Week 5: Central Nervous

System (CNS)
Major New Concepts, Principles and
Learning Objectives
 Major parts of the brain:
cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum
 Grey and white matter

 Spinal cord: functional organisation

 Meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
 Neural pathways
 Cerebrospinal fluid and blood-brain barrier
Learning Objectives
 1. Describe the location of the following parts of the brain:
• cerebral hemispheres and lobes ▪ frontal ▪ parietal ▪ occipital ▪ temporal. • thalamus • brainstem •
cerebellum • central sulcus • pre-central gyrus • post-central gyrus • lateral sulcus • parietooccipital sulcus
• longitudinal fissure
Briefly state the general function of each of these parts. Using anatomical terminology, state the location and
function of each of these major functional areas of the cerebral hemispheres:
• primary somatosensory cortex • primary motor cortex • primary auditory cortex
• primary olfactory cortex • primary visual cortex • Broca’s area • Wernicke’s area
 2. Differentiate between grey matter and white matter in the nervous system. Describe the general
location of these types of neural tissue in the brain and spinal cord.
 3. Describe the location, origin and termination of the normal adult spinal cord. Name the regions of the
spinal cord. Identify the cervical and lumbar enlargements and explain their functional significance.
 4. Identify in cross-sections of the spinal cord the dorsal, lateral and ventral horns and explain the
functional significance of these areas. Describe where the ascending and descending tracts are located.
 5. Use principles NC6 and NC10 to describe the following neural pathways:
a. Ascending pathways: i. Dorsal column-medial lemniscus ii. Spinothalamic (lateral)
b. Descending pathway: i. Corticospinal (lateral)
 6. Explain the function of each pathway.
 7. Describe the meninges and name the layers. Describe the location and relationships of these layers to
each other, to the brain and to the spinal cord. State the function of these layers.
Textbook Readings
 Marieb & Hoehn Chapter 12 - Central Nervous System

 Brain development (adult) Fig 12.2 (c)

 Functional and structural areas of cerebral cortex Fig 12.6
 Body maps in primary motor and somatosensory cortex Fig 12.7

 Gross structure of spinal cord, Fig 12.26

 Anatomy of spinal cord, Fig 12.28
 Organisation of grey matter in spinal cord, Fig 12.29
 Meninges and dural septa, Fig 12.22 & 12.23
 Major ascending and descending tracts of spinal cord, Fig 12.30
 Selected ascending spinal cord pathways, Fig 12.31
 Selected descending spinal cord pathways, Fig 12.32
Lecture Outline
 Major parts of the brain
 Grey and white matter

 Spinal cord
 Meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
 Neural pathways
 Protection of the brain
– Skull
– Cerebrospinal fluid
– Blood-brain barrier
Major Parts of the Brain
1. Cerebral hemispheres

2. Diencephalon (thalamus)
3. Brainstem
a) Midbrain
b) Pons
c) Medulla oblongata

4. Cerebellum

Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.2 (c)

Cerebral Hemispheres
 Largest part of the CNS L
Longitudinal
 Left and right hemispheres fissure
 Cortex (most superficial):
 Grey matter (cell bodies)
 Deep: white matter (axons)
 Deeper: grey matter

Grey matter

Human Brain photo by EUSKALANATO flickr

White matter

Image B1 Insight trunk collection

Surface Features of the Brain
 Sulcus (valley or groove)
Parietal-occipital sulcus
 Central sulcus (medial surface)

 Gyrus (hill or bump)

 Pre-central gyrus
 Gyrus immediately anterior to
central sulcus (deep sulcus)

 Post-central gyrus
 Gyrus immediately posterior to
the central sulcus
Lateral sulcus
Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.6
Lobes of Cerebral Hemispheres
 There are 4 lobes on each cerebral hemisphere
 frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
 (named the same as overlying skull bone)

Parietal
(sensory)
Frontal
(motor)

Occipital
(vision)

Temporal
(hearing)
Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.6
Primary Functions of Lobes
 Each lobe has specialised (primary) functions
 Frontal lobe Broca’s area
(motor speech)
 motor control

 Parietal lobe
 somatosensory

 Temporal lobe
 Hearing

 Occipital lobe
 vision
Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.6

Wernicke’s area
(understanding speech)
 _______
BUZZ GROUP ___________

________ Parietal lobe

______

Occipital lobe

Temporal lobe
Cerebellum

Brain stem
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Primary Cortices & Association Areas

