Anatomy and

Physiology
of the Brain
To be reported by:
Cris Jaison Maquirang
Froilan II Pasaraba

What is the
Brain?

Aside from being

a cooling
mechanism for the
blood ?
According to
Aristotle.

The Brain
Contains nerve centers associated with the
sensory functions and is responsible for
sensations and perceptions.
It issues motor commands to skeletal muscles and
carries on higher mental functions, such as
memory and reasoning.
Contains centers that coordinate muscular
movements, as well as centers and nerve
pathways that regulate visceral activities.
It also provides characteristics such as personality.

 The Brain has 3 major cavities or

vesicles;
Forebrain (prosencephalon
the
forebrain later divides into 2 portions
anterior(telencephalon) &
posterior(diencephalon)

More about
the Brain
*Development

Midbrain (mesencephalon
Hindbrain (rhombencephalon
partially divides into parts
anterior(metencephalon &
posterior(myelencephalon
The anterior portion of the forebrain gives rise
to the cerebrum and basal nuclei, whereas
the posterior portion forms a section in the
brain called diencephalon, the midbrain
produces continues to be called the midbrain
in the adult structure, and the hindbrain gives
rise to the cerebellum, pons and medulla
oblongata comprise the brainstem, which
attaches the brain to the spinal cord.

The Brain
On posterior view
(the midbrain, CN I
& II is visible)

The major parts of the Brain

And their functions

The structure of the

Cerebrum
Is the largest part of the mature brain, it consists of two
large masses, or cerebral hemisphere, which are
essentially mirror of each other.
A deep bridge of nerve fibers called the corpus
callosum connects the cerebral hemispheres, a layer
of dura mater called falx cerebri separates them.
(terms will be explained later)

Many ridges called convolutions or gyri, separated by

the grooves, mark the cerebrums surface. A shallow to
somewhat deep groove is called a sulcus, and a very
deep groove is called a fissure.
Ex. Longitudinal Fissure
Transverse Fissure

The Lobes of the cerebral

4. Occipital lobe forms
hemisphere
Are named after the skull
that they underlie.
1. Frontal lobe is the
anterior portion of the each
cerebral hemisphere, which
is bordered posteriorly by a
central sulcus(fissure of
rolando) and inferiorly by
an lateral sulcus(fissure of
sylvius)
2. Parietal lobe is
posterior to the frontal lobe
and is separated by a
central sulcus.
3. Temporal lobe lies
inferior to the frontal and
parietal lobes and is

the posterior portion of

each cerebral hemisphere
and is separated from the
cerebellum by a shelf-like
extension of dura mater
called the tentorium
cerebelli. The occipital,
parietal and temporal lobes
have no distinct boundary.
5. Insula(island of Reil)
is a lobe located deep
within the lateral sulcus
and is so named because it
is covered by parts of the
frontal, parietal and
temporal lobes. A circular
sulcus separates it from
them.

 Grey and White matter

A thin layer of grey matter called the cerebral
cortex constitutes the outermost portion of the
cerebrum. It cover the convolutions, dipping into
the sulci and fissures.
Just beneath the cerebral cortex is a mass of
white matter that makes up the bulk of the
cerebrum.

The
Cerebrum
Part 1

Meninges
are membranes located between the bone and
the soft tissues of the nervous system, it protects
the brain and the spinal cord. It has three layers
dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater.
Dura mater extends inwards between lobes of
the brain and forms supportive partitions. Dura
matter has partitions respectively named falx
cerebelli(separates the let and right
hemisphere), falx cerebri(extends downward into
the longitudinal fissure, and separates the right
and left cerebral hemispheres) and the tentorium
cerebelli(separates the occipital lobes of the
cerebrum from the cerebellum)
Arachnoid mater spreads over the brain and the
spinal cord but does not dip into the grooves and
the depressions on the surface. Between the
arachnoid mater and the pia mater is a

The Brain
The dura mater is
very visible(the
white plastic-like
that covers the
brain)

 Ventricles
are interconnected cavities. These are located
within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem.
These spaces are continues with the central canal
of the spinal cord and are filled with CFS
(Cerebrospinal Fluid).

The
Cerebrum
Part 2..

*Lateral Ventricles are the 2 largest

ventricles(the first ventricle in the left cerebral
hemisphere and the second ventricle in the right
cerebral hemisphere).
*Third Ventricle as narrow space that
constitutes the third ventricle is located in the
midline of the brain beneath the corpus callosum.
*Fourth Ventricle is located in the brainstem just
in front of the cerebellum. This ventricle is
continuous with the central canal of the spinal
cord.
Tiny reddish cauliflower like masses of specialized
capillaries from the pia mater, called choroid
plexus secrete CSF.

