I. Protection of Brain:
A. Cranial Bones (8)
B. Cranial Meninges
1. Dura mater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Pia mater
4. Meningitis
II. Cerebrospinal Fluid
A. Choroid plexus
B. Functions
C. Production and Circulation
D. Lumbar Puncture
III. Blood Supply
A. R & L Internal carotid and vertebral arteries
B. Circle of Willis
1. cerebrovascular disease (CVA/stroke, aneurysm)
C. Oxygen & glucose requirements
IV. Blood-Brain Barrier
A. Tight junctions
B. Basement membrane specialization
C. Astrocytes
D. Small hydrophobic molecules and drugs pass BBB into CNS
V. Brain Structure
A. Brainstem
1. Medulla Oblongata
a. vital functions
i. cardiovascular center
ii. respiratory rhythm center
iii. swallow/vomit reflexes
b. contains pyramids (pyramidal decussation of motor tracts)
2. Pons
a. "bridge" between cerebellum and brainstem
b. also contains respiratory centers (works with medulla)
3. Midbrain
a. Corpora quadrigemina (also called "tectum")
i. superior colliculi
aa. controls visual reflexes
ii. inferior colliculi
aa. controls auditory reflexes
b. Substantia nigra
i. helps fine-tune voluntary motor activity
ii. dopamine-producing neurons
iii. degenerates in Parkinson's
disease
c. Red nucleus
d. Reticular formation
i. extends along entire brainstem
ii. maintains consciousness and alertness
iii. releases norepinephrine to higher brain areas ("wake-up call")
B. Cerebellum
1. Compares intended action with actual motor actions ("Great Comparator")
2. Oversees learned actions (e.g. bicycle riding)
3. Ipsilateral control (right cerebellar lobe regulates right side motor function)
4. Structural features
a. Folia (surface "wrinkles")
b. Vermis (central connecting region)
c. Arbor vitae (white matter branches "tree of life")
d. Cerebellar peduncles (attaches to brainstem "feet")
5. 2nd largest portion of the brain
C. Diencephalon
1. Thalamus
a. Major sensory relay center
i. medial geniculate nucleus
aa. relays auditory signals
i. lateral geniculate nucleus
bb. relays visual signals
2. Pineal
a. produces melatonin hormone
b. regulates circadian rhythm
3. Hypothalamus
a. Location
b. Many functions (homeostasis, examples)
i. thirst, hunger centers
ii. sleep & wake centers
iii. thermoregulatory center
iv. blood osmolarity center
v. emotional aspects
vi. MAJOR endocrine center (controls pituitary)
c. mammillary bodies
i. triggers smell-induced memories
d. infundibulum
D. Limbic System
1. System of structures communicating together
2. Functions of limbic system
a. governs learning, memory & emotions
3. Major structures involved
a. amygdala
i. rage, fear, emotions
b. hippocampus
i. located in temporal lobe (deep)
ii. memory processing
iii. severely affected in Alzhiemer's disease)
c. fornix
i. fiber tract connecting hypothalamus and hippocampus
d. mammillary bodies
E. Basal Nuclei
1. Several regions working with cerebral cortex & cerebellum for motor control and muscle tone
2. Corpus striatum ("striped body")
a. caudate nucleus
b. lenticular (lentiform) nucleus
F. Cerebrum
1. Review Structural terms (gyri/sulci; grey/white matter; lobes/hemispheres; etc.)
2. Major Functions of each lobe
a. Frontal lobe
i. motor, precentral gyrus (damage causes apraxia)
ii. speech motor in Broca's area (damage causes of aphasia)
iii. aggression/motivation/personality/judgement in prefrontal area
iv. (Learn about Walter Freeman's"Ice Pick Lobotomies) and read about 'My Lobotomy': Howard Dully's Journey.
3. Parietal lobe
a. sensory, postcental gyrus speech understanding in Wernicke's area
4. Temporal lobe
a. auditory, memory processing
b. hippocampus
i. memory processing, (interesting association of music with memory)
5. Occipital lobe
a. visual cortex
b. visual association area (damage causes agnosia)
6. Cerebral Lateralization
a. right hemisphere
i. spatial, artistic, imagination, left side motor & sensory cortex
b. left hemisphere
i. language, reasoning, logic, mathematics, right side motor & sensory cortex
7. Corpus Callosum
a. largest fiber tract in brain
b. connects R & L hemispheres
c. involvement in certain forms of epilepsy
VI. Cranial Nerves (Try an interactive cranial nerve tutorial...)
I. Olfactory
II. Optic
III. Oculomotor
IV. Trochlear
V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Vestibulocochlear (auditory)
IX. Glossopharyngeal
X. Vagus
XI. Spinal Accessory
XII. Hypoglossal
VII. Neurotransmitters
A. Acetylcholine
1. all neurons exiting CNS release Ach
B. GABA
1. derived from glycine
2. major inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS
3. Valium enhances GABA's "calming" effects - alleviates anxiety
D. Catecholamines
1. derived from tyrosine
2. dopamine
a. produced in substantia nigra
b. dopaminergic cells degenerate in Parkinson's disease
3. norepinephrine
a. produced by RAS - wakefullness, alertness center
b. effects enhanced or mimicked by cocaine, amphetamines ("speed"), ritalin
E. Serotonin (5-HT)
1. derived from tryptophan
2. possible roles in sleep, psychoses, schizophrenia, hallucinogenic effects of LSD
3. Prozac enhances effects of serotonin - alleviates depression
F. Enkephalins & Endorphins
1. peptide neurotransmitters
2. pain modulators
3. morphine, heroin, codeine mimic endorphins
G. Substance P
1. pain signal neurotransmitter
2. capsacin (in hot peppers) triggers release
H. Nitric oxide (NO)
1. newly discovered neurotransmitter
2. only neurotransmitter not stored in vesicles
3. role in CNS unclear - possibly involved in memory
This is only a general outline.
There may be material that has been discussed in lecture that is not included in this outline
and there may be material on this outline that has not been discussed in lecture.
Any material discussed in lecture or listed in this outline is "fair game" for the test.
Try the sheep brain tutorial for lecture and lab material review:
 |
Brain Tutorial: (Covers both anatomy and physiology of the brain (over 200 multiple choice questions) in an interactive tutorial to challenge your cortical synapses!!) |
