BRAIN ANATOMY

Figure 1: Topographical Brain Anatomy. This diagram identifies some major Brain functions the control of which lies in these specific areas.

The Brain serves as the control center for functions of the body and allows us to cope with our environment. Words, actions, thoughts, and feelings are centered in the Brain. It is so complex that some theorists believe we will never be able to fully understand it. We do, however, know that each part of the Brain has a specific, important function. The left side of the Brain controls the right side of the body while the right side of the Brain controls the left side of the body. Virtually all parts of the Brain interconnect in some way with every other part of the Brain. This extensive interconnecting network is accomplished through a complex system called "Fibre Tracts". The largest of these is the Corpus Callosum, the Fibre Tact that connects the two Cerebral Hemispheres to each other (See Figure 2).

Each hemisphere of the Brain is specialized to control movement and feeling in the opposite half of the body, and each hemisphere specializes in processing certain types of information (such as language or spatial patterns). Thus, to coordinate movement or to think about complex information, the hemispheres must communicate with each other. The Corpus Callosum is the main connector that allows that communication.

Among the most important capabilities that set humans aside from other mammals is our unique capability to communicate. The two main areas (see Figure 1) responsible for Speech capabilities are:

Broca's Area which is located in the Opercular and triangular sections of the Inferior Frontal Gyrus. The function of this area is the understanding of language, speech, and the control of facial neurons.

Wernicke's Area is part of the Temporal Lobe that surrounds the Auditory Cortex and is thought to be essential for understanding and formulating speech. Damage in Wernicke's area causes deficits in understanding spoken language.

CEREBRUM

The four distinct lobes that make up the Cerebrum and their functions are:

1. The Frontal lobe controls attention, behavior, abstract thinking, problem solving, creative thought, emotion, intellect, initiative, judgment, coordinated movements, muscle movements, smell, physical reactions, and personality. The Motor Cortex is an area located in the Posterior (back) portion of the Frontal Lobe and helps control movement in various parts of the body.

2. The Temporal lobe controls auditory and visual memories, language, some hearing and speech, language, plus some behavior.

3. The Occipital Lobe of the Cerebral Hemisphere is located in the back of the head and controls vision.

4. The Parietal Lobe controls tactile sensation, response to internal stimuli, sensory comprehension, some language, reading, and some visual functions. The Sensory cortex is located in the front part of the Parietal Lobe, or in other words, the middle area of the Brain. The Sensory Cortex receives information from the Spinal Cord about the sense of touch, pressure, pain, and the perception of the position of body parts and their movements.

Figure 2: The Corpus Callosum is the "largest" Fibre Tract System in the Brain. In a typical infant Brain, the Corpus Callosum develops between 12 to 16 weeks after conception (near the end of the first trimester). While the entire structure develops prior to birth, the fibers of the Corpus Callosum continue to become more and more effective and efficient on into adolescence. By the time a child is approximately 12 years of age, the Corpus Callosum functions essentially as it will in adulthood, allowing rapid interaction between the two sides of the Brain.

BRAIN STEM

Figure 3: Diagram of the Brainstem with its component parts.

For a fascinating and detailed anatomical tour of the Brain Stem the following website is quite marvelous: http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/Index.html

CEREBELLUM

It has been compared to a powerful computer, capable of making contributions both to the motor dexterity and to the mental dexterity of humans, both of which are required for the emergence of fluent human language. This powerful mechanism at the bottom of the Brain, which every person inherits as a birthright, is immature at birth but develops through childhood and adolescence, reaching its full structural growth by the 15th to 20th year of life. Perhaps the reason why it has traditionally been underestimated is its low-level location in the Brain, which contrasts with the high-level location of the structures that are thought to subserve higher mental functions. Such locations in the Brain become irrelevant, however, when a structure is regarded as a computer because a computer's processing power depends not on where it is but on what it contains and to what it is connected.

PONS

One of the important anatomical features of the Pons is that its posterior (back) surface forma part of the wall of the 4^th Ventricle of the Brain. (See Figure 4)

In addition to the Fibre Tracts there are a number of Cranial Nerve "Nuclei" present in the Pons. These "Nuclei" are constellations of specialized cells that serve the function of these highly specialized nerves. The "Nuclei" that reside in the Pons include the Pontine (Sensory) Nucleus of the Trigeminal (5th Cranial) Nerve; the Motor Nucleus of the Trigeminal Nerve; the Abducens (6^th Cranial) Nerve; the Vestibular and Cochlear (8^th Cranial) Nerves and the Facial (7th Cranial) Nerve. (See Figure 11)

The primary function of the Pons is to relay information between the Cerebrum and the Cerebellum. Other important functions include "Sleep & Arousal Control as well as assisting in "Autonomic Functions".

