BRAIN AND

SPINAL CORD

PRESENTED BY (2018-19)-
PRASHU KEJARIWAL(56)
PRATEEKSHA GUPTA(57)
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF -
PRATHISTHA (58)
Dr. AK SRIVASTAVA
PRERNA BANSAL(59)
(PROF. & HOD ANATOMY)
PRERNA PRIYA(60)
 CONTENTS
1) Nervous System
2) Types of Nervous System
3) Brain
4) Classification of Brain
5) Ventricles of Brain
6) Cranial Nerves
7) Blood Supply
8) Clinical Anatomy
9) Spinal Cord
10) Meningeal Covering
11) Spinal Nerves
12) Clinical Anatomy
NERVOUS SYSTEM
The nervous system is
master controlling
and communicating
system of body.

The nervous system

controls and
coordinates all
essential functions of
human body.
FUNCTIONS
Integrative-Process and
interprets the sensory
Sensory-The nervous system uses input and makes
its million sensory receptors to decisions about what
monitor changes occuring both in should be done each
and outside the body. The moment.
changes are called STIMULI to
which the body responds.

Motor-Sends information to muscles,

glands, and other organs so they can
respond correctly
 TYPES OF NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-
 Consist of brain and spinal cord which acts as integrated and
command center of nervous system.
 Interpret incoming sensory information and issue instructions
based on past experience and current conditions.

2. PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-

 Part of nervous system outside the CNS.
 Consist mainly of nerves that extend from brain and spinal
cord namely,
Cranial nerves- Carry impulse to and from brain.
Spinal Nerves- Carry impulse to and from spinal cord.
 AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
 T h e autonomic nervous system (ANS or visceral nervous
system) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts
as a control system functioning largely below the level of
consciousness, and controls function.
Responsible for control of “involuntary” or visceral
bodily function:
 Cardiovascular

 Respiratory

 Digestive

 Urinary

 Reproductive functions

 Key role in the bodies response to stress

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
It is classically divided into two subsystems:

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:

 Allow body to function under stress
 Fight or flight
 Primes body for intense skeletal muscle activity

PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

 Maintenance functions
 Rest-and-digest
 Counterbalances sympathetic function
BRAIN
 Largest organ in the body and coordinates most body
activities.
 Center for all thoughts, memory, judgement and emotions.
 Each part of the brain is responsible for controlling different
body functions, such as temperature regulation and
breathing.
 Contained in skull and weighs about 1200 to 1400 grams.
 Made up of about 1000 billion neurons which is surrounded
by neuroglial cells.
 Neurons cannot multiply and many neurons are lost
everyday in life but glial cells can multiply throughout the
life.
 Brain is covered by “MENINGES” like spinal cord , outer
duramater, middle arachnoidmater and inner piamater.
CLASSIFICATION OF BRAIN
 FOREBRAIN
 The forebrain also known as Prosencephalon is the forward
most portion of brain.
 It is the primary brain vesicle during early development of
nervous system.
 The forebrain controls-
 Body temperature
 Reproductive functions
 Eating
 Sleeping
 Display of emotions.
 The forebrain has following 2 parts-
1. Cerebrum
2. Diencephalon
 CEREBRUM
 The Largest section of brain.
 Located in upper portion and is the area of thoughts,
judgement, memory, problem solving and language.
 Cerebral cortex- the superficial layer of the cerebrum is
“gray mater” & this is 2-4 mm thick called “Cerebral
cortex” contains billions neurons.
 During embryonic development when brain size
increases rapidly, the gray matter of cortex enlarges
much faster than deeper white matter so as resulting
roles and folds upon itself.
• The folds are called “gyri” or “convolutions”.
• The deepest grooves between the folds are called
“Fissures”
• The shallow grooves between folds are called “sulci”.
• The most prominent fissure, the “longitudinal fissure”
separates the cerebrum into right and left halves called
CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES.
• Each cerebral hemisphere has 4 lobes
1. Frontal lobe
2. Parietal lobe
3. Temporal lobe
4. Occipital lobe
LOBES OF CEREBRUM
 FUNCTIONS OF CEREBRUM
 Motor functions like control of voluntary movements.

 Sensory functions like perception of pain, temperature,

touch, taste and smell.

 Control of intelligence, speech, memory and learning etc.

