Lesson A1.

Central Nervous System

 identify the regions of the
1 brain;

enumerate the functions

Objectives 2 of each region of the brain;
At the end
of the describe the function of
lesson, you 3 the spinal cord; and
should be
able to: explain how the brain and
spinal cord coordinate to
4 carry out the function of
the nervous system.
 Learn about It!

The Central Nervous System

● The central nervous system
(CNS) is composed of the brain
and spinal cord.

● It acts as an integrating
command center of the
nervous system by interpreting
information perceived by the
sensory organs and issue
appropriate responses. The components of the CNS
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The brain acts as the major
control center of the nervous
system.

● It is the largest and most

complex mass of nervous
tissue in the body.
● The adult human brain weighs
about 1.4 to 1.6 kilograms.
The adult human brain is
approximately the size of two
fists joined together
 Learn about It!

The Brain

● The brain has four major

regions:

○ cerebrum;
○ diencephalon;
○ brainstem; and
○ cerebellum.
The four main regions of the brain
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The cerebrum is the
largest region of the brain.

● It is the most superior part

of the brain as it controls
many functions as follows:
○ intelligence
○ emotions
○ learning
○ critical thinking The four main regions of the brain
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Cerebrum

○ It is divided into equal halves

called the cerebral
hemispheres.

○ They are separated by a

deep long fissure, but linked
by a thick bundle of axons
called the corpus callosum. The cerebral hemispheres
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Cerebrum

○ The entire surface of

the cerebrum exhibits
elevated ridges called
gyri and shallow
fissures called sulci.

○ It is subdivided into
four major lobes. The lobes if the cerebrum
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Lobes of the Cerebrum
Lobes Location Functions
memory, motivation, cognition, reasoning,
Frontal near the forehead
voluntary movement of skeletal muscles

top of the cerebrum (behind

taste, touch, reading, temperature and
Parietal the frontal lobe and in front of
pressure perception
the occipital lobe)

Temporal behind the ears hearing, smell

Occipital rear portion of the skull vision, color recognition

 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The cerebrum contains two cortices that are important in
our sensory perceptions and motor actions. They form the
cerebral cortex.

○ The somatosensory cortex is located in the parietal

lobe. It allows us to recognize pain, temperature, and
touch.

○ The motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe. It allows

us to consciously move our skeletal muscles.
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Cerebrum

○ In the cerebral cortex,

the relative amount of
tissue devoted to
each function is
indicated by the
amount of the gyrus
occupied by the body
part. The cerebral cortex and its functions
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The diencephalon, or the
interbrain, lies atop the
brain stem and almost
entirely surrounded by the
cerebral hemispheres.

● It relays sensory information

between brain regions and
controls many involuntary The major structures of the
functions. diencephalon
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Diencephalon

○ The thalamus serves as a

relay station for sensory
impulses that pass through
the sensory cortex.

○ It processes these impulses

and sends them to the The distinct structures of the
cerebrum. diencephalon
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Diencephalon

○ The epithalamus connects

the part of the brain that
controls emotions to other
parts of the brain.

○ It has the pineal gland that

secretes melatonin to control The distinct structures of the
our sleeping patterns. diencephalon
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Diencephalon

○ The hypothalamus plays

a role in the regulation of
body temperature, water
balance, and metabolism.

○ It is also the center for the

control of emotions and The distinct structures of the
pleasure. diencephalon
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The brainstem is the stalk-like
lower portion of the brain.

● It is about the size of a thumb in

diameter and is approximately 3
inches long.

● It regulates the essential

survival functions such as The distinct features of
breathing and heartbeat. the brainstem
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Brainstem

○ The midbrain is a small part of

the brain stem composed of
two bulging fiber tracts.

○ It serves important functions

in eye movements and in
auditory and visual processing. The distinct features of
the brainstem
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Brainstem

○ The pons is the rounded

structure below the midbrain.

○ It is a message station between

the cortex and the cerebellum.

○ Without the pons, signals in the The distinct features of

brain would not be transmitted. the brainstem
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Brainstem

○ The medulla oblongata is the

lowest portion of the brain
stem.

○ It helps in the regulation of

breathing, heart and blood
vessel functions, digestion, and The distinct features of
even sneezing. the brainstem
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● Brainstem

○ The reticular formation is

a diffused mass of nuclei
that extends in the entire
length of the brainstem.

