Structure of the

Nervous System
CHAPTER 3
Central nervous system

The Central Nervous System
Composed of the Brain and the Spinal cord.
 The CNS relays messages from the brain to the
Peripheral Nervous System, and vice versa.

THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

 A series of neurons that connect organs and
muscles to the CNS.
 The PNS receives messages from the brain and
sends messages to it from the senses.
The brain
Brain not only just plays a major role in our behavior and thinking
Two key words about brain parts:
Specialization(Individual parts perform
one or more functions
for the body)
and
Integration (The brain coordinates
many parts to fully
accomplish a task)
Most parts don’t have one singular role.
Outer layer of the Brain
Meninges, singular meninx, three membranous envelopes—pia mater,
arachnoid, and dura mater—that surround the brain and spinal
cord. Cerebrospinal fluid fills the ventricles of the brain and the space
between the pia mater and the arachnoid. The primary function of the
meninges and of the cerebrospinal fluid is to protect the central nervous
system.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
The choroid plexus is a network of capillaries and specialized ependymal
cells that is found in the cerebral ventricles. The choroid plexus serves two
important functions in the body. It produces cerebrospinal fluid and helps
to provide a barrier, which protects the brain and other central nervous
system tissue from toxins.
CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid produced within spaces in the brain
called ventricles. Like saliva it is a filtrate of blood. It is also found inside the
subarachnoid space of the meninges which surrounds both the brain and
the spinal chord. In addition, a space inside the spinal chord called the
central canal also contains cerebrospinal fluid.
It acts as a cushion for the neuraxis, also bringing nutrients to the brain and
spinal cord and removing waste from the system.
The Ventricles

These four spaces are filled with cerebrospinal fluid and protect the
brain by cushioning it and supporting its weight.
The two lateral ventricles extend across a large area of the brain. The
anterior horns of these structures are located in the frontal lobes. They
extend posteriorly into the parietal lobes and their inferior horns are
found in the temporal lobes.
The third ventricle lies between the two thalamic bodies.
The fourth ventricle is located between the cerebellum and the pons.
The four ventricles are connected to one another.
The Aqueduct of Sylvius which is also called the cerebral aqueduct
connects the third and fourth ventricles.
 Cerebrum -The largest division of the brain. It is
divided into two hemispheres, each of which is
divided into four lobes.

Cerebrum
Cerebrum

Cerebellum
Cerebral Cortex - The outermost layer of gray
matter making up the superficial aspect of the
cerebrum.

Cerebral Cortex

Cerebral Cortex
 CORPUS CALLOSUM

• The corpus callosum is a band of neural fibres

connecting the 2 hemispheres.
• Allows communication and coordination of action
between the hemispheres.
 THE SPLIT BRAIN
• This occurs when the
corpus callosum is
disconnected.
• The hemispheres
cannot coordinate,
instead acting
independently.
• Such individuals can
draw 2 different shapes
at the same time.
 Cerebral Features

• Gyri – Elevated ridges “winding” around the

brain.

• Sulci – Small grooves dividing the gyri

Central Sulcus – Divides the Frontal Lobe from the

Parietal Lobe
Fissures – Deep grooves, generally dividing large regions/lobes of the
brain
◦ Longitudinal Fissure – Divides the two Cerebral Hemispheres
◦ Transverse Fissure – Separates the Cerebrum from the Cerebellum
◦ Sylvian/Lateral Fissure – Divides the Temporal Lobe
from the Frontal and Parietal Lobes
 Gyri (ridge)

Sulci
(groove)

Fissure
(deep groove)
Specific Sulci/Fissures:

Central Sulcus

Longitudinal Fissure

Sylvian/Lateral
Fissure

Transverse Fissure
 Lobes of the Brain (4)
Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal

* Note: Occasionally, the Insula is considered the fifth lobe. It is located deep
to the Temporal Lobe.
 Lobes of the Brain - Frontal
The Frontal Lobe of the brain is located deep to the Frontal
Bone of the skull.

• It plays an integral role in the following functions/actions:

- Memory Formation
- Emotions
- Decision Making/Reasoning
- Personality

http://www.waiting.com/brainfunction.html
Illustration of the Occipital Lobe

Link: Traumatic Brain Injury Research

http://www.neuroskills.com/index.html?main=tbi/boccipit.shtml
 Occipital Lobe
Location- Located in the most posterior (Back of the head).
Functions:
Center of the visual perception center.
Its primary function is the processing, integration, interpretation, etc.
of VISION and visual stimuli.

