1. Brain Structure and Function
January 7, 2014
Show first three minutes of ted talk – they are talking about brain maps, which is what we will do today
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2. Regions of the Human Brain
The brain is divided into four main regions:
Cerebrum
Diancephalon (aka interbrain)
Brain stem
Cerebellum

3. Cerebrum Largest region Responsible for all ‘higher’ brain functions:
speech
memory
reasoning
emotion
consciousness
interpretation of sensation
voluntary movement

4. Cerebrum features Divided into left and right hemispheres
Wrinkled texture
Raised areas called gyri
Shallow grooves called sulci
Deep groves called fissures

5. Internal anatomy of cerebrum
The outer part of the cerebrum – called the cerebral cortex -- is composed of gray matter
Gray matter = cell bodies and unmyelinated nerve fibers
This is where thought, sensation, etc. occur
The inner part of the cerebrum is mostly white matter
White matter = mylinated nerve fibers
This is the connection between different regions of the brain

6. Internal anatomy of cerebrum
The corpus callosum is one especially important area of white matter – it’s the connection between the two cerebral hemispheres

7. JFF: Functional regions of cerebrum

8. JFF: Functional regions of cerebrum
Damage to one of these regions can cause loss of specific functions (e.g. partial paralysis due to stroke)
BUT
The brain does have some ability to heal itself – to form new connections or to have one hemisphere take over the job of the other hemisphere - this is called brain plasticity
Jody’s story
But also see Phineas Gage’s story

9. Diencephalon structure
The diencephalon consists of three parts:
thalamus
epithalamus (completely enclosed by thalamus)
hypothalamus

10. Diencephalon structure
structures that are part of the diencephalon

11. Diencephalon Functions
Regulation of autonomic functions, including
Body temperature
Water balance
Metabolism
Control of endocrine system
Limbic system – emotional / visceral brain (sex, food, thirst, pain, pleasure)
Mostly, these functions are
done by the hypothalamus

12. Brain Stem The brain stem consists of three parts Midbrain Pons
Medulla
oblongata

13. Brain Stem Functions Controls many autonomic functions, including:
Breathing
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Also allows passage of nerves fibers between brain and spinal cord

14. Cerebellum Back of the brain, beneath cerebrum Like cerebrum, it has
Two hemispheres
Wrinkled surface
Outer cortex made of gray matter outside and inner region of white matter
Functions:
Balance
Coordination of muscles

15. You Do:
Do the diagrams and questions on your guided notes

16. Question
Following a stroke, a person develops the symptoms listed below. Which part of the brain was damaged?
ataxia (an inability to coordinate muscular movement)
cerebellum
Drooping left side of face
right cerebral hemisphere

17. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Fluid that surrounds and protects brain and spinal cord
Produced by the choroid plexuses from blood plasma, and drains back into the blood
Some diseases can be diagnosed by examining CSF collected during a spinal tap
Which glial cells are involved with CSF?
What do they do?

18. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Fluid that surrounds and protects brain and spinal cord
Produced by the choroid plexuses from blood plasma, and drains back into the blood
Some diseases can be diagnosed by examining CSF collected during a spinal tap
Which glial cells are involved with CSF? ependymal
What do they do? Circulate CSF

19. Blood Brain Barrier
Protects the brain from toxins, most drugs, and fluctuations in other chemicals such as ions
Two major barriers
Relatively impermeable brain capillaries
Astrocytes which control flow of
materials from blood vessels to
neurons

20. Blood Brain Barrier
Why is the blood brain barrier necessary? Does the blood brain barrier block the passage of alcohol?

21. Blood Brain Barrier
Why is the blood brain barrier necessary? Without a controlled environment, uncontrolled neural activity might occur Does the blood brain barrier block the passage of alcohol? No – you can tell by the effects

22. Closure What were our objectives, and what did you learn about them.
What was our learner profile trait and how did we exemplify it?
How does what we did today address our unit question?

23. Exit Ticket For the following questions, A = cerebrum, B= diencephalon
C = brain stem, D = cerebellum
The thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus constitute the _________________.
Control of temperature, endocrine activity, and thirst are associated with the ____________.
The area of the brain that controls breathing and heart rate is the _________________.

24. Exit Ticket A shallow groove on the surface of the cortex is called a
A) fissure B) gyrus
C) furrow D) sulcus
The three major parts of the brain stem are the
A) cerebrum, cerebellum, and diencephalon
B) thalamus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus
C) midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
D) basal nuclei, pineal body, and choroid
plexus

25. Exit Ticket 6 7 8 9
EC 1
EC 2 10