CNS Protection and Brainstem

What are the four different structures that protect the brain?

1. Skill

2. Meninges

3. CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)

4. Blood Brain Barrier (don’t necessarily need to know this yet)

What are the meninges?

3 layered set of membranes to protect CNS

What are the different layers of the meninges from outer (closest to skull) to inner (closest to brain)?

1. Dura Mater

2. Arachnoid Membrane

3. Pia Mater

What does dura mater mean?

tough mother

What does Pia Mater mean?

soft mother

What does CSF stand for?

Cerebralspinal fluid

Where is CSF located?

Ventricles around the center of the brain and beneath the meninges (in the subarachnoid space) surrounding the brain

What is the most important function of CSF?

Protection for both the brain and spinal cord

How does CSF protect the brain?

shock absorption (slow momentum caused by impact)

temperature regulation

buoyance

removes waste and brings nutrients

What is a lumbar puncture?

It is used to release CSF; it is method used to abstract CSF to test and look for various diseases like meningitis, cancer, infections, and autoimmune disorders

Where is the brainstem located?

connected to the spinal cord and located slight to the left and most centered in relation to the brain

How many regions are in the brainstem?

3

What are the regions of the brainstem?

Region 1: Hindbrain

Region 2: Midbrain

Region 3: Diencephalon

What is the basic overview function of the hindbrain?

Basic survival

Structures in the hindbrain?

Cerebellum, Pons, Medulla

Cerebellum’s functions

helps with proprioception (knowing one’s position in space)

works with the parietal lobe to fulfill this function

COORDINATE MOTOR CONTROL WITH SENSORY PERCEPTION (enables balance and coordinates movements)

Helps keep time

Helps with learning language and skills

Function of Pons

CONNECTS CEREBELLUM TO REST OF BRAIN (support structure)

ALLOWS AND REGULATE AWARENESS

Regulates breathing, bladder control, balance, EYE MOVEMENT, swallowing, and BREATHING

Function of Medulla

Autonomic processes like regulating HEARTBEAT, breathing, BLOOD PRESSURE

Regulates coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and swallowing

What is the second region of the brainstem called?

Midbrain

What is the first region of the brainstem called?

Hindbrain

Structures found in the midbrain?

Tectum and Tegmentum

Tectum’s location in the midbrain

roof or upper part of midbrain

Function of the tectum

REORIENTING REFLEX (bodily and hearing) (Helps individuals shift from a to b)

Location of Tegmentum in midbrain

bottom or floor

Sections of the tegmentum

Substantia nigra and Periaqueductal Gray Matter (PAG)

Function of the Substantia Nigra

MOVEMENT REGULATOR (connects with forebrain, specifically works with cerebellum to coordinate movement)

PRODUCES AND RELEASES DOPAMINE (dopamine helps with muscle control)

What is the relationship between substantia nigra and Parkinson’s

There are neurotransmitter’s present within the substantia nigra that produce dopamine. In Parkinson’s these neurons are degenerating meaning less dopamine is being produced. This leads to muscle spasms.

Function of Periaqueductal Grey Matter

Helps process physical pain

Although Periaqueductal Gray Matter processes physical pain what does SPOT theory of pain say?

SPOT Theory of Pain states that brain (periaqueductal grey matter) cannot always distinguish the difference between social and physical pain. Periaqueductal Grey Matter says ouch to both. This theory suggest that one could use pain killers to help alleviate social pain as well as physical pain.

What does PAG stand for?

Periaqueductal Grey Matter

What doe SPOT (Pain Theory) stand for?

Social Physical Pain Overlap Theory

What is the most important region in the brain in consideration for our class?

Diencephalon

What is the meaning of Diencephalon derived from Latin?

Through brain

What are the structures found in the diencephalon?

hypothalamus and thalamus

Primary function of the hypothalamus

controls the production of hormones by interacting with the pituitary gland

Since hypothalamus works with endocrine system to manage, it helps with

instinctual drives for survival: desire to eat, drink, sex and aggressive tendencies

Primary function of the thalamus

relay station for your emotions

What sense does not go through the thalamus?

Smell

Because smell does not grow through the thalamus it is tightly associated with

memories