Links:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3937/sight.htm
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lngbrain/cglidden/occipital.html
http://www.headinjuryrehab.org/occipital_lobe.htm
 Temporal Lobe
Location- at the side of the head and above the ears
Functions:
Auditory sensation and perception
The brain has two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain
 The two are interchangeable, so if one is damaged, the other is usually
able to takeover the other's duties
Link:
http://www.Geocities.Com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3937/temporal.Htm
• Wernicke’s Area – Language comprehension. Located on the Left
Temporal Lobe.

- Wernicke’s Aphasia – Language comprehension is inhibited. Words and

sentences are not clearly understood, and sentence formation may be inhibited or
non-sensical.
 Theories
Localizationist theory assigned a specific function to a precise part
or location of the brain.
Equipotential theory states that while sensory input may be
localized, perception involves the whole brain, and the effects of
brain lesions depend not upon their location but upon their extent.
Interactionist theory, proposes that higher functions are built up
from a number of more basic component skills. These component
skills are relatively localized, but because of the potential variety of
complex ways in which the skills are linked to form intelligent
functions, the higher-level behavior does not necessarily appear to
be localized.
Limbic System:
The limbic system, often referred to as the
"emotional brain", is found buried within the
cerebrum.
This system contains the thalamus,
hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.
Thalamus:The structure has sensory and motor
functions. Almost all sensory information enters
this structure where neurons send that
information to the overlying cortex. Axons from
every sensory system (except olfaction) synapse
here as the last relay site before the information
reaches the cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus: The structure is involved in functions including homeostasis,
emotion, thirst, hunger, circadian rhythms, and control of the autonomic
nervous system. In addition, it controls the pituitary.
Amygdala- involved in memory, emotion, and fear.
Hippocampus- This part of the brain is important for learning and memory . . .
for converting short term memory to more permanent memory
Basal Ganglia
Location- The basal ganglia surrounds the thalamus and is enclosed
by the cerebral cortex and cerebral white matter.
The name includes: caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, globus
pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus
Functions:
Controls voluntary movements and establishing postures.
Controls voluntary limb movement, eye movement, and cognition.
Lesions in specific nuclei tend to produce characteristic deficits. One
well-known disorder is Parkinson's disease, which is the slow and steady
loss of dopaminergic neurons in synapses.
Links: http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/cerebell.html
http://www-hbp.usc.edu/Projects/basal.htm
http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/med532/basal.htm
Hindbrain
The hindbrain is the structure that connects the spinal cord to the brain.
The medulla is located directly above the spinal cord and controls many
vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing and blood
pressure.
The pons connects the medulla to the cerebellum and helps coordinate
movement on each side of the body.
The reticular formation is a neural network located in the medulla that
helps control functions such as sleep and attention.
MidBrain
The midbrain is the smallest region of the brain that acts as a sort of
relay station for auditory and visual information.
The midbrain controls many important functions such as the visual and
auditory systems as well as eye movement. Portions of the midbrain
called the red nucleus and thesubstantia nigra are involved in the
control of body movement. The darkly pigmented substantia nigra
contains a large number of dopamine-producing neurons are located.
Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of the nervous

system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous
system (CNS). The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the
organs, limbs and skin.
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two parts:
The somatic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system
The Somatic Nervous System
The somatic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for
carrying sensory and motor information to and from the
central nervous system. The somatic nervous system derives its name from the
Greek word soma, which means "body."
The somatic system is responsible for transmitting sensory information as well
as for voluntary movement.
This system contains two major types of neurons:
Sensory neurons (or afferent neurons) that carry information from the nerves
to the central nervous system
Motor neurons (or efferent neurons) that carry information from the brain and
spinal cord to muscle fibers throughout the body.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible
for regulating involuntary body functions, such as blood flow, heartbeat,
digestion and breathing. This system is further divided into two branches:
The sympathetic system regulates the flight-or-fight responses. This system
prepares the body to expend energy and deal with potential threats in the
environment. When action is needed, the sympathetic system will trigger a
response by speeding up the heart rate, increasing breathing rate, increasing
blood flow to muscles, activating sweat secretion and dilating the pupils.
The parasympathetic system helps maintain normal body functions and
conserve physical resources. Once a threat has passed, this system will slow the
heart rate, slow breathing, reduce blood flow to muscles and constrict the
pupils.