3. A few definitions
201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
A few Definitions
Locations in the Brain
Described relative to neuraxis
- an imaginary line drawn through the spinal cord
up to the front of the brain
The front end is anterior
The back end is posterior
The terms rostral (toward the head) and caudal (
toward the tail) are also used when referring to pa
rts of the brain
4. Dorsal (back) refers to the top of the head and
the back
The ventral (front) surface faces the ground.
These directions are somewhat more
complicated in humans because our neuraxis
bends, so that the top of the head is now
perpendicular to the back.
201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
A few Definitions
Locations in the Brain
6. 201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
The Neuraxis
Anterior
Posterial
DorsalVentral
superior
inferior
7. Lateral means to the side (away from the
neuraxis)
Medial (or mesial) means toward the middle
(towards the neuraxis)
Proximal: Areas of the brain that are near to
one another
Distal: Areas that are far from one another
201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
A few Definitions
Locations in the Brain
8. 201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
A few Definitions
Locations in the Brain
Ipsilateral refers to structures on the same
side of the body
E.g. the olfactory bulbs send ipsilateral conne
ctions to the brain - the right bulb connects t
o the right hemisphere, and the left bulb con
nects to the left hemisphere
Contralateral refers to structures on opposite
sides of the body
E.g. the left motor strip connects to the right
side of the body
14. 201403 Ph.D. Jury HAM
Classification of Neurons
Functional difference
Central nervous system Peripheral nervous system
Cell body
Interneurons
Dendrites
Axon
Axon
Sensory (afferent) neuron
Motor (efferent) neuron
Cell body
Axon
(central process)
Axon
(peripheral process)
Sensory
receptor
Effector
(muscle or gland)
Axon
terminal
25. 201403
Cranial Nerve
Ph.D. Jury HAM
CN I Olfactory Olfactory
epithelium
Smell
CN II Optic Retina Vision
CN III Occulomotor Midbrain Eye movement;
accommodation
CN IV Trochlear Midbrain Eye movement
(superior oblique)
CN V Trigeminal Pons Sensation to face;
chewing
CN VI Abducens Pons Eye movement
( lateral rectus)
CN VII Facial Pons Facial expression;
taste to anterior
2/3 of tongue
CN VIII Vestibulocochlear Pons Hearing &
balance
CN IX Glossopharyngeal Medulla Salivation;
swallowing; taste
to posterior 1/3
of tongue
CN X Vagus Medulla Digestion; taste
to pharynx
CN XI Accessory Medulla Movement of
trapezius & SCM
CN XII Hypoglossal Medulla Movement of
tongue
31. 201403
QUIZ
Ph.D. Jury HAM
Does a bigger brain mean
you are smarter?
The debate is still on.
It seems that the higher brain
to body mass an animal has,
the smarter it is.
Einstein's overall brain was a
normal size, but the specific
portion known for spatial
intelligence was wider and
had a unique anatomy.
Ha! Ha!