MEDULLA OBLONGATA

The Medulla functions primarily as a relay station for the crossing of motor tracts between the Spinal Cord and the Brain. It also contains the respiratory, vasomotor and cardiac centers, as well as many mechanisms for controlling reflex activities such as coughing, gagging, swallowing and vomiting (also refer to as "Autonomic Functions.")

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND THE VENTRICULAR SYSTEM

Figure 4: Diagram of the Brain's Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Pathway.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (also called CSF) is a clear substance that circulates through, over and around the Brain and Spinal Cord. CSF provides nutrients to and serves to cushion the Brain and Spinal Cord therefore protecting them from injury. This fluid is constantly being produced by an anatomic structure (called the Choroid Plexus) through a process of ultra-filtration of blood. The Choroid Plexus lies within the Brain cavities known as Ventricles. The Four Ventricles of the Brain are connected through a series of channels within the Brain. The CSF courses through the Ventricles to bathe the Brain and Spinal Cord and is then absorbed back into the blood circulation through a reabsorbtion pathway (called Arachnoid Granulations.) As this fluid gets absorbed, more is produced from the Choroid Plexus located in each of the Lateral Ventricles and Fourth Ventricle. A Brain tumor within the Ventricular system or one outside the Ventricles that becomes sufficiently large to press on the Brain and obstruct the internal CSF passageways, can cause a build-up or blockage of CSF flow, a condition known as HYDROCEPHALUS.

BRAIN "GLANDS"

The Pineal Gland (See Figure 5) lies deep within the center of the Brain. It controls the response to light and dark and has been implicated in the syndrome known as "Jet Lag". The exact role of the Pineal Gland is not certain.

Figure 5: Mid-sagittal section of the Brain. The Pineal Gland (Right "White" Arrow) lies deep within the "center" of the Brain. The Pituitary Gland (Left "White" Arrow) lies "underneath" the central portion of the Brain and is connected to the Hypothalamus through its "Pituitary Stalk" (See Figure 5).

Pituitary Gland

Tumors of the Pituitary Gland can grow to sufficient size that will compress and distort vital Nervous System structures (Cranial Nerves and/or Brain) to result in impaired function including blindness and hormonal dysfunction. Other types of Pituitary Tumors, although remaining small, cause considerable difficulties as a result of an "over-production" of specific hormones that will eventually adversely affect other organs and tissues. See figure 5(below) to appreciate the anatomical relationships.

The Optic Chiasm (Figure 6) is located beneath the Hypothalamus and is where the Optic Nerve crosses over to the opposite side of the Brain.

Figure 6: Coronal Section Diagram to demonstrate the relationship of the Pituitary Gland, the Optic Chiasm (part of the Visual sensory system), Cranial Nerves 3, 4, 5 & 6, the Carotid Arteries, the Cavernous Sinus, the Third Ventricle and the Hypothalamus.

HYPOTHALAMUS

Figure 7: Anterior Pituitary Gland secretes hormones under the influence of the Hypothalamus (Arrow). These hormones exert "control" over the body's glands that make up the Endocrine system.

Figure 8: Diagram of the Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Pituitary Stalk, the "control centers" that lie within the Hypothalamus and the "connecting pathways". The Hypothalamus lies within the Third Ventricle. The various "control centers" monitor blood levels of vital components (such as the electrolytes-sodium/potassium, etc.) as well as influencing body core temperature, thirst and hunger.

Figure 9: Coronal Section Diagram of the Thalamus, Hypothalamus and Third Ventricle to demonstrate the complex inter-relationships. Compare to Figure 7.

THALAMUS & BASAL GANGLIA

The Thalamus controls input and output to and from the Cerebral Cortex, as well as the sensation of pain and attention. It is one of the Brain's major "relay stations" controlling the "flow" of electronic impulses to and from the Cerebral Hemispheres.

Figure 10: Diagram of the Thalamus (Green) for localization within the Brain

CRANIAL NERVES

These highly specialized Nerves lie along the Skull Base (a designated portion of the Bone of the Skull). Skull Base Tumors often involve these Nerves which then places their function at risk. Several of these Cranial Nerves are involved in some unique medical conditions for which there is effective surgical treatment.

Figure 11: diagram of the 12 pairs of Cranial Nerves and their Functions.

MENINGES

The region between the Arachnoid and Pia Mater is filled with Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF).

A tumor arising from the Meningeal tissue is called a Meningioma.

Additional Information:

1. About the Brain ("Show Me the Diagram"):

   http://library.thinkquest.org/4371/About%20the%20Brain.htm

2. There is an excellent description of the Cerebellum and its functions to be found at:

   http://www.newhorizons.org/neuro/leiner.htm

3. For a fascinating and detailed anatomical tour of the Brain Stem the following website is quite worthwhile:

   http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/Index.html

This page last edited on 2/19