Major Brain Function
The Brain has five major structures . These structures include the mesencephalon, metencephalon, myelencephalon (or medulla), telencephalon, and diecephalon. All of these brain structures contribute different functions within the human body.
The brain’s first structure is the myelencephalon, which is also called the medulla. The myelencephalon is known as the most posterior part of the brain. The structure of the myelencephalon is made up of bundles of axons called tracts. These tracts carry signals between the rest of the body and the brain. The myelencephalon also contains a reticular formation, which consists of a complex system of 100 tiny nuclei occupy the central core of the brain stem from the bottom extremity of the myelencephalon …show more content…
to the top extremity of the midbrain. Some parts of the reticular formation play a role in arousal. The different nuclei in the reticular formation involves a variety of different functions such as The reticular formation consists of different functions which are involved in a variety of such as movement, sleep regulation, muscle tone management, attention, reflexes of the cardiac, respiratory and circulatory. Responsible for controlling autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing and digestion describes the myelencephalon structure.
The metencephalon is the second structure of the brain. And like the medulla, it houses parts of the reticular formation and tracts that are also located in the myelencephalon. The pons and the cerebellum are the two parts which make up the metencephalon.The pons also consists of some of the tracts and reticular formation as in the myelencephalon. A very important sensorimotor is the cerebellum. The functions of the cerebellums also include posture maintenance and muscle movement coordination. The metecephalons functions are arousal, sleep; assist in controlling autonomic functions; such as sending sensory information between the cerebrum and cerebellum and controlling movement. For instance, if a person’s cerebellum just so happens to get damaged, an individual may show cognitive and sensorimotor deficits.
The mesencephalon, known as the midbrain, is the next structure of the brain. The mesencephalon is located between the forebrain and the brainstem. The mesencephalon has two branches which are the tectum and the tegmentum. These two branches on the mesencephalon are tectum and the tegmentum. Located at the upper surface of the midbrain is the tectum. The inferior colliculi (auditory) and the superior colliculi (visual) make up the tectum ; they have auditory and visual functions. The tegmentum contains tracts, the reticular formations, the periaqueductal gray, the substantia nigra, and the red nucleus. The substantia nigra and the red nucleus are important mechanisms of the sensorimotor system. The cerebral aqueduct is of special interest because of its role in mediating the analgesic (pain-reducing) effects of opiate drugs (Pinel, 2011).
The fourth structure of the brain is the diencephalon. The diencephalon is made up of the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The thalamus is the large two lobed structures that constitute the top of the brain stem (Pinel, 2011). The masa intermedia join the double lobed thalamus. The thalamus contains many different pairs of nuclei, majority of them project to the cortex. The nuclei that are understood the most is the sensory relay nuclei. The sensory relay nuclei receive signals from sensory receptors processes them and then transmits them to the proper areas of the sensory cortex. For instance, the most important relay stations are the lateral geniculate nuclei, the ventral posterior nuclei, and the medial geniculate nuclei. These relay stations are located in the visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems, individually. They receive the message and send it to multiple places. The hypothalamus is located under the front of the thalamus. The hypothalamus role is very important; it regulates the behaviors that are motivated. For instance, some of these behaviors include eating, sleeping, and sexual behaviors. It regulates these behaviors by releasing hormones from the pituitary gland. The optic chiasm and mammillary bodies are also part of the hypothalamus.
The last structure of the brain is the hugest and most complex part of the brain called the telencephalon.
The telencephalon contains the cerebral cortex. The telencephalon also consists of many other structures such as the major fissures which are big grooves in a complex cortex it includes the longitudinal fissure, lateral fissure, and central fissure. It also consists of the most important gyri’s that are located in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, respectively (Pinel, 2011). The gyri include the precentral gyri, the postcentral gyri, and the superior gyri which are the largest (Pinel, 2011). The cerebral commissures are also located in the telencephalon, which are hemisphere connecting tracts (Pinel, 2011); the biggest tract is the corpus callosum. The limbic system is also located in the telencephalon. The limbic system regulates behaviors that are motived and consist of major structures that surround the thalamus such as; the amygdala, the fornix, the cingulate cortex, and the septum. The basal ganglia is the last structure in the telencephalon. The basal ganglia’s function is to regulate voluntary motor responses. The basal ganglia includes structures such as the amygdala, the caudate, the putamen, and the globus pallidus. The telencephalon begins voluntary movement, interprets sensory input, and mediates complex cognitive processes such as learning speaking and problem solving (Pinel,
2011).
In conclusion, the brain and the structures of the brain are very convoluted. The brain contributes to majority of our body functions if not all of our functions. There will be continuous research on the brain due to its complexity and there will always be questions left unanswered and new discoveries. I do not think that the brain will ever be fully understood because of its complexity.
