BRAIN

STRUCTURE &
FUNCTION
Presented by: Maimoona Iftikhar
Mahrukh Sabir
Farheen Naz
BRAIN &
THE MENINGES
Presented by: Maimoona Iftikhar
BRAIN
 The CNS is organised in a hierarchy, so that every
behaviour is controlled by the position they
adhere in our body.
 Brain controls higher level of functioning.
 The cerebral cortex is anatomically highest and
controls our behaviour, thoughts and actions.
 Spinal cord controls basic reflexes and responses
to sensory stimuli, as it is anatomically lowest.
 THE MENINGES
 The brain is wrapped in 3 protective coverings.
 Dura Mater means “Hard Mother”. It is the outermost
covering.
 Arachnoid means “cobweb”. It is the middle layer
present under dura mater.
 Pia Mater means “soft mother”. It is tightly wrapping
the brain.
 Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) is present between pia
mater and arachnoid; brain floats in CSF.
 CSF also fills the tiny central canal in the middle of
spinal cord and the 4 hollows or ventricles within the
brain.
 The samples of CSF are extracted by a procedure called Lumbar
puncture.
 Lumbar Puncture is a procedure of taking fluid from the spine in the
lower back through a hollow needle, usually done for diagnostic
purposes.
 The pressure and composition of CSF can help detect abnormalities,
such as brain tumours or meningitis.
HINDBRAIN &
MIDBRAIN
Presented by: Mahrukh.
 THE HINDBRAIN
 Moving up from spinal cord, a hollow tube passes
through the base of skull, which broadens into brain
stem.
 Hindbrain is the lowest part of the brain.
 Hindbrain includes:
o Medulla oblongata is a soft organ, appearing as a
slight swelling of brain stem.
o Pons means “the bridge” . Its connects hind brain with
mid brain.
o Cerebellum also called as “little brain”, is attached to
brain stem. It is divided into 2 hemispheres with grey,
wrinkled surfaces.
 The hindbrain controls functions
outside conscious control, such
as breathing and blood flow.
 The cerebellum receives
information from the sensory
systems, regulates motor
movements. The cerebellum
coordinates voluntary
movements such as posture,
balance, coordination, and
speech, resulting in smooth and
balanced muscular activity.
 The medulla and pons also
control balance and equilibrium.
They are involved in salivation,
swallowing and gag reflex.
MIDBRAIN
 Controls body movements,
responses to visual and auditory
stimuli.
 Reticular formation is an
important region of midbrain. It is
a mixture of grey and white
matter and gives net like
appearance.
 It is involved in arousal
mechanisms controlling sleep and
wakefulness.
THE FOREBRAIN
Presented by: Farheen Naz
FOREBRAIN
 Forebrain is divided into five areas :
 The basal ganglia
 The limbic system
 The thalamus
 The olfactory bulbs and tract
 The cerebral cortex
BASAL GANGLIA
 The basal ganglia are a
collection of nuclei in the
forebrain . These nuclei are
important in the control
of movement .
LIMBIC SYSTEM
 The limbic system is the
area of the brain that
regulates emotion and
memory . It directly
connects the lower and
higher brain functions . Hypothalamus
is essential to meditation , expression
of emotional , motivational and
social behavior .
THALAMUS
 The thalamus is called the
gateway to the cerebral
cortex .
CEREBRAL CORTEX
 Cortex means “bark” and the cerebral cortex surrounds the cerebral
hemispheres like the bark of a tree . In humans the cerebral cortex
is greatly convoluted .
 These convolutions consisting of :
 Sulci
 Fissures
 Gyri
FUNCTIONS
 The primary visual cortex , receives visual information .
 The primary auditory cortex , receives auditory information .
 Precentral gyrus in frontal lobe , controlling movement in opposite
part of body .
 Damage to this area cause paralysis .
 The third left frontal gyrus is Broca’s area, damage to this area
causes aphasia ( inability to speak or to understand speech ) .
 Damage to the very front part of brain the prefrontal fibers , may
lead the individual to act without inhibition
THANK YOU