Lecture 2

Functional Divisions
of the Brain
(Overview)
 Functional Organization
of the Nervous System
Central nervous system
Brain
Spinal cord

Peripheral nervous
system
All nerve fibers radiating out
beyond the brain and spinal
cord
All neurons located outside
the brain
 Functional Organization
of the Nervous System
The CNS and PNS: 3-part interactive system
1. The CNS: The brain and spinal cord
2. The somatic nervous system (SNS): Spinal and cranial nerves
carrying sensory information to the CNS and motor instructions away
from the CNS
3. The autonomic nervous system (ANS): Prepares internal organs for
rest and digest or fight or flight
 Direction of Neural Information Flow is
Important
Afferent information
is sensory information
coming into the CNS
(incoming
information)

Efferent information
is information leaving
the CNS (outgoing
information)
Surface Features of the Brain:
Cerebral Cortex
Each hemisphere is
divided into four
lobes:
frontal (executive
function)
parietal (sensory
integration)
temporal (auditory,
taste, smell, memory)
occipital (visual)
 Surface Features of the Brain:
Meninges
Meninges: Three layers of protective tissue
Dura mater
hard mother; tough outer layer of fibrous tissue
Arachnoid layer
like a spiders web; thin sheet of delicate connective tissue
Pia mater
soft mother; moderately tough inner layer that clings to the
brains surface
 Surface Features of the Brain:
Cerebrum and Cerebellum
Cerebrum
cerebrum
Major structure of the
forebrain, consisting of
two virtually identical
hemispheres (left and
right)

Cerebellum
Little brain
cerebellum
Involved in the
coordination of motor
and possibly other
mental processes
 Surface Features of the Brain:
Bumps and Groves
Gyrus (plural gyri)
A small protrusion or bump
formed by the folding of the
cerebral cortex

Sulcus (plural sulci)

A groove in brain matter,
usually found in the cerebral
cortex or cerebellum

Fissure
A very deep sulcus
 Surface Features of the Brain: Brainstem

Brainstem
Central structures of
the brain including
Hindbrain
Midbrain
Thalamus
hypothalamus

responsible for most

unconscious behavior
brainstem
 Surface Features of the Brain: Vasculature
Surface Blood Vessels
Anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries
Stroke
Sudden appearance of neurological symptoms as a
result of severe interruption of blood flow
Internal Features of the Brain: Ventricles

Four Ventricles - cavities in the brain that

contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Two lateral ventricles (left and right)
Third ventricle
Fourth ventricle
 Internal Features of the Brain:
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Sodium chloride and other salts

Fills the ventricles and circulates around the brain and

spinal cord in the subarachnoid space (located between
the arachnoid layer and the pia mater)

Cushions the brain

Meningitis
Infection of the meninges and CSF
Internal Features of the Brain: Macroscopic
Gray Matter
Areas of the nervous system predominately composed of cell bodies
and blood vessels
White Matter
Areas of the nervous system rich in fat-sheathed neural axons
Corpus Callosum
Fiber system connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Internal Features of the Brain: Microscopic
Two main types of cells:
Neurons
Carry out the brains major (communication) functions
Approximately 80 billion

Glial cells
Support and modulate neurons activities
Approximately 100 billion
Internal Features of the Brain: Microscopic
Nucleus (plural nuclei)
A group of cells forming a
cluster that can be
identified with special
stains to form a
functional grouping
Nerve
Large collection of axons
coursing together outside
the central nervous
system
Tract
Large collection of axons
coursing together within
the central nervous
system