Lecture 4: Brain anatomy

what are the functions of CSF (cerebral spinal fluid)

• waste removal

• transportation of nutrients and hormones

• protection → shock absorption

where is the forebrain and what parts or sections is it divided into?

• diencephalon

• telencephalon

what are the main parts of the diencephalon?

• includes the: 

• thalamus 

• pineal gland 

• hypothalamus 

• posterior pituitary gland 

function of the thalamus 

• receives sensory input and motor input from most of the body regions 

• filters and integrates the sensory info like a router (except olfactory) 

• contains the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and other nuclei for processing sensory input 

• plays a role in regulating sleep.wake states

describe the hypothalamus functions

• maintains homeostasis by regulating water balance, blood pressure, appetite, metabolism, and body temp. 

• associated with behaviours like eating, drinking, sexual behaviour, and other motivated behaviours 

• regulated the endocrine system by controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland 

• ventral to the thalamus 

what are some main nuclei the hypothalamus contains?

• mammillary nuclei 

  • spatial memory 

• lateral hypothalamus (LH)

  • produces rexins which is part of appetite for food and drugs 

  • also promotes wakefulness

• Suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) 

  • related to the eyes for light and darkness so you can measure time 

what are the two parts of the pituitary gland and label them 

• posterior pituitary gland 

• anterior pituitary gland 

what does the posterior pituitary gland do?

• composed of axons (the cell body of the neuron is in the hypothalamus) 

• releases vasopressin (antidieuretic hormone - affects bp)  and oxytocin hormones 

what does the anterior pituitary gland do?

• composed of endocrine cells 

• produces hormones that regulate the production of other glands

  • thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) 

  • adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinzing hormone (LH) 

• the hormone production is regulated by the hypothalamus via neurons that secrete a releasing hormone into the hypophyseal portal system 

what does the pineal gland do?

• produces melatonin

• helps induce sleep 

what are the major structures of the telencephalon?

• cerebral cortex 

• hippocampus 

• basal ganglia 

• amygdala 

• olfactory bulbs 

what are the olfactory bulbs?

• smell (sensory info) is processed in the bulbs 

what is the basal ganglia?

• a group of large nuclei (a more accurate name would be the “basal nuclei”) located near the thalamus:

• The dorsal striatum includes the caudate nucleus and the

  putamen

• The ventral striatum includes the nucleus accumbens

• The globus pallidus

functions of the basal ganglia?

• regulation of planning and execution of voluntary motor movement

• motivation and reward processing

• aspects of memory and learning like procedural learning

Function of the caudate nucleus?

• planning voluntary movement

  • like the movement of eyes 

  • motivation and goal direction behaviour 

  • procedural learning 

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