what does the CNS first start out as? (brain embryology)
the neural tube
what is the lumen of the neural tube?
what is it filled with?
what does it become?
what 3 regions form at 4 weeks?
what does the prosencephalon form?
what does the telencephalon form?
the cerebrum and the lateral ventricle
what does the diencephalon form?
the hypothalamus, thalamus, and the epithalamus
also the third ventricle
what does the mesencephalon form?
it becomes the midbrain
what does the rhombencephalon form?
what does the metencephalon form?
the pons and cerebellum
what does the myelencephalon form?
the medulla oblongata
what are the major regions of the brain? (6)
general functions of the medulla oblongata
general functions of the pons
pons (professor’s notes)
contains higher respiratory control centers
apneustic pons
inhibits exhalation for inhalation
pneumotaxic pons
inhibits inhalation for exhalation
medulla (prof’s notes)
the medulla relays communication between the midbrain and the cerebellum
ex… you can’t maintain balance if your eyes are closed
balance = comes from cerebellum
eyes closed = comes from superior colliculi
general functions of the mesencephalon (midbrain)
visual = superior colliculi
auditory = inferior colliculi
midbrain (prof’s notes)
the reticular formation of the midbrain helps with maintaining consciousness
ex… when we’re walking down a dark alley and we’re scared, we become very alert
this is also an example of reverberation
general functions of the diencephalon
contains…
1. thalamus
2. epithalamus
3. hypothalamus
thalamus functions
the spinothalamic tract runs through here
epithalamus functions
the pineal gland secretes hormones like melatonin and controls the secretion of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland
hypothalamus functions
circadian rhythm control (prof’s notes)
in the morning, melatonin decreases and cortisol increases
the opposite is true for when you go to sleep