The
Ventricles

The Functions of the

Cerebrum
It provides higher brain functions; interpreting impulses from
sense organs, initiating voluntary muscular movements, storing
information as memory, and retrieving this information in
reasoning. The cerebrum is also the seat of intelligence and
personality.
Functional Regions of the Cortex:
the regions of the cerebral cortex that perform specific functions have
been located using a variety of techniques. Ex. PET scanning ( A positron
emission tomography (PET)scanis animagingtest that allows your doctor to check for
diseases in your body. Thescanuses a special dye that has radioactive tracers. These
tracers are injected into a vein in your arm. Your organs and tissues then absorb the tracer ).

In other studies, areas of cortices have been exposed surgically and

stimulated mechanically or electrically, with researchers observing the
responses in certain muscles or the specific sensations that result. As a
result of such investigations, researchers have divided the cerebral
cortex into sensory, association and motor areas that overlap somehow.

Regions of the Cortex

Sensory Areas
sensory areas in several lobes of the cerebrum interpret impulses from the
sensory receptors, producing feelings or sensations. For example, the
sensation of temperature, touch, pressure, and pain in the skin arise in the
post central gyri of the anterior portions of the parietal lobes along the central
sulcus and in the posterior wall of this sulcus. The posterior parts of the
occipital lobes provide vision, whereas the superior posterior portions of the
temporal lobes contain the center for hearing. The sensory areas for taste are
near the bases of the central sulci along the lateral sulci, and the sense of
smell arises from centers deep within the cerebrum.

Association Areas
association areas are neither primarily sensory nor motor. They interconnect
with each other and other brain structures. These areas occupy the anterior
portion of the frontal lobes and are widespread in the lateral portion of the
parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. The analyze and interpret sensory
experiences and help provide memory, reasoning, verbalizing, judgment, and
emotions.

 Motor Areas
- The primary motor areas of the cerebral cortex lie in the
precentral gyri of the frontal lobes just in front of the central sulcus
and in the anterior wall of this sulcus.
In addition to the primary motor areas, certain other regions of the
frontal lobes control motor functions. For example, a region called
Brocas Area is just anterior to the primary motor cortex and
superior to the lateral sulcus, usually in the left cerebral
hemisphere. It coordinates the complex muscular actions of the
mouth, tongue, and larynx, which makes speech possible.
Above the brocas area is a region called the frontal eye field. The
motor cortex in this area controls voluntary movements of the eyes
and eyelids. Nearby is a cortex that is responsible for movements
od the head that directs the eyes. Another region just in front of
the primary motor area controls the muscular movements of the
hands and the fingers that make such skills as writing possible.

Functional regions of the

cortex(motor and association areas)

Functions of the Cerebral

Lobes
Frontal lobe
- Association areas carry on higher
intellectual processes for
concentrating, planning, complex
problem solving, and judging the
consequences of behavior.
Motor areas control movements of
voluntary skeletal muscles.

Parietal lobe
- Sensory areas provide sensations
of temperature, touch, pressure,
and pain involving the skin.
Association areas function in
understanding speech and in using
words to express thoughts and
feelings.

Temporal lobe
- Sensory areas are
responsible for hearing.
Association areas interpret
sensory experiences and
remember visual scenes,
music, and other complex
sensory patterns.

Occipital lobe
- Sensory areas responsible for
vision.
Association areas combine
visual images with other
sensory experiences.

The Cerebrum
Hemisphere Dominance
both hemisphere participate in basic
functions. However, one side usually acts
as a dominant hemisphere for certain
functions.
In most persons, the left hemisphere is
dominant for the language-related
activities of speech, writing, and reading.
It is also dominant for complex intellectual
functions requiring verbal, analytical, and
computational skills. In other persons, the
right hemisphere is dominant and in some,
the hemispheres are equally dominant.
In addition to carrying basic functions, the
non-dominant hemisphere specializes in
non-verbal functions, such as motor tasks
that require orientation of the body in
space, understanding and interpreting
musical patterns, and visual experiences.
It also provides emotional and intuitive
thought process.

Memory
is the persistence of that learning,
with the ability to access it at a
later time.
There are 2 types, short, and long
term memory.
Closely related to "working" memory,
short-term memory is the very short
time that you keep something in
mind before either dismissing it or
transferring it to long-term memory.
Long-term memory is our brain's
system for storing, managing, and
retrieving information.