BBS1004: Brain, behavior and movement
Case 1: Neuroanatomy
What is the anatomy of the brain?
The diencephalon: where the homeostasis of the brain takes place.
It consists of the corpus callosum, the pineal gland, the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
Next to that you’ll also have the anterior and posterior pituitary. The diencephalon is
actually the sort of “in between brain”. The pituitary and the pineal glands are both
endocrine sections within the diencephalon.
The corpus callosum is the part that holds the two cerebral hemispheres together. And it is
also a part of the longitudinal fissure. It is situated just beneath the cerebral cortex in the
middle. It also enables the communication between the right and left cerebral
hemispheres through commissural fibres; which are axon that go from one side to the
other. Largest white matter structure in the human brain.
The thalamus receives sensory fibres from the optic tract, ears, spinal cord as well as
motor information from the cerebellum. Its function is to send the signal to the cerebrum
where the info is further processed. Almost all sensory information from the lower CNS
passes through the thalamus.
The hypothalamus lays beneath (ventral) from the thalamus. It is the centre for
homeostasis and contains centres for behavioural drives such as hunger
and thirst. The output of the hypothalamus does:
Activate the ANS
Maintains body temperature
Controls body osmolarity
Controls reproductive functions
Controls food intake
Interacts with limbic system to influence behaviour and emotions
Influences cardiovascular control in medulla
Secretes trophic hormones that control release of hormones from
anterior pituitary gland
All the output from the hypothalamus goes via the thalamus to the places it belongs to.
The input comes from the cerebrum, the reticular formation, and various sensory
receptors.
The pituitary glands consist of a posterior and anterior one. The posterior pituitary gland
is a down-growth from the hypothalamus and secretes neurohormones which are
synthesized in hypothalamic nuclei. The anterior pituitary gland is a endocrine gland
which produces hormones which are regulated by hypothalamic neurohormones secreted
by the hypophyseal portal system.
The pineal gland produces the melatonin hormone which is involved in sleeping
behaviour.
, Cerebrum: Largest and most distinctive part of the brain. It consists of two hemispheres
which are divided by the corpus callosum. The anterior and posterior commissures also
connect the left and right side. Each hemisphere processes sensory and motor info from the
contralateral side of the body. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes.
The parietal lobe, the frontal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe. The frontal lobe is
the well developed part which is responsible for the higher cognitive functions. The parietal
lobe is responsible for sensation such as smell, taste, eye-hand coordination and spatial
awareness. The temporal lobe is responsible for emotions, memories, language, speech,
sexual behaviour and perception. The occipital lobe is for the sight and recognition control,
so the visual part.
The structure of the cerebrum is known for its grooves called sulci and dividing convolutions
called gyri. Deeper grooves are also called fissures.
the cerebrum consists of grey matter parts and white matter parts. The grey matter part
consists of the cerebral cortex, the limbic system and the basal ganglia. The cerebral cortex is
the outer layer of the cerebrum. The neurons from the cerebral cortex are arranged in
anatomically distinct vertical columns and horizontal layers.
The basal ganglia: also called basal nuclei. Is involved
in movement control
The limbic system: surrounds the brain stem. It is the
link between the higher cognitive functions, such as
reasoning, and the more primitive emotional responses
such as fear.
The 3 main areas the limbic system consists of are the
amygdala, cingulate gyrus and the hippocampus. The
first two are mostly responsible for emotions and
memory and the hippocampus is associated with learning and memory.
Case 1: Neuroanatomy
What is the anatomy of the brain?
The diencephalon: where the homeostasis of the brain takes place.
It consists of the corpus callosum, the pineal gland, the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
Next to that you’ll also have the anterior and posterior pituitary. The diencephalon is
actually the sort of “in between brain”. The pituitary and the pineal glands are both
endocrine sections within the diencephalon.
The corpus callosum is the part that holds the two cerebral hemispheres together. And it is
also a part of the longitudinal fissure. It is situated just beneath the cerebral cortex in the
middle. It also enables the communication between the right and left cerebral
hemispheres through commissural fibres; which are axon that go from one side to the
other. Largest white matter structure in the human brain.
The thalamus receives sensory fibres from the optic tract, ears, spinal cord as well as
motor information from the cerebellum. Its function is to send the signal to the cerebrum
where the info is further processed. Almost all sensory information from the lower CNS
passes through the thalamus.
The hypothalamus lays beneath (ventral) from the thalamus. It is the centre for
homeostasis and contains centres for behavioural drives such as hunger
and thirst. The output of the hypothalamus does:
Activate the ANS
Maintains body temperature
Controls body osmolarity
Controls reproductive functions
Controls food intake
Interacts with limbic system to influence behaviour and emotions
Influences cardiovascular control in medulla
Secretes trophic hormones that control release of hormones from
anterior pituitary gland
All the output from the hypothalamus goes via the thalamus to the places it belongs to.
The input comes from the cerebrum, the reticular formation, and various sensory
receptors.
The pituitary glands consist of a posterior and anterior one. The posterior pituitary gland
is a down-growth from the hypothalamus and secretes neurohormones which are
synthesized in hypothalamic nuclei. The anterior pituitary gland is a endocrine gland
which produces hormones which are regulated by hypothalamic neurohormones secreted
by the hypophyseal portal system.
The pineal gland produces the melatonin hormone which is involved in sleeping
behaviour.
, Cerebrum: Largest and most distinctive part of the brain. It consists of two hemispheres
which are divided by the corpus callosum. The anterior and posterior commissures also
connect the left and right side. Each hemisphere processes sensory and motor info from the
contralateral side of the body. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes.
The parietal lobe, the frontal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe. The frontal lobe is
the well developed part which is responsible for the higher cognitive functions. The parietal
lobe is responsible for sensation such as smell, taste, eye-hand coordination and spatial
awareness. The temporal lobe is responsible for emotions, memories, language, speech,
sexual behaviour and perception. The occipital lobe is for the sight and recognition control,
so the visual part.
The structure of the cerebrum is known for its grooves called sulci and dividing convolutions
called gyri. Deeper grooves are also called fissures.
the cerebrum consists of grey matter parts and white matter parts. The grey matter part
consists of the cerebral cortex, the limbic system and the basal ganglia. The cerebral cortex is
the outer layer of the cerebrum. The neurons from the cerebral cortex are arranged in
anatomically distinct vertical columns and horizontal layers.
The basal ganglia: also called basal nuclei. Is involved
in movement control
The limbic system: surrounds the brain stem. It is the
link between the higher cognitive functions, such as
reasoning, and the more primitive emotional responses
such as fear.
The 3 main areas the limbic system consists of are the
amygdala, cingulate gyrus and the hippocampus. The
first two are mostly responsible for emotions and
memory and the hippocampus is associated with learning and memory.