Central sulcus
Motor areas Sensory areas and
association areas
Primary motor cortex
Primary somatosensory
Premotor cortex cortex Somatic
Somatosensory sensation
association cortex

Wernicke’s area
Prefrontal cortex

Primary visual
cortex
Visual Vision
association
area
Broca’s area
Auditory
association area
Hearing
Primary
auditory cortex

Primary motor cortex Motor association cortex Primary sensory cortex Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.6
Sensory association cortex Multimodal association cortex
Primary Cortices
 Primary areas receive information about body sensations or send
information to muscle groups relating to specific regions of body

For example:
 Primary Motor Area (PMA) foot region contain neurons that
control movements of muscles of foot

 Face area of Primary Somatosensory Area (PSSA) receives

incoming sensations from skin of face

 Primary Auditory Area (PAA) receives TONE specific information

about sounds heard
 Size cortical area = degree of
Body Maps - Homunculi control (motor) or quantity
(sensory) of info from body part

Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.7

Motor Sensory
Relationship of Primary
and Association Areas
 Primary sensory areas receive information directly from body
regions
 Modalities: touch, temperature, pain, proprioception (joint
sense), hearing and vision
 information is direct and relates to specific body part

 Association areas of cortex surround primary areas and link

information
 e.g. recognising patterns, identifying a familiar face
 information more interlinked, related to experience and not
necessarily linked to one part of body
 Grey and White Matter
 Neural tissue has two different areas/colours,
representing different parts of cells

 GREY MATTER - areas densely populated with

cell bodies of neurons
 Some terms referring to these areas include:
Cortex, nuclei, horns, ganglia

 WHITE MATTER - areas containing mostly

axons and covering myelin sheaths
 Some terms referring to these areas include:
Tracts, columns, pathways, fascicules,
lemniscuses Marieb & Hoehn, Fig 12.31 (b)
Diencephalon
 Consists of several structures:

 Thalamus
 Gateway to cortex
 ‘Sensory centre’ – info sent to cortex

 Hypothalamus
 Autonomic control
 Thirst, appetite, temperature control,
blood pressure, hormonal regulation

 Pituitary gland
Enhanced version of Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.12
 Endocrine system

 Pineal gland
 Circadian rhythms
Brain Stem
 ‘Stalk’ of brain
 Connects brain to spinal cord
 Divided into:
– Midbrain
– Pons
– Medulla

 Houses many cranial nerve nuclei

 Contains groups of special nuclei
that control vital functions e.g.
respiratory centre, cardiac and Enhanced version of Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.12

vasomotor centres, swallowing

centre

 Contains neural pathways

Cerebellum
 ‘Little brain’

 Involved in balance control, movement

coordination and learning
 posture and balance

 adjusts movements in real time

 plays role in learning new

movements
 e.g. learning to play the piano Enhanced version of Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.12

or a new piano piece

BREAK – QUESTIONS ?
Spinal Cord
 Housed within bony vertebral canal
 Connects body to brain
 Consists of 31 paired spinal nerves

 Thick tube of neural matter containing:

 Grey matter (cell bodies)
 White matter (axons) = ascending and
descending tracts travelling to or from brain

 Spinal cord ends L1-L2 but nerves still project

inferiorly to intervertebral foramina – ‘cauda
equina’

Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.26

Regions of Spinal Cord

 Sections of spinal cord take name 8 cervical

from regions of vertebral column
 Cervical region
 Thoracic region

12 thoracic
Lumbar region
 Sacral region
 Coccygeal region
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal

Study manual, p. 81
Cross-section of Spinal Cord
GREY MATTER
‘H’ or butterfly shape
White matter consisting of
tracts/columns

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 12.28 (b)

Anterior
Spinal Cord Grey Matter – IMPORTANT SLIDE

 NOTE - cell bodies of 1st order sensory/afferent nerve fibres lie in dorsal
root ganglia of spinal nerves
 H-shaped spinal cord grey matter contains neural cell bodies:
 Posterior (dorsal) horn:
Cell bodies of many 2nd order afferent neurons and interneurons (GSA)
 Lateral horn:
Cell bodies of pre-ganglionic visceral motor neurons (GVE)
 Anterior (ventral) horn:
Cell bodies of somatic motor neurons (GSE)

GSA
GVA
GVE
GSE

Marieb & Hoehn Figure 12.29

Buzz Group Rules Regarding Nerve Fibres
 Afferent nerve fibres (GSA/GVA) enter the spinal cord via the _________ root

