Human Brain: Cerebrum and Diencephalon.
Human Brain:
The brain and the spinal cord are the Central Nervous System, and they represent the main organs of the nervous system.
The spinal cord is a single structure, whereas the adult brain is described in terms of four major regions.
The Cerebrum.
The Diencephalon.
The Brain Stem.
The Cerebellum.
The Cerebrum:
The cerebrum makes up most of the mass of the brain.
It deals with the ability to read, write, speak, and to make calculations, our creativity and memory.
The wrinkled area of the cerebrum is called the “Cerebral Cortex”.
The outer portion of the brain appears “gray” in color and called “Gray matter” which mainly contains cell bodies of the neurons.
The inner portion appears “White” in color and is called “White matter” which mainly contains the axons.
The folds of the gray matter are called “Gyri (Single =Gyrus)”.
The deeper grooves between the gyri are called “Fissures” while the shallow ones are called “Sulci (Single =Sulcus)”.
These fissure divides the cerebrum into five prominent lobes,
Frontal lobe.
Parietal lobe.
Temporal Lobe.
Occipital lobe.
Central lobe (Insula).
The biggest fissure called “Longitudinal fissure” divides the cerebrum into two “Cerebral Hemispheres”.
The right and left cerebral hemisphere are joined together by a thick band of white matter called “Corpus callosum”.
Lobes of Cerebrum:
Each cerebral hemisphere is further subdivided into four globes,
Frontal lobe.
Parietal lobe.
Temporal Lobe.
Occipital lobe.
The fifth lobe “Central Lobe (Insula) lies deep.
The main sulci and gyri that divide the lobes are as follows,
Lateral Sulcus: Separates Frontal lobe and Temporal Lobe.
Parieto-occipital sulcus: Separates Parietal lobe and Occipital Lobe.
Central Sulcus: Separates Frontal Lobe and Parietal Lobe.
The cerebral cortex contains 52 identified areas of specific functions called “Brodmann areas”
Frontal lobe:
The Frontal Lobe contains most of the ‘Dopaminergic Neurons’ of the brain.
The prominent areas of the frontal lobe are as following,
Motor Area: Controls muscles of speech, fine movements of fingers and limbs.
Supplementary Motor Area: Deals with altitudinal movements.
Premotor Area: Involuntary muscle movements for specific movements.
Broca’s Area: Deals with ability to speech.
It is concerned with emotions, reasoning, planning, movement, and parts of speech.
It is also involved in purposeful acts such as creativity, judgment, and problem solving, and planning.
Parietal lobe:
Major areas include;
Primary Sensory Area: Deals with sensations like temperature, touch and pain.
Secondary Sensory Area: It deals with complex sensations of the above.
It also has language functions.
Temporal Lobe:
This lobe deals with the sensation of sound.
Occipital lobe:
This lobe deals with the sensation of vision.
The area is involved with the brain's ability to recognise objects.
Diencephalon:
Present between Cerebrum and brainstem.
The major regions of diencephalon are,
Thalamus.
Hypothalamus.
Epithalamus.
Thalamus:
Makes up 80% of the diencephalon but measures only 3cm.
Functions:
Relay the sensory information from “Skin, Viscera, special organs and pressure” before entering the cerebrum.
Regulation of Autonomic Activities.
Maintenance of consciousness.
Hypothalamus:
As the name suggests it is situated just below the thalamus and above the pituitary gland.
It has four main regions,
Mammillary Region.
Tuberal region.
Supraoptic region.
Preoptic region.
Functions:
Controls the ANS:
Regulates the smooth muscles and cardiac muscle contractions.
Regulates secretions of many glands.
Regulates contraction of urinary bladder,
Regulates heart rate.
Regulates the peristalsis movement of GIT.
Production of Hormones.
Has direct control over the Pituitary gland and regulates many secretions.
Hypothalamus itself secretes many regulatory hormones such as,
corticotropin-releasing hormone.
Dopamine
Growth hormone-releasing hormone,
Somatostatin,
gonadotropin-releasing hormone
thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
Regulation of Emotions and Behaviour.
Along with the “Limbic System” it plays an important role in expression of various emotions like anger, love, pain, pleasure etc.
Regulation of Body Temperature:
Maintains body temperature at normal values.
Regulation of eating and drinking:
Regulates eating and drinking habits.
Regulates Circadian Rhythms:
Regulates pattern of body clock and consciousness.
Epithalamus:
It is a small area the size of a pea.
Present superior and posterior to thalamus.
It consists of,
Pineal Gland
Hearbanuclear nuclei.
Pineal gland secretes a hormone called “Melatonin” which is associated with production of sleep and aging.
Commonly asked questions.
Give the functions of cerebrum.
Describe the functions of hypothalamus.
Draw a well labelled diagram of CNS and describe various parts of the human brain.
Draw a well labelled diagram of CNS
Draw a well labelled diagram of Cerebrum and describe it.