○ It is involved in motor
control of the visceral The reticular formation in
organs. the brainstem
 Learn about It!

The Brain
● The cerebellum, the Latin
word for “little brain,” is
the cauliflower-like
structure behind the
brainstem.

● It refines motor messages

and coordinates our The position of the cerebellum in the
muscle movements brain: side view (left) and rear view
subconsciously. (right)
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● The spinal cord is enclosed
within the vertebral column or
backbone.

● This 17-inch white neural tissue

emerges from the base of the
brain that extends along the back
of the body and ends just below
the ribs (lumbar vertebra). The spinal cord in the
human vertebra
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● The spinal cord is divided into five
sections based on their location in
the vertebral column:

○ (8) cervical - base of the neck

○ (12) thoracic - upper torso
○ (5) lumbar - lower rib area
○ (5) sacral - hip area
○ (1) coccygeal - tail
Segments of the spinal cord
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● Like the brain, the spinal cord
is a delicate neural tissue that
needs to be protected.

● Meninges (dura mater,

arachnoid, and pia mater) and
are layers of protective tissues
that keep the spinal cord from
shock, dehydration, and injury.
Meninges of the spinal cord
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● Meninges

○ The dura mater is the most

external of all the meningeal
layers.

○ It is tough and inflexible,

giving it the responsibility of
protecting the spinal cord
from being displaced. Meninges of the spinal cord
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● Meninges

○ Beneath the dura is the

delicate membrane called the
arachnoid mater, followed
by the innermost meningeal
layer called the pia mater.

○ They are separated by the

subarachnoid space. Meninges of the spinal cord
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

● Meninges

○ The subarachnoid space that

contains the cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF).

○ The CSF is a colorless fluid

that surrounds the brain and
the spinal cord which serves
as a shock absorber. Meninges of the spinal cord
 Learn about It!

The Spinal Cord

The meninges found in the spinal cord are analogous to the

meninges found in the brain
 Learn about It!

Integration of the Brain

and Spinal Cord
● Integration is the process
through which the brain and
the spinal cord coordinate
with each other.

● A stimulus is compared with

other stimuli, past stimuli, or
the current condition of the Integration of sensory input happens
person. in the brain and spinal cord
 Learn about It!

Integration of the Brain

and Spinal Cord
● The brain coordinates most
sensory information, both
voluntary and involuntary,
consciously and
unconsciously.

● To help the brain, the spinal

cord processes the simple Integration of sensory input happens
musculoskeletal reflexes. in the brain and spinal cord
Key Points

The central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for

1 the control and integration of all our body processes.
It is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord.

The brain controls a great deal of body functions—our

body processes, thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is
2 divided into four major regions, namely the cerebrum,
diencephalon, brainstem, and the cerebellum.
Key Points

The cerebrum controls many functions, such as

3 intelligence, emotions, learning, and critical thinking.

The diencephalon relays sensory information among

4 brain regions and controls involuntary functions.

The brainstem regulates the essential survival

5 functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

The cerebellum refines motor messages and

6 coordinates muscle movements subconsciously.
Key Points

The spinal cord transmits information between the

body and the brain. It is also the major center for our
7 reflexes. It is divided into five sections, namely the
cervical thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal cord.

Both the brain and spinal cord are cushioned with

8 layers of protective tissues called the meninges.
 Check Your Understanding

Write true if the statement is correct; otherwise,

write false.
1. Cerebellum is the largest region of the brain.
2. The spinal cord is the major center for our reflexes.
3. The occipital lobe controls our auditory and olfactory
perception.
4. The cerebral hemispheres are connected by the corpus
callosum.
5. The somatosensory cortex allows us to move our skeletal
muscles.
 Challenge Yourself

Artificial intelligence,
most commonly known
as AI, is becoming a
boom in our generation.
Do you think AI can beat
human intelligence?
 Photo Credits

Slide 21: This file, Cerebellum, by Life Science Databases(LSDB) from Japan, is licensed under
CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Slide 22: This file, Blausen 0822 SpinalCord, by BruceBlaus, is licensed under CC BY 3.0 via
Wikimedia Commons.
 Bibliography

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https://canvas.brown.edu/courses/971296/pages/communication-between-neurons?
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 Bibliography

CK-12 Foundation. “Central Nervous System.” Accessed August 27, 2019. https://www.ck12.org/c/life-
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 Bibliography

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