Anatomy of the Brain

The Brain

• Comprised of three main parts: Brain Stem, Cerebellum, and Cerebrum
• Cerebrum is divided into four lobes: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital

Brain Stem

• Reticular: regulates sleep and wakefulness
• Periphery Sensory: connects sensory organs from the environment; signals go through thalamus and appropriate cortical areas
• Autonomic Sensory: responsible for perception of sensations
• Periphery Reward: regulates memory and behavior; connects to nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and frontal cortex
• Limbic: regulates emotions; communicates with nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex to strengthen drug-seeking behavior
• Learning: responsible for learning and memory formation; connects sensory organs to thalamus, hippocampus, and finally frontal cortex

Cerebellum

• Controls coordination and balance
• Involved in emotion, motivation, and memory formation

Cerebrum Lobes

Frontal Lobe

• Controls movement, attention, short-term memory, planning, and speech

Parietal Lobe

• Processes information including touch, spatial awareness, and sensory inputs

Temporal Lobe

• Decodes sensory inputs, including visual and auditory information
• Involved in memory formation and language comprehension

Occipital Lobe

• Primarily responsible for processing visual information

The Meninges

• Three layers of tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord: Dura Mater, Arachnoid, and Pia Mater

Meninges Functions

• Dura Mater: provides support for blood vessels and delivers blood to the CNS
• Arachnoid: allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste
• Pia Mater: supplies the cerebral and spinal cord with oxygen and nutrients
• Pia Mater also contains cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the spinal cord

Neuron Anatomy

• Dendrites: receive information
• Nucleus/Soma: where DNA is made
• Axone: sends signals
• Myelon Sheath: insulates axon, allowing for faster signal transmission
• Axon Terminals: sends signals to other neurons

The Brain

• Comprised of three main parts: Brain Stem, Cerebellum, and Cerebrum
• Cerebrum is divided into four lobes: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital

Brain Stem

• Reticular: regulates sleep and wakefulness
• Periphery Sensory: connects sensory organs from the environment; signals go through thalamus and appropriate cortical areas
• Autonomic Sensory: responsible for perception of sensations
• Periphery Reward: regulates memory and behavior; connects to nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and frontal cortex
• Limbic: regulates emotions; communicates with nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex to strengthen drug-seeking behavior
• Learning: responsible for learning and memory formation; connects sensory organs to thalamus, hippocampus, and finally frontal cortex

Cerebellum

• Controls coordination and balance
• Involved in emotion, motivation, and memory formation

Cerebrum Lobes

Frontal Lobe

• Controls movement, attention, short-term memory, planning, and speech

Parietal Lobe

• Processes information including touch, spatial awareness, and sensory inputs

Temporal Lobe

• Decodes sensory inputs, including visual and auditory information
• Involved in memory formation and language comprehension

Occipital Lobe

• Primarily responsible for processing visual information

The Meninges

• Three layers of tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord: Dura Mater, Arachnoid, and Pia Mater

Meninges Functions

• Dura Mater: provides support for blood vessels and delivers blood to the CNS
• Arachnoid: allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste
• Pia Mater: supplies the cerebral and spinal cord with oxygen and nutrients
• Pia Mater also contains cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the spinal cord

Neuron Anatomy

• Dendrites: receive information
• Nucleus/Soma: where DNA is made
• Axone: sends signals
• Myelon Sheath: insulates axon, allowing for faster signal transmission
• Axon Terminals: sends signals to other neurons

Learn about the three main parts of the brain, including the brain stem and its various components, such as the reticular, periphery sensory, autonomic sensory, and periphery reward.