 DIENCEPHALON
 Diencephalon consists of dorsal thalamus and ventral
hypothalamus.
 The thalamus lies on either side of third ventricle.
 It is a relay station on different sensory pathway to
cerebral cortex.
 The hypothalamus forms the lower part of lateral wall
and floor of third ventricle.
 VENTRICLES OF FOREBRAIN
THIRD VENTRICLE LATERAL VENRRICLES
• Narrow slit like median • Present in each cerebral
cavity between hemisphere, and roughly
hypothalamus and C shaped cavity.
thalamus. • The two lateral ventricles
• Communicates with 4th are separated by a layer
ventricle through cerebral of ependymal cells
aqueduct of sylvius. forming septum
• In front, it opens through pellucidum.
foramina of Monro. • Through foramen of
Monro, they
communicate with 3rd
ventricle.
 MIDBRAIN
 Also called Mesencephalon
 Narrow part of the brain which connects the forebrain
with the hindbrain.
 It has two lateral halves called “Cerebral Peduncles”.
 The narrow cavity of midbrain is the cerebral aqueduct
which connects the third and fourth ventricle.
 Serves important functions in motor movement.
 Also helps to relay information for vision and hearing.
 HINDBRAIN
 Hindbrain, also called rhombencephalon, region of
the developing brain that is composed of the
1. The pons
2. Cerebellum
3. Medulla Oblongata
 The hindbrain coordinates functions that are
fundamental to survival, including respiratory rhythm,
motor activity, sleep, and wakefulness.
 PONS
 In latin, pons=bridge which means it connects cerebellum
to the rest of the brain.
 Situated on anterior surface of cerebellum below
midbrain and above medulla oblongata.
 It is origin of several cranial nerves.
 CEREBELLUM
 Lies posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata.
 Its two hemispheres are connected by median portion
called “vermis”.
 It is connected to midbrain, pons and medulla by
superior, middle and inferior “cerebellar peduncles”.
FUNCTIONS OF CEREBELLUM
 Contracts contraction of skeletal muscles.
 Regulates proper posture and balance of body.
 May play role in cognition/ learning from experiences
and language processing.
 MEDULLA OBLONGATA
 Lowermost portion of brain; connects pons to spinal cord.
 Conical in shape.
 It is a control center for vital involuntary reflexes
such as swallowing, vomiting, sneezing, coughing,
and regulation of cardiovascular and
respiratory activities.
 CRANIAL NERVES
 There are twelve pair of cranial nerves that are attached to
brain.
 They emerge from the brain and pass
through foramina in the
base of skull.
 BLOOD SUPPLY OF BRAIN
 There are 2 VERTEBRAL ARTERIES and 2 INTERNAL
CAROTID ARTERIES that carry total arterial supply of brain.
 A lack of oxygen of just a few minutes results in irreversible
damage to the brain.
 VERTEBRAL ARTERY
 The vertebral artery on each side is a branch of first part of
subclavian artery. Its course is divided into four parts:
 1st part lies from its origin to the foramen tranversarium of 6th
cervical vertebra.
 2nd parts courses through foramen transversaria of 6th to 1st
cervical vertebrae.
 3rd part lies on posterior arch of atlas vertebra in the
suboccipital triangle.
 4th enters the cranium through foramen magnum under the
free margin of posterior atlanto-occipital membrane.
BRANCHES OF VERTEBRAL
ARTERY
 Posterior spinal artery.
 Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery.
 Anterior spinal artery.
 Medullary branches.
 Meningeal branches.
BASILAR ARTERY
 It is formed by the union of two vertebral arteries at the
lower border of pons.
 It lies in median groove of pons in cisterna pontis and at
upper border of pons ends by dividing into two posterior
cerebral arteries.
BRANCHES of BASILAR ARTERY
 Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
 Labyrinthine Artery
 Pontine Branches
 Superior Cerebellar Artery
 Two terminal posterior cerebrellar diverge at upper
border of pons.
 Branches of posterior cerebral arteries
1. Postero-medial central branches
2. Posterior choroidal artery
3. Cortical Branches
INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
 Each internal carotid artery enters the cranial cavity
after traversing the carotid canal and superior aspect of
foramen lacerum.
 It then courses through cavernous sinus, pierces the Dural
roof of sinus and ends immediately lateral to optic
chiasma and inferior to anterior perforated substance
and divides into middle and anterior cerebral arteries.
BRANCHES OF INTERNAL
CAROTID ARTERY
 Ophthalmic Artery
 Posterior Communicating Artery
 Anterior Choroidal Artery
 Anterior Cerebral Artery
 Middle Cerebral Artery
 CLINICAL ANATOMY
1. DEJERINE SYNDROME- Occurs due to blockage of
anterior spinal artery. May be due to damage to
pyramid of medulla.
2. WALLENBERG SYNDROME- Occurs due to blockage
of posterior inferior cerebellar artery.
3. PONTINE HAEMORRHAGE- Bilateral paralysis of face
and limbs due to VII nerve nucleus.
4. TUMOUR OF PONS- Astrocytoma is the most common
tumour of brain stem usually in childhood. Signs and
symptoms may vary according to area of origin and
tumour
SPINAL CORD
INTRODUCTION
 Long cylindrical lower part of central
nervous system.
 Main pathway for information connecting
brain and PNS.
 Occupies 2/3rd of vertebral canal
 Gives rise to 31 pair of spinal nerves.
Features
 Size-
Adult Male= 45 cm
Adult female=42 cm
 Weight= 30 grams
 Surrounded by 3 meninges.
 Extends from upper border of atlas upto lower border of
1st lumbar vertebrae in adults and L3 in children.
Meningeal Coverings
 Surrounded by 3 meningeal coverings
 Outermost Duramater, middle Arachnoid mater
and innermost Piamater.
 Space between duramater and arachnoid mater is
called subdural space.
 The arachnoid and piamater are separated by sub
arachnoid space which is filled with cerebrospinal
fluid.
 SPINAL NERVES
 A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor,
sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal
cord and the body.
 In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves,
one on each side of the vertebral column.
 These are grouped into the corresponding
cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of
the spine.
 CLINICAL ANATOMY
1. Anterior Spinal Artery supplies anterior 2/3rd while posterior
Spinal Artery supplies posterior 1/3rd of spinal cord. Posterior
column gets affected in posterior spinal artery thrombosis.
Anterior column gets affected in anterior spinal artery
thrombosis.
CLINICAL ANATOMY(contd…)
2. Conus medullaris syndrome- Due to injury to S2, S3 and
S4 segments of spinal cord. Also it affects sexual functions
because the same nerves carry out sexual functions as
well.
3. Poliomyelitis- Viral disease which involves anterior horn
cells leading to paralysis of affected segments.
4. Tabes dorsalis- Occurs during tertiary stage if syphilis.
There is degenerative lesions of dorsal nerve root.
Symptoms include severe pain in lower limbs.
5. Meningitis- Inflammation of meninges that surrounds
brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headache fever
and stiff neck.
Most meningitis cases are caused by virus but bacteria
and fungus are also causative agents.