the brain and the spinal cord
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD
The Human Brain
FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN
IT RECEIVES MESSAGES FROM AND SENDS MESSAGES TO ALL ORGANS AND TISSUES OF THE BODY
IT CONTROLS BOTH VOLUNTARY & INVOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES
THE BRAIN GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LEARN, TO REASON AND TO FEEL
3 MAIN PARTS:
1. BRAIN STEM2. CEREBELLUM3. CEREBRUM
1. BRAIN STEM
THE LOWEST SECTION OF THE BRAIN WHICH CONNECTS IT TO THE SPINAL CORD
IT HAS 3 PARTS: Medulla Pons Midbrain
2. CEREBELLUM
IS AT THE BACK OF THE BRAIN STEM AND IS LINKED TO IT BY NERVE TRACTS
IT IS CONCERNED WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF POSTURE AND BALANCE, AND THE COORDINATION OF MOVEMENTS
3. CEREBRUM
LARGEST PART OF THE BRAIN
HAS 2 HEMISPHERES SEPARATED BY A GROOVE
IS DIVIDED INTO 4 SECTIONS OR LOBES
THALAMUS – CONSISTS OF TWO EGG-SHAPED MASSES OF NERVE TISSUE WHICH RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM THE SENSORY NEURONS AND SEND THEM TO SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE CEREBRUM WHERE THEY ARE INTERPRETED.
HYPOTHALAMUS – LIES BETWEEN THE THALAMUS AND THE PITUITARY GLAND
Frontal lobe—conscious thought; damage can result in mood changesParietal lobe—plays important roles in integrating sensory information from various senses, and in the manipulation of objects; portions of the parietal lobe are involved with visuospatial processingOccipital lobe—sense of sight; lesions can produce hallucinationsTemporal lobe—senses of smell and sound, as well as processing of complex stimuli like faces and scenes.
Brain in the flesh
THE SPINAL CORD
Is a part of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Begins at the base of the skull and extends throughout most of the backbone, or vertebral column
Structure
MAIN FUNCTIONS
IT IS THE LINK BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS) AND THE BRAIN.
HANDLES SOME INFORMATION COMING FROM THE SENSES AND PROVIDE MOTOR RESPONSES THAT DO NOT COME FROM THE BRAIN. THIS IS CALLED A REFLEX ACTION.