Research Assessment #1:

Date: September 15, 2017

Subject: Neurosurgery

MLA Citations: Lewis, Tanya. Human Brain: Facts, Functions & Anatomy. LiveScience,
Purch, 25 Mar. 2016, www.livescience.com/29365-human-brain.html.

Analysis:

In order to pursue my interest in neurosurgery, I must understand the mechanisms of the

brain. I continued to expand my knowledge about the brain, as it would prove to be useful in the
future. By reading through articles about the brain, I will be able to understand the anatomy of
the brain. Understanding the anatomy of the brain will open doors to understanding disorders of
the brain, allowing me to understand why a particular surgery is being done.

In my first article, I dove into the intricate anatomy of the brain. To begin, the brain is the
largest of all the vertebrates, but the brain only makes up about 2% of the human body weight.
The brain is made up of 86 billion nerve cells (gray matter) and contains billions of nerve fibers
(axons and dendrites). These neurons are connected by trillions of synapses. The neurons are an
essential part of the brain because they fire electrical signals, which is how messages get sent
throughout the body.

In my study, I specifically dove into the anatomy of the brain. To being, Lewis says The
largest part of the human brain is the cerebrum, which is divided into two hemispheres. The
cerebrum is divided into a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere. The left hemisphere controls
the right side of the body and performs logical tasks. The right hemisphere controls the left side
of the body and performs tasks that have to do with creativity. The outermost part of the
cerebrum is the cerebral cortex, which consists of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital
lobes. The frontal lobe controls the voluntary activity and deals with cognitive functions. The
parietal lobe processes information about temperature, touch, taste, and movement. The
temporal lobe is the part of the brain that deals with hearing functions, while the occipital lobe
deals with the eye functions. The temporal lobe also consists of the hippocampus, which stores
memory, and the amygdala, which deals with emotion (particularly anger). Continuing on, Lewis
points out how the brain connects to the brainstem, as he says, The brainstem connects to the
spinal cord and consists of the medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain. The primary functions of
the brainstem include: relaying information between the brain and the body; supplying some of
the cranial nerves to the face and head; and performing critical functions in controlling the heart,
breathing and consciousness. The medulla oblongata is very essential and deals with many
essential functions. However, it is quite fragile and is damaged easily, thus, seeing some sort of
surgery with the medulla oblongata is common. Lastly, the brain consists of the thalamus and the
hypothalamus. The thalamus is involved in regulating consciousness, sleep and alertness, while
the hypothalamus connects the nervous system to the endocrine system.

Through my research, I have significantly expanded my knowledge on the specific parts

of the brain and their functions. Not only do I have a greater understanding of what each brain
part does, but I also understand the relation of the brain to other organs. Additionally, this
research helped not only in clarifying some of my doubts, but also in clearing some of my hidden
misconceptions. For example, I always thought that the hypothalamus only signals the brain
when the body is in dire need for energy; however, the hypothalamus is much more than that.
Lastly, this research has not only educated me, but it has also sparked my passion in
neuroscience.