ANAT2009 L13: Neuroanatomy

Brain
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Brain consists of, Grey matter, White matter and Glia cells
o Grey matter contain cell bodies (soma) of neurons
o White matter contain axons of neurons
o Glia cells: Astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes

Astrocytes supporting cells (support neurons)

Microglia macrophages in brain

Oligodendrocytes myelinate neuron fibers of neurons (wraps

around axon increase conduction speed)

Brain regions
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Cerebrum:
o Cerebral cortex
o Subcortical structures
o Diencephalon contain thalamus, hypothalamus

Brainstem conserved across mammalian species (as it performs simple functions)

o Mid brain
o Pons
o Medulla

Cerebellum conserved across mammalian species

Spinal cord

Brain
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Brain develops from neural tube

Lumen of neural tube becomes ventricular system in brain filled with

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Ventricle are present throughout brain lateral ventricles

Brain size does not correlates with intelligence

Brain maturation
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Grey matter decrease in male at steady rate as they age

Grey matter does not decrease as much initially in females, but decreases more later

White matter increases then decreases with age

CSF space increases with age

Brain Size
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Brain size related to body size: Body size increase Brain size increase

Brain: Interspecies differences

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Difference in complexity of connections

Differences in regional development

Increase in association areas brain able to do more complex computations

surrounding sensory inputs

Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebral Cortex)

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Complex animals have surface folding in cerebral cortex

o Gyri peak of fold
o Sulci trough of fold
o Fissures deep sulci

Gyri and sulci increase surface area of cerebral cortex

Gyri and sulci allow variation between individuals

Major sulcus in Cerebral Hemisphere:

o Central sulcus separate frontal lobe from parietal lobe
o Lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure) separates frontal, parietal, temporal lobes

o Medial view of the brain (on the saggittal plane)

Parieto-occipital sulcus separate parietal and occipital lobe

Calcarine sulcus

Longitudinal fissure

Lobes of the Cerebral Hemispheres:

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Frontal lobe anterior to central sulcus

Parietal lobe posterior to central sulcus

Temporal lobe inferior to lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure)

Occipital lobe

Limbic lobe only seen on the medial surface

o Insula cortex
o Cingulate cortex
o Parahippocampal cortex

Frontal Lobe:
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Consists of 4 gyri (peak of fold):

o Pre-central gyrus
o Superior frontal gyrus
o Middle frontal gyrus
o Inferior frontal gyrus

Parietal lobe:
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Post-central gyrus

Superior parietal lobule

Inferior parietal lobule

Temporal lobe:
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Superior temporal gyrus

Middle temporal gyrus

Inferior temporal gyrus

Limbic lobe (at the saggittal plane)

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Insula cortex

Cingulate gyrus

Parahippocampal gyrus

Cortical Function: Frontal Lobe

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Cortical = cortex

Pre-central gyrus aka. Primary Motor cortex Voluntary movement

o Pre-central gyrus is somatotopically organised All of surface of body is
represented within neurons in the brain in a patterned way

Pre-central gyrus + parts of Superior and Middle frontal gyri Pre-motor and
Supplementary motor cortex Control movement preparation and initiation

Inferior Frontal gyrus aka. Brocas Area Production of written and spoken
language

Lateral Prefrontal cortex rational aspects of decision making

o Orbital frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex involved in emotional
aspects of decision making

Remainder of Superior, Middle and Inferior frontal gyri involved in complex

functions Personality/insight, foresight

Frontal Lobe in Different Species

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Lateral prefrontal cortex present in all primates

o Lateral prefrontal cortex NOT present in lab rat

Cortical Function: Parietal Lobe

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Post-central gyrus aka. Primary Somatosensory cortex touch, pain,

proprioception
o Somatotopically organised

Inferior parietal gyrus aka. Wernickes Area Speech comprehension

o Work in conjunction with Brocas area

Brocas area and Wernickes area are connected via the arcuate fasciculus strong
projection in inferior frontal gyrus

Remainder of Parietal cortex involved in complex components of spatial

orientation and perception

Brocas area and Wernickes area in Primates

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Non-human primates do not talk BUT they have homologues of speech region
o These regions were re-purposed in humans

Cortical Function: Temporal Lobe

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Opercular part of superior temporal gyrus aka. Transverse temporal gyrus of

Heschl Primary auditory cortex

Remainder of temporal lobe contain hippocampus Learning and Memory

Cortical Function: Occipital Lobe

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Border of Calcarine sulcus aka. Primary visual cortex where primary visual
input is received

Remainder of Occipital lobe Visual association areas

Summary:
o Frontal motor
o Parietal sensory
o Temporal auditory
o Occipital visual

Cortical Functions: Limbic Lobe

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Regulate affect (emotions) and motivation/desire

Insula cortex taste

Diencephalon
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2% of total brain weight

Consists of:
o Thalamus receive all input (sensory, visual, touch, auditory) before
relaying it to the brain
o Epi-thalamus aka. Pineal gland (posterior to Diencephalon)
o Sub-thalamus inferior to thalamus (laterally)
o Hypothalamus inferior to thalamus (medially)

Thalamus Sensori-motor functions

Hypothalamus Control autonomic nervous system Visceral control, behavioural

and physiological homeostasis (sleeping, eating behaviour, body temperature)

Thus Diencephalon control unconscious functions

Brainstem
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Common to all mammals

Similar in most vertebrates

Brainstem consists of:

o Midbrain:

2 superior colliculi (small hill)

2 inferior colliculi

o Pons (bridge) many fibers passing through but not synapsing

o Medulla

Brainstem function:
o Involved in vegetative unconscious function respiration

Brainstem:
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Where cranial nerve enter and leave

Final common path for most outputs of higher regions

o Olfactory tract where smell comes in
o Optic nerve
o Optic chiasm where visual information crosses over to opposite side
o Trigeminal nerve where touch information from the face or head is
received

These paths attaches to pons, medulla or midbrain of the Brainstem

Brainstem control basic vegetative and reflex functions

Cerebellum
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Vermal region Motor region involved in unconscious control of e.g. posture,

balance,

Flocculonodular lobe Vestibular input balance

Lateral region Cortical input Skilled movement