Nervous System Video 1

Regions of the Brain

Cerebral hemispheres/Cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum

Cerebral Hemispheres/Cerebrum

More than half of total brain mass

Cerebrum Functions

Speech, memory, logic, emotion, conciousness, voluntary movement

Cerebrum Surface Area

Ridges (gyri), Grooves (sulci)

Cerebrum lobes (surface)

Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal

Cerebrum - Somatic Sensory Area

Receives impulse that is sent to parietal lobe to process touch

Cerebrum - Primary Motor Area

Sends impulses to skeletal muscles

Broca’s Area

Involved in ability to speak

Cerebrum Layers

Gray & White Matter

Gray Matter

Outer, composed of neuron cell bodies

Basal nuclei, ganglia

Gray matter within white matter that modifies instructions sent to skeletal muscles

Damage to the basal nuclei, ganglia can cause:

Parkinsons, Huntington’s, Lack of dopamine, slow/uncontrolled muscles, mental loss

White Matter

Fiber tracks inside gray matter, carry impulse from cortex

White matter helps by…

Allowing impulses to travel at 50x the speed

If gray matter is the final destination…

White matter is the transportation

Diencephalon (Interbrain) Location

On top of the brainstem, encapsulated by cerebral hemispheres

Diencephalon 3 Parts:

Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Epithalamus

Thalamus Function

Relay station for sensory impulses, process/interpret impulse

Thalamus Location

Surrounds 3rd ventricle

3rd ventricle function

Space in brain that allows cerebrospinal fluid to circulate (clean/cushion the brain)

Hypothalamus Function

Regulation (body temp, water balance, metabolism, limbic) + autonomic nervous system center

What does the limbic system control?

Thirst, appetite, sex drive, pain, pleasure

Hypothalamus Location

Under the thalamus, attached to pituitary gland

Epithalamus Function

Circadian rhythm

Epithalamus Location

Connected to pineal body, includes choroid plexus

The brainstem controls…

Breathing, blood pressure

Brainstem 3 Parts

Midbrain, Pons, Medulla oblongata

Midbrain

Tracks of nerve fibers, has 4 rounded protrusions

Midbrain function

Reflex center for vision and hearing

Pons

Bridge, composed of fiber tracts

Medulla Oblongata

Merges with spinal cord, composed of fiber tracts

Medulla Oblongata Function

Control centers (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, vomiting)