 Cell bodies of afferent nerve fibres lie in the ___________________________

 Efferent nerve fibres (GSE/GVE) exit the spinal cord via the ____________ root

 Cell bodies of GSE nerve fibres lie in the ___________________ horn

 Cell bodies of GVE nerve fibres lie in the ___________________ horn

Marieb & Hoehn Figure 12.29

Enlargements of Spinal Cord
 Two spinal cord enlargements
 Cervical & lumbosacral regions

 Due to additional cells bodies

present in the anterior and
posterior horns –

 For brachial plexus for upper limb

and lumbosacral plexus for lower
limb

Study manual, p 81
 Meninges
 Three connective tissue layers surrounding brain and spinal cord
 Cover and protect CNS
 Protect blood vessels on surface of brain and venous sinuses
 Act as reservoir for cerebrospinal fluid to bathe brain
 Forms partitions (walls) in skull and vertebral canal

Marieb & Hoehn Fig 12.28 a

Marieb Figure 12.31 (a)

Meninges
Dura Mater (tough mother)
Two layers sheet of fibrous connective tissue
Forms dural venous sinuses
Forms septa (partitions)
Most superficial layer

Arachnoid Mater (spider mother)

Loose weblike covering brain
Superficial to subarachnoid space
Contains CSF and blood vessels

Pia Mater (gentle mother)

Delicate layer clinging to brain tissue
Deepest layer
Dense rich blood supply

Marieb & Hoehn, Fig 12.22 & 12.23

Spinal Cord – Organisation White Matter
 Ascending and descending
pathways up and down
spinal cord
 Known as tracts
 Transmit information to
and from brain
 Made up of myelinated
axons (hence white)

 Contains some interneurons Descending tracts

Ascending tracts
 Connecting neurons
within the spinal cord Marieb & Hoehn, Fig 12.30
Neural Pathways
 Connect relatively distant parts of the body via
neurons

 Neural pathways are either ascending or descending

and consist of bundles of myelin-insulated axons all
travelling together

NEW PRINCIPLES:
 NC 6. Each pathway has one or more synaptic relays

 NC 10. Most pathways are crossed (i.e. decussate

across the midline) and thus affect, or are affected
by actions on the opposite side of the body
Neural Pathways
 Two sensory (ascending) pathways
 Dorsal Column Medial-Lemniscal pathway
 Lateral Spinothalamic pathway

 One motor (descending) pathway

 Lateral Corticospinal pathway

 Pathways are typically named for the structures they pass

through
 e.g. Spinothalamic passes through the spine and
thalamus in that order
 Neural Pathways
1. Dorsal Column Medial-Lemiscal pathway
 Involved in sensing touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception
 1st neuron which is a GSA fibre (contains DRG) from receptor (foot)
enters spinal cord via dorsal (back) root
 ASCENDS to primary somatosensory via the dorsal column of the
spinal cord (white mater)
Primary
somatosensory Dorsal column
area
Dorsal root
Dorsal root
ganglion (DRG)

1st/GSA
neuron

Skin
receptor
 Left Right Primary somatosensory area
1. Dorsal Column Medial-Lemiscal pathway Cerebral
cortex
 Synapses with 2nd neuron in medulla thalamus
3rd neuron
 DECUSSATES (crosses over) in medulla
 2nd neuron synapses with 3rd neuron in 2nd neuron
thalamus via medial lemniscus of the brain stem Medulla oblongata

 3rd thalamus connects to primary

somatosensory cortex

Dorsal column

Dorsal root
Dorsal root
ganglion (DRG)

1st/GSA
neuron

Skin
receptor
 Neural Pathways
2. sPinoThalamic pathway
 Involved in sensing pain and temperature
 GSA fibre (contains DRG) from receptor (foot) enters spinal cord via
dorsal (back) root
 Crosses over (decussates) to opposite side in dorsal/posterior horn of
spinal cord
 ASCENDS to primary somatosensory area via lateral spinothalamic
tract Primary somatosensory
Dorsal horn
Dorsal root area
Dorsal root
ganglion (DRG) Lateral
Spinothalamic
tract

GSA
neuron

Skin
receptor
 Primary somatosensory
2. sPinoThalamic pathway Left Right
area
 Cerebral
2nd neuron synapses with 3rd neuron in
cortex
thalamus thalamus
3rd neuron
 3rd thalamus connects to primary
somatosensory cortex
Medulla oblongata

2nd neuron
Dorsal horn
Dorsal root
Dorsal root
ganglion (DRG) Lateral
Spinothalamic
tract

