation through circle of willis - Rubrospinal and reticulospinal tract
- Blood vessels have two layers only conducts impulses involved in the
involuntary muscle movement
Cerebral Arteries - Vertebral column
- Anterior brain
 o Surrounds and protect the spinal
cord
o Consists of 7 cervical vertebrae,
12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar
vertebrae. Sacrum is fused with
the 5 vertebraes and terminates in
the coccyx
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Regulates the activities of the internal organs,
maintenance and restoration of homeostasis
- 2 divisions: Parasympathetic (rest and digest) and
Sympathetic nerves (fight or flight)

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

- Consists of the cranial nerve, spinal nerve and
autonomic nervous system

CRANIAL NERVE
- Has 12 pairs
- Cranial nerve 1,2 and 8: purely sensory
Cranial nerve 3,4,6,11 and 12: motor
Cranial nerve 5, 7,9, and 10: sensory and motor

SPINAL NERVES
- 31 nerves connecting the spinal cord and various
body regions
SENSORY SYSTEM
o 8 paired cervical nerves
- Thalamus
o 12 paired thoracic nerves
o Pain awareness
o 5 paired lumbar nerves
o Recognition of changes in
o 5 paired sacral nerves
temperature
o 1 pair of coccygeal nerves
o Ability to recognize the size, shape
and quality of objects
o Sense of movement

- Each spinal nerve has a ventral and dorsal root.

o Dorsal root is sensory, transmits
sensory impulses from specific
areas of the body known as
dermatomes to the dorsal horn
ganglia. Sensory fiber may be
somatic or visceral (carry info from
the internal organs)
o Ventral root are motor, transmits
impulses from the spinal cord to the
body. Fibers are either somatic or
visceral