BIOM20002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Frontal Lobe, Meninges, Occipital Lobe
Medial view (sagittal section) of the brain does not cut through the cerebrum
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Cerebellum connected laterally to the brain stem
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The first thing cut is the corpus callosum (white thing - myelinated axons). Axons in here
connects the two hemispheres
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Central horns of grey matter (neuron cell bodies) surrounded by white matter tracts (bundles
of axons)
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White matter tracts carry info to the brain (ascending tracts) or from the brain to spinal
centres (descending tracts)
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The dorsal (posterior) horn has a sensory function, the ventral (anterior) horn has motor
functions
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Spinal cord neuronal connection subserve segmental and multisegmental reflexes and pattern
generators (movement patterns)
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In non-limb-innervating regions there are autonomic neurons that project to the PNS
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Spinal cord
Midbrain (top of brainstem). Contains the aquaduct.
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Pons: middle of brainstem
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Medulla: last bit of brainstem that joins to spinal cord
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Some very important nuclei which keep our basic functions going in pons and medulla
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All tracts (bundles of axons in the CNS) that travel between the brain and the spinal cord must
pass through the brainstem
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The brainstem contains vital integrative centers for vital functions (cardiovascular and
respiratory control)
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The brainstem contains the central nuclei for the cranial nerves 3 to 12
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The brainstem contains several small nuclei with hugely divergent projections to the rest of
the brain that determine conscious state. Small nuclei here feed signals to cerebrum
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The brainstem
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the brain that determine conscious state. Small nuclei here feed signals to cerebrum
The cerebellum joins the brainstem by the cerebellar peduncles
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Also called the interbrain
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Situated between brainstem and cerebrum - closely associated with the third ventricle (on
either side of it)
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The thalamus: gateway for ipsilateral [same side of body] traffic to and from the cerebral
cortex
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Hypothalamus: located below and in front the thalamus. Controls endocrine functions of the
pituitary gland (under hypothalamus) and engenders mental states and behavioral patterns
associated with homeostatic drives
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Diencephalon
Two hemispheres, continuous ventrally, linked by corpus callosum
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Cortical grey matter (thin, laminar, variable) outside.
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Sub-cortical white matter (including the corpus callosum and internal capsule)
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Sub-cortical grey matter (basal forebrain, basal ganglia). Underneath white matter
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Associated with formulating voluntary movements, conscious perception, thought, language,
social cognition and other higher functions
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Cerebrum seems to be the most variable brain regions when comparing mammalian brains
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Cerebrum
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Document Summary
Medial view (sagittal section) of the brain does not cut through the cerebrum. The first thing cut is the corpus callosum (white thing - myelinated axons). Central horns of grey matter (neuron cell bodies) surrounded by white matter tracts (bundles of axons) White matter tracts carry info to the brain (ascending tracts) or from the brain to spinal centres (descending tracts) The dorsal (posterior) horn has a sensory function, the ventral (anterior) horn has motor functions. Spinal cord neuronal connection subserve segmental and multisegmental reflexes and pattern generators (movement patterns) In non-limb-innervating regions there are autonomic neurons that project to the pns. Medulla: last bit of brainstem that joins to spinal cord. Some very important nuclei which keep our basic functions going in pons and medulla. All tracts (bundles of axons in the cns) that travel between the brain and the spinal cord must pass through the brainstem.