1st/GSA
neuron

Skin
receptor
 Primary motor area
2. Lateral Corticospinal pathway
 Control of voluntary skeletal muscle contraction of
limbs i.e. distal muscles (hands and feet) for Cerebral cortex
precise control and highly skilled movements e.g.
playing piano
 Upper motoneuron descends from primary motor
area (cerebral cortex)
Medulla oblongata
 Decussates (cross-over) in medulla
 DESCENDS via lateral cortical spinal tract in lateral Upper motoneuron
white matter of spinal cord

Lateral white
Synapses with lower MN (GSE) in
matter
ventral/anterior horn of spinal cord
 Lower MN exits spinal cord via
ventral root to innervate skeletal
muscle

Ventral Ventral horn

GSE neuron (anterior) root
(lower motoneuron)

Skeletal muscle
contracts
What You Need to Know
For the 3 pathways addressed in this
subject, you need to know:
1. Origin e.g. receptor, primary motor cortex
2. Pathway in or out of SC
3. Which part of white matter it travels in
4. Location and number of synapses
5. Location of decussation
6. Termination e.g. skeletal muscle
 Dorsal Column Medial-Lemniscal
Pathway
1. Origin –
Receptor in periphery
2. Pathway in or out of SC
Enters SC via dorsal root
3. Which part of white matter it travels in
Ascends via dorsal column medial lemniscal tract
4. Location and number of synapses
Two – brainstem (medulla) and thalamus
5. Location of decussation
medulla oblongata
6. Termination
Primary somatosensory area via thalamus
Lateral Spinothalamic Pathway

1. Origin –
Receptor in periphery
2. Pathway in or out of SC
Enters SC via dorsal root
3. Which part of white matter it travels in
Ascends via lateral spinothalamic tract
4. Location and number of synapses
Two – posterior grey horn and thalamus
5. Location of decussation
Immediately in posterior grey horn
6. Termination
Primary somatosensory area via thalamus
 Lateral Corticospinal Pathway
Motor pathway
1. Origin –
Primary motor cortex
2. Pathway in or out of SC
Exits SC via ventral root
3. Which part of white matter it travels in
Descends via lateral white matter
4. Location and number of synapses
One – lower motor neurons in ventral horn of SC
5. Location of decussation
Medulla oblongata
6. Termination
Skeletal muscle (opposite side)
Protective Structures of the CNS
1. Bones
1.Bones
2. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
 Bones of skull and vertebrae encase
3. Meninges and provide mechanical protection for
4. Blood-brain barrier brain & spinal cord
 cranial cavity
 vertebral cavity

Marieb & Hoehn Figure 12.22

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
 Cerebrospinal fluid circulates around
and bathes brain in fluid
 Protection through shock absorption
 Floats brain (reducing relative weight)
 Assists in nourishing brain
 Some chemical transmission

 Clear ultra filtrate of blood (like blood

plasma)
 Less proteins, calcium and potassium
 More sodium, chloride and hydrogen

Marieb & Hoehn, Fig 12.24

Blood Brain Barrier
 Brain is extremely sensitive to
maintaining a constant internal
environment.

 Blood brain barrier (BBB) is an extra

separation between substances in brain,
blood vessels and extracellular fluid
bathing neural cells

 Membrane is selective

 Special areas of brain are free of barrier

 Vomiting centre
 http://web.stanford.edu/group/parasites/
Osmotic centre ParaSites2005/Ivermectin/mechanism%20of
%20action.htm
Review questions before workshop
 In reference to the CNS, what is the term that means to cross sides?

 Name the middle layer of the protective meninges and describe what its name
means.

 Name the space that the CSF lies within as it circulates around the brain.

 For the following sensations, name the sensory pathway they will take: pain, fine
touch, vibration, temperature.

 How many neurons are involved in each of the 3 pathways you’ve learnt? Where
do they cross over? Where do they synapse? Where they originate and terminate?

 Why is the thalamus known as the ‘relay station?’

 Last Slide
Key definitions you should know
Nerve Ganglion Neuron Nucleus Tract

Collection of Collection of A single nerve Collection of

Collection of
neurons that neuron cell bodies cell that nerve cell myelinated
transmits sensation in the PNS, transmits bodies in the
(‘white’)
or motor impulses typically linked by electrical CNS, typically
axons
depending on the synapses. impulses in linked by traveling up
function and e.g. dorsal root one direction. synapses. or down the
destination. ganglion (GSA and spinal cord,
e.g. femoral nerve GVA neurons) Location: CNS depending on
function and
Location: PNS Location: PNS Location: both destination.

Location: CNS