BSC 2085: Anatomy and Physiology 1 - Chapter 12 Overview

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Components: Brain and spinal cord.
Cephalization: Concentration of nervous tissue at the anterior end, particularly in the human brain, indicating advanced development.

Development: Origin of the brain and spinal cord.
Importance of Folic Acid: Prevents neural tube defects during pregnancy, which can result in severe consequences like mental retardation or impaired motor function.

Forebrain, Midbrain, Hindbrain: Developmental divisions.
Cerebral Hemispheres: Develop from telencephalon, consist of left and right hemispheres controlling contralateral sides of the body.
Diencephalon: Forms epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and retina.

Epithalamus: Contains pineal gland, secretes melatonin.
Thalamus: Gateway to the cerebral cortex, involved in sensory processing.
Hypothalamus: The 'boss', regulates homeostasis, emotions, hormone secretion.
Cerebellum: Responsible for motor control.
Pons: Connects cerebrum and cerebellum, involved in motor control pathways.
Medulla Oblongata: Controls autonomic functions like heart rate and breathing.

Gray Matter: Non-myelinated, basal nuclei, processing centers.
White Matter: Myelinated fibers for fast conduction, structured in association, commissure, and projection fibers.

Cerebral Cortex: Site of conscious mind, sensory perception, motor initiation, communication, and memory.
Motor Areas: Includes primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, Broca’s area, and frontal eye field.
Sensory Areas: For sensation awareness, includes visual, auditory, vestibular, olfactory, gustatory, and visceral sensations.
Association Areas: Integrate information, multi-modal, divided into anterior, posterior, and limbic associations.

Contralateral Control: Each hemisphere controls opposite side of the body.
Lateralization: Each hemisphere has specific functions (e.g., language in the left hemisphere).
Cerebellum Contributions: Involved in motor control and cognitive functions.

Role: Filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), include lateral, third, and fourth ventricles, and cerebral aqueduct.

Somatotopy: Mapping of body parts on the brain for motor and sensory control.
Homunculus: Visual representation of the body detailing the brain's allocation of motor and sensory function.

Strokes and Aphasia: Damage to specific brain areas affecting speech and motor control.
Basal Nuclei Disorders: Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.

Understanding the brain's structure and function is critical for diagnosing and addressing neurological disorders. The lecture provided an in-depth overview of the central nervous system's formation and its key components, elucidating their specific functions and interconnections.