Reference
Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Basics of biopsychology. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
The brain’s first structure is the myelencephalon, which is also called the medulla. The myelencephalon is known as the most posterior part of the brain. The structure of the myelencephalon is made up of bundles of axons called tracts. These tracts carry signals between the rest of the body and the brain. The myelencephalon also contains a reticular formation, which consists of a complex system of 100 tiny nuclei occupy the central core of the brain stem from the bottom extremity of the myelencephalon …show more content…
to the top extremity of the midbrain. Some parts of the reticular formation play a role in arousal. The different nuclei in the reticular formation involves a variety of different functions such as The reticular formation consists of different functions which are involved in a variety of such as movement, sleep regulation, muscle tone management, attention, reflexes of the cardiac, respiratory and circulatory. Responsible for controlling autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing and digestion describes the myelencephalon structure.
The metencephalon is the second structure of the brain. And like the medulla, it houses parts of the reticular formation and tracts that are also located in the myelencephalon. The pons and the cerebellum are the two parts which make up the metencephalon.The pons also consists of some of the tracts and reticular formation as in the myelencephalon. A very important sensorimotor is the cerebellum. The functions of the cerebellums also include posture maintenance and muscle movement coordination. The metecephalons functions are arousal, sleep; assist in controlling autonomic functions; such as sending sensory information between the cerebrum and cerebellum and controlling movement. For instance, if a person’s cerebellum just so happens to get damaged, an individual may show cognitive and sensorimotor deficits.
The mesencephalon, known as the midbrain, is the next structure of the brain. The mesencephalon is located between the forebrain and the brainstem. The mesencephalon has two branches which are the tectum and the tegmentum. These two branches on the mesencephalon are tectum and the tegmentum. Located at the upper surface of the midbrain is the tectum. The inferior colliculi (auditory) and the superior colliculi (visual) make up the tectum ; they have auditory and visual functions. The tegmentum contains tracts, the reticular formations, the periaqueductal gray, the substantia nigra, and the red nucleus. The substantia nigra and the red nucleus are important mechanisms of the sensorimotor system. The cerebral aqueduct is of special interest because of its role in mediating the analgesic (pain-reducing) effects of opiate drugs (Pinel, 2011).
The fourth structure of the brain is the diencephalon. The diencephalon is made up of the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The thalamus is the large two lobed structures that constitute the top of the brain stem (Pinel, 2011). The masa intermedia join the double lobed thalamus. The thalamus contains many different pairs of nuclei, majority of them project to the cortex. The nuclei that are understood the most is the sensory relay nuclei. The sensory relay nuclei receive signals from sensory receptors processes them and then transmits them to the proper areas of the sensory cortex. For instance, the most important relay stations are the lateral geniculate nuclei, the ventral posterior nuclei, and the medial geniculate nuclei. These relay stations are located in the visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems, individually. They receive the message and send it to multiple places. The hypothalamus is located under the front of the thalamus. The hypothalamus role is very important; it regulates the behaviors that are motivated. For instance, some of these behaviors include eating, sleeping, and sexual behaviors. It regulates these behaviors by releasing hormones from the pituitary gland. The optic chiasm and mammillary bodies are also part of the hypothalamus.
The last structure of the brain is the hugest and most complex part of the brain called the telencephalon.
The telencephalon contains the cerebral cortex. The telencephalon also consists of many other structures such as the major fissures which are big grooves in a complex cortex it includes the longitudinal fissure, lateral fissure, and central fissure. It also consists of the most important gyri’s that are located in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, respectively (Pinel, 2011). The gyri include the precentral gyri, the postcentral gyri, and the superior gyri which are the largest (Pinel, 2011). The cerebral commissures are also located in the telencephalon, which are hemisphere connecting tracts (Pinel, 2011); the biggest tract is the corpus callosum. The limbic system is also located in the telencephalon. The limbic system regulates behaviors that are motived and consist of major structures that surround the thalamus such as; the amygdala, the fornix, the cingulate cortex, and the septum. The basal ganglia is the last structure in the telencephalon. The basal ganglia’s function is to regulate voluntary motor responses. The basal ganglia includes structures such as the amygdala, the caudate, the putamen, and the globus pallidus. The telencephalon begins voluntary movement, interprets sensory input, and mediates complex cognitive processes such as learning speaking and problem solving (Pinel,
2011).
In conclusion, the brain and the structures of the brain are very convoluted. The brain contributes to majority of our body functions if not all of our functions. There will be continuous research on the brain due to its complexity and there will always be questions left unanswered and new discoveries. I do not think that the brain will ever be fully understood because of its complexity.
Reference
Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Basics of biopsychology. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.