Lecture 1 & 2 Anatomy of the CNS
Neurons = receives, conducts, sends
chemical mediated electrical signals via
synapses; synaptic transmission.
Glial cells
• Microglia = Defence, repair
• Astrocyte = Support, nutrition
• Oligodendrocyte = Insulation
Nervous system
Central
• Brain
• Spinal cord
Peripheral
• Cranial nerves
• Spinal nerves
Perception, Movement ,Learning memory, The CNS is triptych = Sensory input ,
Personality, Emotions behaviour, Interneurons, Motor output
Consciousness, Language
Gray matter = Nuclei Brain = Gray matter outside
White matter = Axon Spinal cord = Gray matter inside
The brain is split into 5 vesicles
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Neurodevelopment
The neural plate folds in on itself and forms the neural tube.
When this “zipping” up of the neural tube goes wrong it can
lead to a spina bifida, which can sometimes be corrected
with surgery and is sometimes fatal to the baby. Especially is the opening is at the cranium.
, Development of the Spinal cord
Brain vesicles
5 weeks
6 weeks
, Telencephalons
The cells in the brain are connected by a
bunch of axons called the corona radiata.
These all come together in the brain stem
where it is called the internal capsule.
Inside the white matter of the brain are bits
of grey matter
Gyri = The wormy wrinkles in the brain
Sulci = The slits in the brain
In Alzheimer’s patients the cells in the brain start
dying. This causes the gyri to appear smaller and
the sulci bigger.