Lab Activity 14 The Brain Portland Community College

Lab Activity 14 The Brain Portland Community College BI 232

Brain Regions • Cerebrum • Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland) • Cerebellum • Brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata) 2

Cerebrum • Frontal lobe • Motor, speech (usually left lobe), personality • Parietal lobe • Sensation (except smell), language • Occipital lobe • Vision • Temporal lobe • Hearing, smell, language 3

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Cerebral Cortex • The superficial layer/rim of gray matter in the cerebral hemispheres • Gray matter consists of cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons. 5

Sulci & Gyri Sulci • Sulci: Shallow depressions of the cerebral cortex • Central sulcus is between the frontal and parietal lobes • Lateral sulcus is between the parietal lobes and temporal lobes. • Fissures: Deep grooves • Longitudinal: separates cerebral hemispheres • Transverse: separates cerebrum form the cerebellum • Gyri: The elevated ridges of the cerebral cortex • Serve to increase the surface area 6

Longitudinal Fissure Transverse fissure Transverse Fissure 7

Central Sulcus Lateral Sulcus 8

Precentral Gyrus: (frontal lobe) contains the primary motor area Central Sulcus Postcentral Gyrus: (parietal lobe) contains the primary somatosensory area. 9

White Matter & Basal Nuclei • White matter consists primarily of myelinated axons • Is beneath the gray matter cortex • Notice how it is the opposite arrangement from the spinal cord (Spinal cord: white matter is on the outside and gray matter is on the inside. ) • Corpus callosum: Connects the right and left hemispheres • Basal nuclei: Islands of gray matter within the white matter. • Function: Involved in the subconscious control of skeletal muscle tone and the coordination of learned movement patterns 10

White Matter & Basal Nuclei White Matter Basal Nuclei Corpus Callosum 11

Diencephalon Structures • Thalamus • Hypothalamus • Epithalamus 12

Diencephalon: Epithalamus • Superior to the third ventricle, contains the pineal gland Pineal gland 13

Diencephalon: Thalamus • Relay station for sensory input 14

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus • Pituitary gland: Attaches to the hypothalamus via the infundibulum • Mamillary bodies: Process olfactory sensations. Pituitary gland (not in this picture) would be hanging here Mamillary body 15

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus • Major Functions: 1. Controls somatic motor activities at the subconscious level 2. Controls autonomic function 3. Coordinates activities of the nervous and endocrine systems 4. Secretes hormones 5. Produces emotions and behavioral drives 6. Coordinates voluntary and autonomic functions 7. Regulates body temperature 8. Coordinates circadian cycles of activity 16

Cerebellum • Functions: • Coordination of movements • Adjustment of postural muscles Arbor Vita (white matter that looks like a leaf) Vermis 17

Brainstem 3 Structures: • Midbrain (mesencephalon) • Pons • Medulla oblongata Corpora quadrigemina 18

Midbrain Pons Medulla Corpora 19 quadrigemina

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Brainstem: Pons • Functions: • Sensory and motor nuclei of Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, and VIII • Respiratory control: • Apneustic center and pneumotaxic center to modify the activity of the respiratory rhythmicity center in the medulla • Nuclei and tracts that process and relay information to and from the cerebellum 22

Brainstem: Midbrain • Functions: • Connects pons to cerebellum • Superior colliculi: visual reflex centers • Inferior colliculi: auditory reflex centers 23

Brain Meninges: Dura Mater • Continuous with the spinal meninges • Dura mater: An outer and inner fibrous connective tissue • Outer later is fused to the periosteum of the cranial bones (no epidural space) • Between the layers are tissue fluids, blood vessels and venous sinuses. • Venous sinuses are large collecting veins. • Venous sinuses drain into the internal jugular veins 24

Dural Folds • The inner layer of dura mater that extends into the cranial cavity. • Provide additional stabilization and support for the brain • Contain the dural sinuses 25

Dural Folds • Falx cerebri projects between the cerebral hemispheres in the longitudinal fissure • Superior sagittal sinus & inferior sagittal sinus • Tentorium cerebelli separates the cerebellar hemisphere from the cerebrum • Transverse sinus • Falx cerebelli divides the cerebellar hemispheres 26

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Brain Meninges: Arachnoid & Pia Mater • Arachnoid mater consists of the arachnoid membrane and fibers of the arachnoid trabeculae that attach to the pia mater • Pia mater: attached to the surface of the brain, anchored by processes of astrocytes • Contains branches of cerebral blood vessels that penetrate the surface of the brain. • CSF is between these two membranes in the subarachnoid space 28

Ventricles 29

Brainstem: Medulla Oblongata • Functions: • Center for the coordination of complex autonomic reflexes (heart rate, respiratory rhythm, blood pressure) • Control of visceral functions (vomiting, swallowing) • Decussation of pyramids: a crossover point for the major motor tracts 30

Cranial nerves • 12 pairs of cranial nerves • Originate from the nervous tissue of the brain • Some are mixed nerves while some are only sensory. • We will learn more later 31

Sheep Brain Dissection • Follow instructions in book for the sheep brain dissection. • When finished discard brain in the container provided. Wash utensils and put back so other classes can use the materials. • ID structures on the brain models for next week’s quiz. 32

The End 33