Major Anatomical Structures

Cerebral Cortex

surface of the brain

Gyri

folds or bumps

Sulci

grooves

longitudinal fissure

deep groove

down the center, middle of the brain

that clearly separates the brain into

two hemispheres

Interstitial Fluid

fluid in the spaces between cells

Cerebral Fluid

The brain and spinal cord are bathed in a special fluid. Bathes glial cells and neurons as well

Ventricles

space in the central nervous system that is filled with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

Meninges

Thick protective layer of tissue that surrounds the surface of the brain and spinal cord. Three layers Dura mater - thickest layer, Arachnoid layer, and Pia mater

Blood Brain

protects brain from infections — the CNS is an "immune privileged" area, and created by astrocytes

Astrocytes

Specialized terminal processes called end-feet wrap around blood vessels to help form and maintain the selective barrier that protects the brain. Gilal cells that form the blood-brain barrier

3 Subdivisions of the Brain

1. Hindbrain

2. Midbrain

3. Forebrain

Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

Sits at the base of the brain

Vital Functions: heart rate, breathing.

Continuation of the spinal cord.

Medulla - control autonomic nervous system functions like heart rate, breathing, blood pressure

Pons - connects brain and spinal cord and regulates brain activity during sleep

Cerebellum (little brain) - recieves info from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear, controls balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, basic aspects of motor memory

Ex of function: woman in china born without

cerebellum (no tissue, just a space

filled with CSF) Didn't speak till age 6, Didn't walk till age 7, Vocabulary fine, pronunciation slurred

Midbrain (mesencephalon)

Small region in between the hindbrain and forebrain

The midbrain has its embryonic origins in the mesencephalon. It is located anterior to and above the pons, and has both sensory and motor components.

The midbrain is involved in auditory and visual sensory processing.

Substantia nigra (Latin for "black

substance") and ventral tegmental

area (VTA)

Cell bodies of neurons that produce

high amounts of dopamine

Critical for movement --- degeneration

of these regions is associated with

Parkinson's disease

These regions are also involved in

mood, reward, and addiction

Forebrain (prosencephalon)

The forebrain (or prosencephalon) is the largest and most complex front region of the brain, responsible for higher-level thinking, sensory processing, and voluntary movement.

Cerebral cortex - outer part of the brain associated w complex functions for humans, primates, etc. Divided into 4 lobes

Subcortical Structures - regions of the forebrain that are below the cortex (surface) important for regulation of your biology and processing information

The structures in the forebrain are mirrored in each hemisphere

Forebrain: Subcortical Regions: Thalamus

primary sensory relay, info from the sense organs travel through the thalamus and then rerouted to the apppropriate region in the cortex. Also does some initial processing of sensory info. Smell is the only sense that doesn't travel through the thalamus

Forebrain: Subcortical Regions: Limbic System

processing emotion, basic survival behaviors, memory: Amygdala, Hypothalamus, and

Hippocampus

Sense of smell goes through limbic

system first so smell is very closely

tied to memory

Limbic System: Amygdala

emotions and connecting emotions to memories

Limbic System: Hypothalamus

Provides physiological feedback, regulates homeostasis in the body (blood pressure, appetite, body temperature)

Brains control over the endocrine system( secretion of hormones)

Fighting, fleeing, feeding, and mating

Ex: damaged hypothalamuses in rats caused them to not understand their hunger.

Limbic System: Hippocampus

Responsible for creating and

forming new memories

Ex: doctors removed hippocampus from man for seizures and he coudn't form new memories.

Lobes of Cerebral Cortex: Frontal Lobe

Located in the front of the brain

extending back to the central sulcus

Functions

Executive Functioning: Reasoning, Planning

Language, thought, memory, and motor

functioning

Subregions within the Frontal Lobe

Prefrontal Cortex - higher level cognitive functions , phineas gage injured thru his prefrontal cortex and became "eviler"

Motor Cortex - planning and coordinating movement, maps one on one with somatosensory cortex

Broca's Area - essential for language production, padma damaged it in car accident and lost ability to speak