Introduction to psychology
31/01/20 Brain and behaviour
The nervous system
How is the brain protected?
How can a ‘bowl full of jelly’ be protected?
Skull and meninges
Ventricular system
Blood-brain barrier.
Meninges
Dura mater (“hard mother”)
- Outermost, tough
Arachnoid membrane (“spider”)
- Subarachnoid space; filled with cerebrospinal fluid CSF), cushions the brain
Pia mater (“pious mother”)
- The layer of the meninges adjacent to the surface of the brain; thin and delicate.
Meningitis = inflammation of the meninges.
Ventricles
“Little bellies”
- Four hollow interconnected spaces located in the brain
o Each produce cerebral spinal fluid.
, Enlarged ventricles in brain are located near hippocampus (memory) = Alzheimer’s.
Cerebrospinal fluid
Clear fluid
- Replaced every 3-6 hours
Found in:
- Ventricular system, subarachnoid space
Why do we need it?
- Protection from shock
- Reduction of weight
- Carries hormones to other areas of the brain.
Hydrocephalus-
“Water” on the brain
- Not water, CSF
Too much fluid, puts pressure on brain tissue surrounding ventricles
Occurs at birth (congenital) or acquired (e.g. Traumatic Brain Injury/ stroke).
Blood-brain barrier
Limits passage between the bloodstream and brain
How?
- Capillaries are tighter the in the periphery
- Only small molecules can pass.
Development of CNS
Brain development (ontogeny)
Neural tube
- A hollow tube, serves as the origin of the CNS.
Terminology
31/01/20 Brain and behaviour
The nervous system
How is the brain protected?
How can a ‘bowl full of jelly’ be protected?
Skull and meninges
Ventricular system
Blood-brain barrier.
Meninges
Dura mater (“hard mother”)
- Outermost, tough
Arachnoid membrane (“spider”)
- Subarachnoid space; filled with cerebrospinal fluid CSF), cushions the brain
Pia mater (“pious mother”)
- The layer of the meninges adjacent to the surface of the brain; thin and delicate.
Meningitis = inflammation of the meninges.
Ventricles
“Little bellies”
- Four hollow interconnected spaces located in the brain
o Each produce cerebral spinal fluid.
, Enlarged ventricles in brain are located near hippocampus (memory) = Alzheimer’s.
Cerebrospinal fluid
Clear fluid
- Replaced every 3-6 hours
Found in:
- Ventricular system, subarachnoid space
Why do we need it?
- Protection from shock
- Reduction of weight
- Carries hormones to other areas of the brain.
Hydrocephalus-
“Water” on the brain
- Not water, CSF
Too much fluid, puts pressure on brain tissue surrounding ventricles
Occurs at birth (congenital) or acquired (e.g. Traumatic Brain Injury/ stroke).
Blood-brain barrier
Limits passage between the bloodstream and brain
How?
- Capillaries are tighter the in the periphery
- Only small molecules can pass.
Development of CNS
Brain development (ontogeny)
Neural tube
- A hollow tube, serves as the origin of the CNS.
Terminology
