Brain physiology

Introduction
The human brain is a mass of pinkish-gray tissue containing a neural network involving approximately 10 billion nerve cells, called neurons The brain is found in the cranial cavity. Weighing about three pounds It controls nearly every vital activity necessary for survival Emotions also are controlled by the brain: anger, fear, joy, love

Gyri (ridge)

Sulci (groove)

Fissure (deep groove)

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Brain Structures and their Functions

Cerebrum Cerebellum Limbic System Brain Stem

Cerebrum

Cerebrum

Cerebellum

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Cerebrum
located on the most superior part of the brain It is largest portion of the human brain (approximately 83% of total brain mass) It is divided by a deep crevice, called the longitudinal sulcus. into the right and left hemispheres The two hemispheres are connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum The right hemisphere is responsible for the left side of the body while the opposite is true of the left hemisphere

Cerebrum
In the hemispheres you will find the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and the limbic system Cortex: outer 2 - 4 mm of the cerebrum consists of gray matter (cell bodies & synapses; no myelin) Internally are the white matter, responsible for communication between cerebral areas and between the cerebral cortex and lower regions of the CNS

Lock and key hypothesis

Cerebral Cortex - The outermost layer of gray matter making up the superficial aspect of the cerebrum.

Cerebral Cortex

Cerebral

Cortex

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Each of the two hemispheres are divided into four separated lobes:
Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal

Frontal Lobe
Is the centre of logic and higher reasoning. When somebody plans and/or organizes an event associated with motor control, learning, planning and speech

Parietal Lobe
control of somatic sensory functions, Within the parietal lobe is the primary primary somatosensory cortex _______________________ which receives information pertaining to the senses of the touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. body: ___________________________. perception Specialized for sensory ________.

Occipital Lobe

control of vision Its primary function is the processing, integration, interpretation of VISION and visual stimuli.

Temporal Lobe

associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) Memory and Memory Formation and speech

The Cerebellum: "little brain"

It is similar to the cerebrum in that it has two hemispheres and has a highly folded surface or cortex. The cerebellum performs 3 major functions: Balance/ Equilibrium of the trunk Muscle tension, posture and balance of the limbs Fine motor control, eye movement. (Incoming information is transferred from the cerebral cortext via the pons. Outgoing information goes back to the cortex via the thalamus.)

The Limbic System

The Limbic System is a complex set of structures found just beneath the cerebrum and on both sides of the thalamus. It combines higher mental functions, and primitive emotion, into one system. It is often referred to as the emotional nervous system. It is not only responsible for our emotional lives, but also our higher mental functions, such as learning and formation of memories. The Limbic system explains why some things seem so pleasurable to us, such as eating and why some medical conditions are caused by mental stress, such as high blood pressure. It consists of:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Hippocampus The Amygdala The Thalamus The Hypothalamus The Fornix and Parahippocampus 6. The Cingulate Gyrus

Prepared by Aziza Alsayed Supervisored by professor doctor/ Azza Ismail