Lecture Notes: Grey Matter and White Matter

Overview

• The focus is on the brain and spinal cord, particularly on grey matter and white matter.

Structure of the Brain

• Grey Matter:
  • Located on the outer layer of the brain.
  • Folded structure to provide more space.
  • Contains the cell bodies of neurons.
  • Responsible for complex processes due to numerous connections.
  • Approximately 100 billion neurons in the CNS with about 100 trillion connections.
• White Matter:
  • Located in the middle of the brain.
  • Composed of axons from neurons in the grey matter.

Function of Grey and White Matter

• Grey Matter:
  • Site of neuron cell bodies and synaptic connections.
  • Essential for processing information due to its vast network of neural connections.
• White Matter:
  • Facilitates communication between different brain regions and between the brain and spinal cord.
  • Transmits information through axons.

Structure of the Spinal Cord

• White Matter:
  • Located on the outside.
  • Transmits information to and from the brain.
• Grey Matter:
  • Located in the center.
  • Connects neurons to nerves that enter and leave the body.
  • Acts as a hub for processing and relaying information between the body and brain.

Conclusion

• The complexity and function of the CNS depend heavily on the structure and interconnections within grey and white matter.