Brain Structure

and Function
Overview

 Lobes of the brain (Forebrain)

 Midbrain/Hindbrain
 Protection and Blood supply
 Structure and Function of a neuron
 Synaptic Transmission
 Neurotransmitters
2
5
 THE
BRAIN
• The adult human brain weighs an average of
1.4 kg, or about 2 percent of the total body
weight.
•
Despite this relatively small mass,
the brain contains approximately 100
• billion neurons.
Functioning as a unit, these neurons make up
the most complex and highly organized
structure on Earth.

2
 Brai
•
n
– Comprised of 3 major structures
• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Brainstem
– High metabolic rate
• Receives 15% of cardiac output
• Consumes 20% of body’s oxygen
• Requires constant circulation
– IF blood supply stops:
• Unconscious within 10 seconds
• Death in 4–6 minutes
6
 Blood-Brain
Barrier
•

•
 Tight junctions prevent materials from
diffusing across the capillary wall.
•  Astrocytes act as “gatekeepers” that
permit materials to pass to the neurons
after leaving the capillaries.
 Ventricles
•interconnected cavities within cerebral
hemispheres and brain stem
•continuous with central canal of spinal
cord
•filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
•lateral ventricles(1 & 2)
•third ventricle
•fourth ventricle
1.Intraventricular foramina of monroe:
Communicates lateral ventricles to 3rd
ventricles.
2. Cerebral aqueduct of sylvius
communicates 3rd ventricle to 4th ventricle
3. Foramen of magendie(median)
Fourth ventricle to subarachnoid space
4. Foramen of luschka(lateral)
4th ventricle to subarachnoid space
 Forebrain
 Cerebrum and Cerebral cortex
 Left and Right Hemispheres
 Left hemisphere for most people is the
dominant hemisphere- responsible for
production of language, mathematical
ability, problem solving, logic
 Right hemisphere thought to be
responsible for creativity and spatial ability
(Barlow and Durand , 2005)
 Frontal Lobe
 Located at the front of both cerebral
hemispheres
 Primary motor cortex
 Pre-motor cortex
 Broca’s Area- Motor Production of speech
 Complex Functioning- personality,
judgement, insight, reasoning, problem
solving, abstract thinking and working
memory
 The primary motor cortex, or M1, is
one of the principal brain areas
involved in motor function.
 M1 is located in the frontal lobe of
the brain, along a bump called the
precentral gyrus (figure 1a).
 The role of the primary motor cortex is
to generate neural impulses that
control the execution of movement
(http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/aphasia.asp)
(Barlow and Durand , 2005)
Parietal lobe

 Located behind frontal lobe

 Somatosensory cortex
 Control interpretation of sensation
from muscles, tongue and cutaneous
areas
 Proprioceptive(sense of position)
 Spatial orientation, perception and
comprehension of language function
recognising object by touch
 Links visual and somatosensory
information together
Temporal Lobes

 Located at each side of the brain

 Involved in receiving and processing
auditory information , higher order
visual information, complex aspects of
memory and language
 Wernicke’s Area- Comprehension of
speech
(Barlow and Durand , 2005)
Occipital lobes

 Rearmost portion of the brain

 Visual processing area
 Eye focus, integrating visual memory
Corpus Callosum- Fibre bundle in
the brain that connects the two
hemispheres together
 Cerebral cortex: layer of tissue which
cover the cerebrum.
 Outer surface: series of elevated
ridges(gyri), separated by shallow
depression (sulci) or deeper
grooves(fissures).
Hydrocephal
us
Mid brain

 Central section in the brain

 Between pons and thalamus
 Superior part of brain stem
 Contains visual reflex center
Diencephalon
 Thalamus- filters
sensory information,
controls mood states
and body movement
associated with
emotive states

(http://training.seer.cancer.gov/mod
ule_anatomy/unit5_3_nerve_org1_c
ns.html)
Thalamus means “inner room” in Greek, as
it sits deep in the brain at the top of the
brainstem.
The thalamus is called the gateway to the
cerebral cortex, as nearly all sensory inputs
pass through it to the higher levels of the
brain(cerebral cortex)
HYPOTHALAMUS
 The hypothalamus sits under the
thalamus at the top of the brainstem.
Although the hypothalamus is small, it
controls many critical bodily functions:
• Controls autonomic nervous system
• Center for emotional response and
behavior
• Regulates body temperature
• Regulates food intake
• Regulates water balance and thirst
• Controls sleep-wake cycles
• Controls endocrine system
 The pituitary
gland extends
from the
hypothalamus
Emotional state:
Rage,fear,and sexual arousal

 Control reflexes
Like chewing,swallowing
 Brainstem
Divisions

Midbrain

Pons

Medulla Oblongata

10 of the 12 pairs of Cranial Nerves attached to it

 The Cranial
Nerves
I. Olfactory nerve
II. Optic nerve
III. Oculomotor nerve
IV. Trochlear nerve
V. Trigeminal nerve
VI. Abducens nerve
VII. Facial nerve
VIII.Vestibulocochlear
nerve
IX. Glossopharyngeal
nerve
X. Vagus nerve
XI. Accessory nerve
XII. Hypoglossal nerve
 Hindbrain
 Cerebellum-
 Posterior to brain stem

