the parts of the brain and endocrine system and their functions

The Parts of the Brain and Endocrine Systemand their Functions

Hemispheric Specialization

Right Hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

BRAINSTEM

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

responsible for automatic survival functions

Pons

• The pons is part of the rhombencephalon/the hindbrain. Pons forms together with medulla oblongata/ the medulla and mesencephalon/the midbrain the brain stem. The brain stem receives sensory information and conveys motor function from cranial nerves. It also serves as a conduit for information from ascending sensory and descending motor tracts. The pons participate in the regulation of eye movements. It gets blood supply from a.basilaris/the basilar artery.

BRAINSTEM

Medulla (medulla Oblongata)

Medulla [muh-DUL-uh] base of the brainstem controls heartbeat and

breathing

BRAINSTEM

Reticular formation

Reticular Formation a nerve

network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

BRAINSTEM

Spinal cordBRAINSTEM

Cerebellum

Cerebellum [sehr-uh-BELL-um] the “little brain”

attached to the rear of the brainstem

it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

BRAINSTEM

LIMBIC SYSTEM

Limbic System a doughnut-shaped system

of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres

associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex

includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

Thalamus

Thalamus [THAL-uh-muss] the brain’s sensory

switchboard, located on top of the brainstem

it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

LIMBIC SYSTEM

HippocampusLIMBIC SYSTEM

Amygdala

Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la] two almond-shaped

neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion

LIMBIC SYSTEM

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus neural structure lying

below (hypo) the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities

eating drinking body temperature

helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland

is linked to emotion

LIMBIC SYSTEM

OlfactoryLIMBIC SYSTEM

Basal GangliaLIMBIC SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Endocrine System the body’s “slow”

chemical communication system

a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Pituitary Gland

Pituitary Gland under the influence of the hypothalamus,

the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Adrenal Gland

Adrenal [ah-DREEN-el] Glands a pair of endocrine glands just above the

kidneys secrete the hormones epinephrine

(adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ThyroidENDOCRINE SYSTEM

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Cerebral Cortex the intricate fabric of

interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres

the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

Frontal Lobe

Frontal Lobes involved in

speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Parietal Lobe

Parietal Lobes include the

sensory cortex

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Occipital Lobe

Occipital Lobes include the visual

areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Temporal Lobe

Temporal Lobes include the

auditory areas

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Motor Cortex

Motor Cortex area at the rear

of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Sensory Cortex

Sensory Cortex area at the front

of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Auditory CortexCEREBRAL CORTEX

Visual CortexCEREBRAL CORTEX

Broca’s Area

Broca’s Area an area of the left

frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Wernicke’s Area

Wernicke’s Area an area of the left temporal lobe involved in

language comprehension and expression

CEREBRAL CORTEX

Association AreasCEREBRAL CORTEX

Angular gyrusCEREBRAL CORTEX

Corpus Callosum

Corpus Callosum large band of

neural fibers connects the two

brain hemispheres carries messages

between the hemispheres

Ventricle

• The entire surface of central nervous system is bathed by a clear, colorless fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF is contained within a system of fluid-filled cavities called ventricles.

• The ventricles are shown in blue on the following midsagittal section of the brain.

• The dense fluid protects the brain and spinal cord from shock; a brain that weighs 1,500 g in air weighs only 50 g when suspended in CSF (Livingston, 1965).