REGIONS OF THE BRAIN

THE CEREBRUMFUNCTIONS: Controls intelligence

& conscious thought, reasoning, judgment

Interprets senses Controls complex

muscle patterns Memory

storage/retrieval

THE CEREBRUMStructures: Paired hemispheres

Gyri = outer elevated ridges

Sulci = shallow depressions between

THE CEREBRUMStructures cont.: Longitudinal fissure =

separates R & L hemispheres Corpus callosum = thick band

of nerve fibers connecting R & L & allows communication

THE CEREBRUM: Right vs Left

LEFT: Speech /language Reading/writing Analytical tasks – math! Logic/reason

RIGHT: Musical/Artistic Emotional expression Visual – pictures Pattern recognition

LOBES OF THE CEREBRUM

1. Frontal☆ Primary motor area☆ Frontal association area =

judgment & reason☆ Taste area

2. Parietal☆ Primary sensory area – touch, temp, pressure & pain

3. Temporal

☆ Auditory & Olfactory area4. Occipital

☆ VisualCentral sulcus

Lateral sulcus

THE CEREBRUM: An Overview

Let Us Look Inside the Cerebrum…

THE DIENCEPHALON

THE DIENCEPHALON

Thalamus☆ All sensory info (except

smell) is relayed through & then sent to appropriate areas of brain for response

THE DIENCEPHALONHypothalamus☆ Primary link between NS & endocrine – pituitary

releases hormones

☆ Regulates moods, thirst, appetite, waking vs sleep

☆ Regulates body temp & water balance

☆ Reg. & coordinates autonomic – digestion & urination

THE BRAIN STEM1. Midbrain:

☆ Maintains alertness

2. Pons: ☆ Regulates respiration rate

All information to and from our body passes through the brain stem on the way to or from the brain. Like the frontal and temporal lobes, the brain stem is located in an area near bony protrusions making it vulnerable to damage during trauma.

3. Medulla Oblongata:☆ Connects brain to spinal cord ☆ Regulates breathing rhythm, ♡ rate, blood flow

☆ Reflexes: vomiting, sneezing, hiccupping & swallowing

THE CEREBELLUM☆ Coordinates

subconscious skeletal muscle – maintains balance & postureEx: moving an object

2nd Largest Region

☆ Damage – trauma, stroke or drugs (alcohol) = ataxia

THE LIMBIC SYSTEM☆ A functional system

not anatomical – parts of cerebrum, hypothalamus & brain stem

☆ Emotion centers, memory, links conscious thoughts to unconscious functions

WRAPPING UP THE BRAIN

ANOTHER LOOK INSIDE