Transcript Document
Chapter 4
Anatomy of the Nervous
System
chapter 4
Frontal lobe damage
Phineas Gage, 1848
chapter 4
Frontal lobe damage
Travis Bogumill, 1998
Jarod Behee, 2007
Wilder Penfield: Mapping the Cortex, 1947
Modern techniques for studying the brain
• Lesion
– damage to a brain area
(electrical or chemical)
• Ablation
– removal of brain area
• Stereotaxic instrument
– a device that allows for precise
neurosurgical procedures
• Sham lesion
– performing identical
procedures except for
damaging the brain
– produced by an experimenter
in a control subject
Modern techniques for studying the brain
• Positron-emission tomography (PET Scan)
– records emission of radioactivity from injected
radioactive chemicals to produce a highresolution image
– shows where activity occurs in the brain
Modern techniques for studying the brain
Recording brain activity
involves using a variety of
noninvasive methods
including:
• Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI)
– involves the application
of a powerful magnetic
field to image the brain
– good for viewing soft
tissue
Modern techniques for studying the brain
• Electroencephalography
(EEG)
– Records electrical activity
produced by cortical regions
of the brain
– Produces a record of
brainwaves.
– Widely used for sleep
research
Structure of the Vertebrate Nervous
System
• Neuroanatomy is the anatomy of the nervous
system.
• Refers to the study of the various parts of the
nervous system and their respective
function(s).
• The nervous system consists of many
substructures, each comprised of many
neurons.
Structure of the Vertebrate Nervous
System
•
The Nervous System
is comprised of two
major subsystems:
1. The Central
Nervous System
(CNS)—brain and
spinal cord
2. The Peripheral
Nervous System
(PNS)
Central Nervous System
Brain
Comprised of 100 billion
neurons
“Command Central” of
the nervous system
Spinal cord
the part of the CNS
found within the spinal
column
communicates with the
sense organs and
muscles below the level
of the head
Functions according to
the Bell-Magendie law
Central Nervous System
The Bell-Magendie law states the entering dorsal roots carry
sensory information and the exiting ventral roots carry motor
information.
Fig. 4-3, p. 84
Peripheral Nervous System
•
The Peripheral
Nervous
System (PNS)
sends
information to
the CNS and
is comprised
of the:
1. Somatic
Nervous
System
2. Autonomic
Nervous
System
Peripheral Nervous System
• The Somatic
Nervous System
consists of nerves
that:
– Convey sensory
information to
the CNS.
– Transmit
messages for
motor
movement from
the CNS to the
body.
– Control skeletal
muscles
Peripheral Nervous System
•
The autonomic
nervous system
regulates the
automatic behaviors
of the body (heart
rate, blood pressure,
respiration, digestion
etc).
•
Divides into 2
subsystems:
1. The Sympathetic
Nervous System
2. The Parasympathetic
Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
• Sympathetic nervous
system: a network of
nerves that prepares
the organs for
rigorous activity by
increasing:
– heart rate
– blood pressure
– respiration
– etc.
• Responsible for “fight
or flight” response
Peripheral Nervous System
• The parasympathetic
nervous system
facilitates vegetative,
nonemergency
responses by the
organs.
– decreases functions
increased by the
sympathetic nervous
system.
– dominant during our
relaxed states.
Anatomical Terms:
Views
Terms used to describe
views when referring to
the nervous system
include:
Ventral: toward the stomach
Dorsal: toward the back
Ventral
Dorsal
Anatomical Terms:
Views
Terms used to describe views
when referring to the
nervous system include:
Anterior: toward the front end
Posterior: toward the back end
Lateral: toward the side
anterior
posterior
lateral
Anatomical Terms:
Location/direction
Terms used to describe
location/direction in the
nervous system include:
Superior: above another part
Inferior: below another part
Anatomical Terms:
Location/Direction
Terms used to describe
location/direction in the
nervous system include:
Lateral: toward the side
Medial: toward the midline
Anatomical Terms:
Location/Direction
Terms used to describe
location/direction in the
nervous system include:
Ipsilateral: on same side
Contralateral: on opposite side
Anatomical Terms:
Planes/Sections/Cuts
Terms referring to
planes/sections/cuts:
Horizontal: shows brain
structures as seen from
the top
Sagittal: shows brain
structures as seen from
the side
Coronal: shows brain
structures as seen from
the front
Table 4-1, p. 83
Anatomical Terms:
Specialized Parts
Terms referring to
specialized parts of the
nervous system:
Gray matter: cell bodies
and dendrites
White matter: axons,
mostly myelinated
Table 4-1, p. 83
Anatomical Terms:
Specialized Parts
Terms referring to
specialized parts of the
nervous system:
Tract/projection: set of
axons in the CNS
Nerve: set of axons in the
PNS
Nucleus: cluster of
neuron cell bodies
within CNS
Ganglion: cluster of
neuron cell bodies in
the PNS
Table 4-1, p. 83
Anatomical Terms:
Specialized Parts
Terms referring to
specialized parts of the
nervous system:
Gyrus (pl: gyri): mound on
surface of brain
Sulcus (pl: sulci):
fold/groove separating
one gyrus from another
Fissure: long, deep sulcus
Table 4-1, p. 83
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
•
The brain can be divided into three major
divisions:
1. Hindbrain.
2. Midbrain.
3. Forebrain.
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• The Hindbrain
consists of the:
– Medulla
– Pons
– Cerebellum
• Located at the
posterior portion of
the brain
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• The medulla (A):
– Located just above the
spinal cord
– Responsible for vital
reflexes such as
breathing, heart rate,
vomiting, salivation,
coughing and
sneezing.
