Corpus Callosum Essay

The command center of the human nervous system is the brain. The sensory organs send information to the brain, which then sends output to the muscles. The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum. Underneath the cerebrum lies the brainstem, and behind that sits the cerebellum. The outmost layer of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex, which has four lobes. There is a frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. The brain develops from three sections known as the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. There are two hemispheres, the left and the right. These two hemispheres are connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. There are approximately 200 million nerve fibers that pass information back and forth between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The fibrous tract aids in learning and memory. A birth defect can occur leading to the partial or complete absence of the corpus callosum. Agenesis means not formed or “absence of an organ”. Agenesis of the corpus callosum
The cause of agenesis of the corpus callosum is unidentifiable in many cases, but is thought to involve a vascular disruption or inflammatory lesion before 12 weeks. Certain medications such as Valproate, an epilepsy medication or drugs and alcohol are risk factors for this condition. Contracting rubella during pregnancy, chromosomal damage, and abnormalities like trisomy 21, 13, 11, 8 or 18 are also possible causes for ACC. Cysts inside the brain can prevent the development of the corpus callosum. The majority of ACC cases occur in conjunction with other brain abnormalities. The genetic disorders have a larger impact on the brain formation. Examples of these disorders are Arnold-Chiari malformation, Dandy-Walker syndrome, Schizencephaly, Holoprosencephaly, Hydrocephalus, Aicardi syndrome, Andermann syndrome, and