Nervous System: Part IV
The Central Nervous System
The Brain
Can you survive when part of your brain is destroyed?
2
Essential Knowledge 3.D.2
2. Cells communicate with each
other through direct contact with
other cells or from a distance via
chemical signaling.
3
Central nervous
system (CNS)
Brain
Peripheral nervous
system (PNS)
Cranial nerves
Spinal cord
Ganglia outside
CNS
Spinal nerves
What accounts for the difference between
white and gray matter?
Gray matter
White
matter
Ventricles
Cerebrospinal Fluid
• The central canal of the spinal cord and the ventricles
of the brain are hollow and filled with cerebrospinal
fluid
• The cerebrospinal fluid is filtered from blood and
functions to cushion the brain and spinal cord as well
as to provide nutrients and remove wastes
Glia
• Glia have numerous functions
including to nourish, support,
and regulate neurons
– Embryonic radial glia form
tracks along which newly
formed neurons migrate
– Astrocytes induce cells lining
capillaries in the CNS to form
tight junctions, resulting in a
blood-brain barrier and
restricting the entry of most
substances into the brain
Central Nervous
System
(information processing)
Peripheral Nervous
System
Efferent neurons
Afferent neurons
Sensory
receptors
Autonomic
nervous system
Motor
system
Control of
skeletal muscle
Internal
and external
stimuli
Sympathetic
division
Parasympathetic
division
Enteric
division
Control of smooth muscles,
cardiac muscles, glands
Central Nervous
System
(information processing)
Peripheral Nervous
System
Efferent neurons
Afferent neurons
Sensory
receptors
Autonomic
nervous system
Motor
system
Control of
skeletal muscle
Internal
and external
stimuli
Sympathetic
division
Parasympathetic
division
Enteric
division
Control of smooth muscles,
cardiac muscles, glands
The Vertebrate Brain Is Regionally Specialized
• Specific brain structures are particularly specialized
for diverse functions
• These structures arise during embryonic
development
Brain structures in child and adult
Embryonic brain regions
Telencephalon
Cerebrum (includes cerebral cortex, white
matter, basal nuclei)
Diencephalon
Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus,
epithalamus)
Forebrain
Midbrain
Mesencephalon
Midbrain (part of brainstem)
Metencephalon
Pons (part of brainstem), cerebellum
Myelencephalon
Medulla oblongata (part of brainstem)
Hindbrain
Cerebrum
Mesencephalon
Midbrain
Hindbrain
Metencephalon
Diencephalon
Forebrain
Telencephalon
Embryo at 1 month
Embryo at 5 weeks
Diencephalon
Midbrain
Myelencephalon
Pons
Medulla
oblongata
Spinal
cord
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
Child
Brain structures in child and adult
Cerebrum (includes cerebral cortex, white
matter, basal nuclei)
Forebrain
Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus,
epithalamus)
Midbrain (part of brainstem)
Midbrain
Pons (part of brainstem), cerebellum
Hindbrain
Myelencephalon
Medulla oblongata (part of brainstem)
Cerebrum
Mesencephalon
Midbrain
Hindbrain
Metencephalon
Diencephalon
Forebrain
Telencephalon
Embryo at 1 month
Embryo at 5 weeks
Diencephalon
Midbrain
Myelencephalon
Pons
Medulla
oblongata
Spinal
cord
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
Child
Cerebrum
Diencephalon
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
oblongata
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
Child
Left cerebral
hemisphere
Right cerebral
hemisphere
Cerebral cortex
Corpus callosum
Cerebrum
Basal nuclei
Cerebellum
Adult brain viewed from the rear
Diencephalon
Thalamus
Pineal gland
Hypothalamus
Brainstem
Midbrain
Pituitary gland
Pons
Medulla
oblongata
Spinal cord
Frontal lobe
Motor cortex
(control of
skeletal muscles)
Somatosensory cortex
(sense of touch)
Parietal lobe
Prefrontal cortex
(decision making,
planning)
Sensory association
cortex (integration of
sensory information)
Visual association
cortex (combining
images and object
recognition)
Broca’s area
(forming speech)
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe
Auditory cortex (hearing)
Wernicke’s area
(comprehending language)
Cerebellum
Visual cortex
(processing visual
stimuli and pattern
recognition)
Language and Speech
• Studies of brain activity have
mapped areas responsible for
language and speech
• Broca’s area in the frontal lobe is
active when speech is generated
• Wernicke’s area in the temporal
lobe is active when speech is
heard
• These areas belong to a larger
network of regions involved in
language
Information Processing
• The cerebral cortex receives input from sensory
organs and somatosensory receptors
• Somatosensory receptors provide information about
touch, pain, pressure, temperature, and the position
of muscles and limbs
• The thalamus directs different types of input to
distinct locations
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Jaw
Tongue
Tongue
Pharynx
Primary
motor cortex
Leg
Hip
Trunk
Neck
Head
Knee
Hip
Genitalia
Toes
Abdominal
organs
Primary
somatosensory
cortex
Knee
Hip
Toes
Jaw
Tongue
Primary
motor cortex
Leg
Hip
Trunk
Neck
Head
Genitalia
Tongue
Pharynx
Abdominal
organs
Primary
somatosensory
cortex
Frontal Lobe Function
• Frontal lobe damage may impair decision making
and emotional responses but leave intellect and
memory intact
• The frontal lobes have a substantial effect on
“executive functions” of thinking making decisions.
Created by:
Debra Richards
Coordinator of Secondary Science Programs
Bryan ISD
Bryan, TX