• Cranial nerves allow the
medulla to control
sensations from the head,
muscle movements in the
head, and many
parasympathetic outputs
to the organs.
Table 4-4, p. 88
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Pons (B)
– lies on each side of
the medulla (ventral
and anterior).
– along with the
medulla, contains the
reticular formation and
raphe system, which
work together to
increase arousal and
readiness of other
parts of the brain
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Cerebellum (C):
– located posterior to the
brainstem with many
deep folds
– helps regulate motor
movement, balance and
coordination
– also important for
shifting attention
between auditory and
visual stimuli
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• The midbrain (D) is
comprised of the following
structures:
– Superior colliculus:
helps process visual
info
– Inferior colliculus: helps
process auditory
information
– Substantia nigra –
involved in movement
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Brain stem consists
of the:
– Medulla
– Pons
– Midbrain
– Some forebrain
structures
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Forebrain: most
prominent part of
the mammalian
brain, consisting of:
– the outer cortex
(“cerebral cortex”)
– subcortical
regions
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• The limbic system is
associated with
motivation, emotion,
drives and aggression,
and includes:
– Olfactory bulb
– Hypothalamus
– Hippocampus
– Amygdala
• Olfactory bulbs send
info about smell to
cortex
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Hypothalamus (F)
– Conveys messages to the
pituitary gland to trigger the
release of hormones
– Regulates autonomic nervous
system
– Involved in emotions and drives
vital to survival:
• Eating
• Drinking
• Sexual behavior
• Fear
• Feeling rewarded
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Pituitary gland (G)hormone producing
gland found at the base
of the hypothalamus.
• AKA: “Master Gland”
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Hippocampus is a large
structure of the limbic
system critical for
storing certain types of
memory.
• H.M., 1953
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Amygdala: almond-shaped
structure important for:
– initial emotional response to
stimuli
– directing motivated
behavior at an appropriate
target
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Forebrain structures
include:
– Thalamus (E) - relay
station for the sense
organs and main
source of input to the
cortex.
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Basal Ganglia - comprised of the caudate nucleus, the
putamen and the globus pallidus.
– Associated with planning of motor movement, and
aspects of memory and emotional expression .
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Nucleus basalis:
– receives input from
the hypothalamus
and basal ganglia
– key part of the brain’s
system for arousal,
wakefulness, and
attention
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• The ventricles are four fluid-filled cavities
within the brain containing cerebrospinal fluid.
The central canal is a fluid-filled channel in
the center of the spinal cord.
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a
clear fluid similar to blood
plasma found in the brain and
spinal cord:
– Provides “cushioning” for the
brain
– Reservoir of hormones and
nutrition for the brain and
spinal cord
– Choroid plexus: groups of
cells in the 4 ventricles that
continually manufacture CSF
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Meninges: thin
membranes surrounding
brain and spinal cord
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• The cerebral cortex is the most prominent part
of the mammalian brain and consists of the
cellular layers on the outer surface of the brain.
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• The four lobes of the cerebral cortex:
•
•
•
•
Occipital lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Frontal lobe
2 hemispheres
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• The Frontal lobe (H):
– involved in attention,
planning, decision-making,
etc.
– contains Broca’s area
(principal speech area) (H1)
– contains Precentral gyrus
(primary motor cortex) (H2),
responsible for control of
fine motor movement
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• Parietal lobe (I) :
– involved in body sensations
– contains postcentral gyrus
(I1) (primary sensory area), a
main target for touch
sensations
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• Temporal Lobe (J):
– involved in hearing
– also responsible for some
emotional and
motivational behaviors
– contains primary auditory
cortex (J1): Target for
auditory information and
essential for processing
spoken language
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
The Cerebral Cortex
• Occipital lobe (K):
– Highly responsible for
visual processing
– contains striate cortex
or primary visual area
(K1)
– damage can result in
cortical blindness
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
Central sulcus (L)
Longitudinal fissure (M)
Lateral fissure (N)
Neuroanatomy Handout #3: Brain Structures
• Corpus callosum
(O): large bundle of
axons joining the 2
hemispheres
• Anterior
commissure (P):
small bundle of
axons joining the 2
hemispheres
The Cerebral Cortex
• The binding problem refers to the question of how
the visual, auditory, and other areas of the brain
produce a perception of a single object.
– All areas of the brain communicate with each
other