Working Brain

Brain anatomy

Search CIDPUSA WEBSITE

AUTOIMMUNE EPIDEMICFriday, 24 June 2005

Nervous System Brain

Contents

Neurons and Nerves
Neurotransmitter
The Brain
Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
Senses: Sight,Senses, Smell,Taste, Sences,Senses
Memory
Higher Functions
Altered States The human brain can be divided into three parts: the hindbrain, which has been inherited from the reptiles; the limbic system, which was first emerged in mammals; and the forebrain, which has its full development in human. Different views of the human brain are shown in Figure 03c and 04d. Tables 01 lists the functions of the different parts of the human brain. The brain is separated into two hemispheres. Apart from a single little organ -- the pineal gland in the centre base of the brain -- every brain module is duplicated in each hemisphere. The left brain is calculating, communicative and capable of conceiving and executing complicated plans --

Figure 03c Human Brain

Figure 03d Human Brain
[view large image c, d]

the reductionistic brain; while the right one is considered as gentle, emotional and more at one with the natural world -- the holistic brain. The cerebral cortex is covered in a thin skin of deeply wrinkled grey tissue called the grey matter (densely packed neurons for information processing). Each infold on the surface is known as a sulcus, and each bulge is know as a gyrus. While the white tissue inside are axons -- tentacles which reach out to other cells (to relay information). The cortex can be broken down into many functional regions, each containing thousands of cortical columns (oriented perpendicular to the cortical surface). Columns are typically about half a millimeter in diameter and contain about one hundred thousand neurons. They are the units of cognition (the mental process of acquiring knowledge by the use of reasoning, intuition or perception). Table 02 below lists the location and functions of the major components in the human brain.

Structure	Location	Functions
Hindbrain (Reptilian Brain)
Medulla	at the top of the spinal cord	controls breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Pons	above the medulla	regulates sensory information and facial expressions.
Cerebellum	at the lower rear	controls movement, coordination, balance, muscle tone, and learning motor skills.
Reticular Formation	a network of nerves extends from the medulla to the cerebrum	monitors the general level of activity in the hindbrain and maintains a state of arousal; essential for the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.
Midbrain (superior & inferior colliculus)	above the pons between the hindbrain and forebrain	relays sensory information from the spinal cord to the forebrain.
Pineal Gland	on top of the midbrain behind the thalamus (the third eye for fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and some birds) 3rd	involves in circadian and circannual rhythms; possibly involves in maturation of sex organs.
Limbic System (Mammalian Brain)

Continued to next page of Brain