 Inferior to cerebrum

 regulates equilibrium, muscle tone,

postural control, fine movement and
coordination of voluntary muscle
movement.
Pons-
Above medulla oblongata
Relay station between cerebrum and
cerebellum and medulla oblongata
Control breathing
(http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_anatomy/unit6_3_endo_glnds1_pituitary.html )
 Medulla oblongata-
 Most inferior part of the brain stem
which relay information between the
spinal cord, pons and cerebellum.
 Conscious control of skeletal muscles,
balance, co-ordination regulating sound
impulses in the inner ear, regulation of
automatic responses such as heart rate,
swallowing, vomiting, coughing and
sneezing
 Basal Ganglia-
 basal ganglia are a
group of structures
found deep within the
cerebral hemispheres
Control of muscle
tone, activity, posture,
large muscle
movements and inhibit
unwanted muscle
movements.
(Barlow and Durand , 2005)
 Substantia Nigra- Produces
dopamine is connected to the
basal ganglia.
The Limbic system
 Amygdala- mediates
and controls major
affective mood states
such as friendship ,
love, affection, fear,
rage and aggression.
 Hippocampus- Memory,
particularly the ability
to turn short term
memory into long term
memory. Alzheimer's
disease. (Barlow and Durand , 2005)
 Protection and Blood
Supply
 Meninges- Dura mater and Pia
mater
 CSF- 2 main functions ; shock
absorption and mediation of blood
vessels and brain tissue in exchange
of nutrients.
(http://training.seer.c
 Circle of Willis –carotid arteries and ancer.gov/module_an
baliser arteries. atomy/unit5_3_nerve
 Blood brain Barrier- Protect the _org1_cns.html)
brain from chemicals in the blood.
Made up of tightly packed
Endothelial cells/capillaries making it
difficult to penetrate.
 Structure of a Neuron

(This image has been released into the public

domain by its author, LadyofHats. This applies
worldwide.)
Function of a Neuron
 Resting potential
-
positive/negative charge
- voltage
gated channels
-
sodium/potassium pump
 Action potential
- threshold
-depolarisation
(This image has been released into the public domain by its author)
Action potential

(Rosenweig, Breedlove and Leiman ,2005 pg 64 )

Synaptic transmission
 Calcium ion
channels
 Synapse
 Lock and key
effect
 reuptake

(This image has been released into the public domain by its author)
Neurotransmitters
- Acetylcholine (ACh)
Release through the brain via
cholinergic pathways. Plays
role in:
- cognition (memory)
- sleep/wake cycle
- parasympathetic
nervous system
- regulation of heart
rate, digestion,
production of saliva,bladder
function.
- smooth muscle
contraction
( Boyd, 2002 )
Monoamines
 Norepinephrine (NE)
Found mainly in 3 areas
of the brain; the locus
coeruleous, the pons
and reticular
formation. Main role;
- attention,
alertness, arousal
-sleep/wake
cycle
(Barlow and Durand ,2005)
- regulating
mood/anxiety
 Dopamine (DA)
Almost a million nerve cells in the
brain contain dopamine. Role
in ;
- complex
movement
-cognition
- motor control
- emotional
responses such as euphoria or
pleasure.
Newer antipsychotic medication
focus on particular
dopaminergic pathways in the
(Barlow and Durand ,2005)
brain. Lessening EPSE’s.
 Serotonin (5HT)
Believed to be one of the great
influences on behaviour. Complex
neurotransmitter. Surprisingly
only 2% of serotonin is found in
CNS. Roles include
- Vasoconstriction,
gastrointestinal regulation.
- Low serotonin
associated with aggression,
suicide, impulsive eating, anxiety
and low mood.
- regulates general
activity of the CNS, particularly
sleep.
- Delusions,
hallucinations and some of the (Barlow and Durand ,2005)
negative symptoms of
schizophrenia.
 Amino Acids
 Glutamate
- found in all cells
- controls opening of ion channels
- blocking glutamate produces psychotic
symptoms
- Over exposure to glutamate causes cell
death
 GABA( Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
- Only found in CNS
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter
- controls excitatory neurotransmitters
- Implicated in anxiety disorders
References
 Boyd (2002). Psychiatric Nursing , contemporary practice .Lippincott, USA
 Rosenweig, Breedlove and Leiman (2002) Biological Psychology: an
introduction to cognitive, behavioural and clinical neuroscience 3rd
Edition.Sineur Associates , Inc USA.
 Stuart and Laraia (2005) Prinicples and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing. Mosby,
USA.
 Barlow and Durand (2005). Abnormal Psychology, and intergrated
approach.Thompson/Wadsworth, Australia.
 Leonard BE (1997). Fundamentals in Psychopharmacology. 2nd ed.
Chichester: Wiley & Sons.
 Purves DE, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. (eds). Neuroscience.
Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc; 1997.
 Lundbeck Institute, www.brainexplorer.com
 Blakemore & Frith (2005). The Learning Brain. Blackwell Publishing
 Begley (2005). The blood brain Barrier. Gauchers News May 2005c