Brain stem

  • Brainstem: Midbrain controlling involuntary acts

    • The most superior portion of the brainstem

    • Serves multiple functions

    • control eye movement

    • controls visual and auditory reflexes

    • connects the motor region of the cerebrum to the spine

    • contains tegmentum integrates commands from both the cerebrum and cerebellum & involuntarily control the erector spinae.

    • contains the substantia nigra which produces dopamine.

  • Brainstem: Pons

    • The pons sit between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata

  • Brainstem : Pons Functions

    • Act as passageways for sensory and motor nerves.

    • includes routing signals from motor cortex’s of the cerebrum to the cerebellum.

    • Houses respiratory center.

    • Contains superior olivary complex locates sound.

  • Brainstem :Medulla Oblongata most inferior portion it is continuous with spinal cord

  • Medulla oblongata Functions

    • serves as a relay station for all communications between brain and spine.

    • plays a role in coughing, sneezing, swallowing, gagging, vomiting, and salivating.

    • Contains autonomic centers:

    • Cardiac center- slow down or speedup our heart

    • Vaso meter center- controls contraction of arteries or blood flow over entire body

    • Medullary respiratory center-

  • Cerebellum: The fourth major region of the adult brain

  • Functions

    • Coordinate voluntary movements.

    • maintain posture.

    • regulate behavior expression!

    • regulate language and processing and retrieval.

    • integrate somatic motor signals.

  • Limbic system

    • The brain also includes functional regions which may span two or more structural regions.

    • The only functional region we will consider here is the limbic system.

    • The limbic system includes structures in both the cerebrum and dicephalon

    • Makes us aware of emotions.

    • Helps associate emotions with memories.

    • hippocampus aids in moving memories from short term to long term.

    • Amygdaloid body connects emotions to long term memories.

    • The olfactory cortex is also considered part of the limbic system which is why smell can cause a powerful emotional response.