Chapter 7

The Nervous System

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Organization of the
Nervous System
Central Nervous System

Referred to CNS
Brain and Spinal cord
Integrative control center

Peripheral Nervous System

Referred to PNS
Nerves that extend outside the brain and spinal
cord to the bodys extremities
Communicates between the CNS and the rest of
the body
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Regions of the Brain

Cerebrum

Diencephalon
Cerebellum

Midbrain *
Pons *

Medulla Oblongata *
* Found in Brain Stem
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebrum)

Largest part of brain
Include more than half of the brain mass

Controls higher mental functions;

conscious mind; MAKES US HUMAN
Allows us to sense, to communicate, to
remember, and to understand, and
initiate voluntary movements.
Outer layer of cerebrum (cerebral cortex) is made of gray matter
- Folded surface increases surface area
- Elevated ridges (gyri)
- Shallow depressions (sulci)
- Deep Grooves (fissures)

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Cortex Roadmap
Gyri - ridges
Sulci shallow grooves
Fissures deep groves

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Surface lobes of the cerebrum

Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe

Occipital lobe
Temporal lobe

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Sensory and Motor Areas of the

Cerebral Cortex

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Specialized Areas of the Cerebrum

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Layers of the Cerebrum

Gray matter

Outer layer
Composed mostly of neuron
cell bodies

Includes regions of the brain

involved in muscle control,
sensory perceptions, like seeing
and hearing, memory, emotions
and speech

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Layers of the Cerebrum

White matter

Contains mainly long,

myelinated axons
Involved in the relay of
sensory information from
the rest of the body to the
cerebral cortex

Figure 7.13a
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Diencephalon
Sits on top of the brain
stem
Enclosed by the
cerebral hemispheres;
well-hidden brain
region

Made of three parts

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Thalamus
The relay station for
sensory impulses
(switchboard)
Transfers impulses to the
correct part of the
cerebrum for interpretation
All incoming impulses get
sorted here first and
identified as pleasant or
non-pleasant
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Hypothalamus
Under the thalamus
Contains brain stem and controls organs by maintaining
homeostasis
Important autonomic nervous system center
Helps regulate body temperature

Controls water balance

Regulates metabolism
An important part of the limbic system (emotions)
The pituitary gland is attached to the hypothalamus
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Hypothalamus
An important part of the limbic system
(emotions)
The pituitary gland is attached to the
hypothalamus which secretes hormones to
maintain homeostasis

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Epithalamus
Makes the cerebrospinal
fluid
Helps to regulate the
sleep/wake cycle by
releasing hormones like
melatonin
Controls some parts of
emotions and mood
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Epithalamus

Brain Stem
Attaches to the spinal cord;
primitive rat brain
Controls automatic
behaviors necessary for
survival (breathing)
Parts of the brain stem each
about an inch long
Midbrain

Pons
Medulla oblongata
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Midbrain
Smallest region of the brain that sort of works as a
relay station for auditory and visual information.
Also controls eye movements, like blinking

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Pons
The bulging center part of the brain stem
Mostly composed of fiber tracts which relay messages
to the brain
Includes control of breathing

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Medulla Oblongata
The lowest part of the brain stem
Merges into the spinal cord
Includes important fiber tracts relaying messages

Contains important control centers

Heart rate control
Blood pressure regulation

Breathing
Swallowing
Vomiting

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Cerebellum
contains ~70% of all the brain's neurons; yet is
only 10% of the volume of the brain!
contributes to precise timing of skeletal muscle
activity (i.e. walking, running or standing on
your hands)

controls our balance and equilibrium

Doesnt function well under influence of alcohol

Works like auto pilot monitors body position

and amount of tension in body parts
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Cerebellum and other brain parts

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings