Brain & Neuron

Mollika Roy
• Neurons, or nerve cells, are the basic elements of the nervous system.
• About 1 trillion neurons throughout the body are involved
in the control of our behavior.

• Although there are several types of neurons, they all have a basic similar
structure.
Cell body: Like most cells in the body, neurons have a cell
body that contains a nucleus.
• The nucleus incorporates the hereditary material that
determines how a cell will function
• Unlike other cells, however, neurons have a distinctive
feature: the ability to communicate with other cells.

Dendrite: neuron has a cell body with a cluster of

fibers called dendrites at one end.
• Those fibers, which look like the twisted branches
of a tree, receive messages from other neurons.
Axon: On the opposite side of the cell body is a long,
slim, tubelike extension called an axon.
• The axon carries messages received by the dendrites to other
neurons.
• The axon is considerably longer than the rest of the neuron.
• Although most axons are several millimeters in length, some
are as long as 3 feet.

Terminal button: Axons end in small bulges called terminal

buttons , which send messages to other neurons.
 When a nerve impulse comes to the end of the axon and reaches a terminal button, the
terminal button releases a chemical courier called a neurotransmitter.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to a dendrite
• Most axons are insulated by a myelin sheath, a protective coating of fat and protein that
wraps around the axon.
• The myelin sheath also serves to increase the velocity with which electrical impulses
travel through axons.
• Those axons that carry the most important and most urgently required information have
the greatest concentrations of myelin.
Nervous system

Controls
Voluntary
muscles of our
body
Nervous system

Controls
Involuntary
muscles of our
body
Nervous system
Nervous system
 The Endocrine System

Endocrine system is a chemical communication network that sends messages

throughout the body via the bloodstream. Body’s communication systems.
• Its job is to secrete hormones, chemicals that circulate through the blood and
regulate the functioning or growth of the body.
• It also influences—and is influenced by—the functioning of the nervous system.

• Although the endocrine system is not part of the brain, it is closely linked to the
hypothalamus.
Makes hormones that control our  moods, growth &development, metabolism,
organs, and reproduction.
• Many glands make up the endocrine
system.
• The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and
pineal gland are in your brain.
• The thyroid and parathyroid glands are
in your neck.
• The thymus is between your lungs
• The adrenals are on top of your
kidneys,
• The pancreas is behind your stomach.
• Ovaries (if you're a woman) or testes
(if you're a man) are in your pelvic
region.
Pituitary Gland: It makes many important hormones, including
growth hormone; prolactin, which helps breastfeeding moms make
milk; controls blood pressure and helps control body water balance
through its effect on the kidney.

Pineal gland. It makes a chemical called melatonin that helps your

body get ready to go to sleep.
Thyroid hormone. This gland makes thyroid hormone, which controls
your growth and metabolism.
• If this gland doesn't make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism),
everything happens more slowly. Your heart rate might slow down. You
could get constipated. And you might gain weight.
• If it makes too much (hyperthyroidism), everything speeds up.
Your heart might race. You could have diarrhea. And you might lose
weight without trying.
Adrenals. Best known for making the "fight or flight”.
• This hormone affect metabolism, heart rate, oxygen intake, blood flow,
and sexual function.
• When we get stressed, excited or anxious we feel the adrenal rush in
our system.
 Brain

About 50,000 years ago, modern humans began to migrate out of Africa.
• Major 3 human attributes:
1. large brain 2. upright posture 3. opposable thumb

Three important points about the evolution of

the human brain:
• 1. The brain has increased in size during
evolution.
• 2. Most of the increase in size has occurred in
the cerebrum.
• 3. An increase in the number of convolutions
—folds on the cerebral surface—has greatly
increased the volume of the cerebral cortex,
the outermost layer of cerebral tissue.
 Old Brain

• Humans share some basic functions, such as breathing,

eating, and sleeping, like other primitive animals.
• Not surprisingly, those activities are directed
by a relatively primitive part of the brain.
• A portion of the brain known as the central core or old
brain.
• This part is quite similar in all vertebrates (species with
backbones)
 New Brain

• The cerebral cortex is referred to as the “new brain” because of its relatively
recent evolution.
• It consists of a mass of deeply folded, rippled, convoluted tissue.

• The cortex has four major sections called lobes.

• Frontal lobes lie at the front center of the
cortex
• Parietal lobes lie behind them.
• temporal lobes are found in the lower-center
portion of the cortex
• occipital lobes lying behind them.
New Brain & function of each lobe
Have a clear & simple look
 Neurological Disease

• Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink
(atrophy) and brain cells to die.
• Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in
thinking, behavioral and social skills that affects a person's ability to function
independently.
• The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations.
• As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease will develop severe
memory impairment and lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks.
 Age related
Cause
Older age does not cause Alzheimer’s, but it is the most important known risk factor
for the disease.

Genetic Cause
People’s genes, which are inherited from their biological parents, can affect how likely
they are to develop Alzheimer’s disease. It increases the likelihood.
Environmental
Cause
A nutritious diet, physical activity, social engagement, sleep, and mentally stimulating
pursuits have all been associated with helping people stay healthy as they age. These
factors might also help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.