brain stem

Examples of brain stem in the following topics:

• Functions of the Brain Stem

  • In vertebrate anatomy, the brainstem is the inferior-most portion of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the brain and spinal cord.
  • The brain stem gives rise to cranial nerves 3 through 12 and provides the main motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck via the cranial nerves.
  • Though small, it is an extremely important part of the brain, as the nerve connections of the motor and sensory systems from the main part of the brain that communicate with the peripheral nervous system pass through the brain stem.
  • The brain stem also plays an important role in the regulation of cardiac and respiratory function.
  • In addition, there are upper motor neurons that originate in the brain stem's vestibular, red, tectal, and reticular nuclei, which also descend and synapse in the spinal cord.

• The Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • The CNS is comprised of the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord.
  • The cerebrum, or the top portion for the brain, is the seat of higher-level thought.
  • The brain stem is connected to the underside of the brain.
  • The spinal cord connects the brain and brain stem to all of the major nerves in the body.
  • The three major components of the central nervous system: 1) the brain, 2) brain stem, and 3) spinal cord.

• Lower-Level Structures

  • The brain's lower-level structures consist of the brain stem, the spinal cord, and the cerebellum.
  • The brain's lower-level structures consist of the brain stem and spinal cord, along with the cerebellum.
  • The midbrain is located between the hindbrain and forebrain, but it is actually part of the brain stem.
  • In adults, the diencephalon appears at the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem.
  • An image of the brain showing the limbic system in relation to the brain stem and spinal cord.

• Development of the Human Brain

  • It includes the cerebellum, reticular formation, and brain stem, which are responsible for some of the most basic autonomic functions of life, such as breathing and movement.
  • The brain stem contains the pons and medulla oblongata.
  • The midbrain makes up part of the brain stem.
  • It is the large and complicated forebrain that distinguishes the human brain from other vertebrate brains.
  • The layers of the embryonic brain.

• Blood Flow in the Brain

  • Cerebral circulation refers to the movement of blood through the network of blood vessels supplying the brain.
  • CBF is tightly regulated to meet the brain's metabolic demands.
  • Too much blood can raise intracranial pressure (ICP), which can compress and damage delicate brain tissue.
  • In brain tissue, a biochemical cascade known as the ischemic cascade is triggered when the tissue becomes ischemic, potentially resulting in damage to and death of brain cells.
  • Schematic representation of the circle of Willis, arteries of the brain and brain stem.

• Functions of the Diencephalon

  • In adults, the diencephalon appears at the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem.
  • The hypothalamus performs numerous vital functions (e.g., regulation of certain metabolic processes), most of which relate directly or indirectly to the regulation of visceral activities by way of other brain regions and the autonomic nervous system.
  • The epithalamus functions as a connection between the limbic system and other parts of the brain.
  • $$Subdivisions of the embryonic vertebrate brain that later differentiate into forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain structures.

• The Brain

  • The human brain is the center of the human nervous system.
  • A number of psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression, are thought to be associated with brain dysfunctions, although the nature of such brain anomalies is not well understood.
  • The cerebral hemispheres form the largest part of the human brain and are situated above most other brain structures.
  • The brain stem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
  • Distinguish between the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and brain stem regions of the brain

• Brain: Midbrain and Brain Stem

  • Interconnected brain areas called the basal ganglia (or basal nuclei) play important roles in movement control and posture.
  • The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") sits at the base of the brain on top of the brainstem.
  • The brainstem connects the rest of the brain with the spinal cord.
  • The brainstem coordinates motor control signals sent from the brain to the body.
  • Explain the structure and function of the non-cerebral cortex portions of the brain

• Subdivisions of the Nervous System

  • The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS is a network of nerves linking the body to the brain and spinal cord.
  • The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord .
  • These centers can be broadly subdivided into lower centers, including the spinal cord and brain stem, that carry out essential body and organ-control functions and higher centers within the brain that control more sophisticated information processing including our thoughts and perceptions.
  • Further subdivisions of the brain will be discussed in a later section.
  • The brain and the spinal cord are the central nervous system (CNS) (shown in yellow).

• Spinal Cord

  • The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that is connected to the brain and relays information from the brain to the body and vice versa.
  • Connecting to the brainstem and extending down the body through the spinal column is the spinal cord: a thick bundle of nerve tissue that carries information about the body to the brain and from the brain to the body.
  • Axons and cell bodies in the dorsal (facing the back of the animal) spinal cord convey mostly sensory information from the body to the brain.
  • Because the spinal cord is the information superhighway connecting the brain with the body, damage to the spinal cord can lead to paralysis.
  • Spinal cord injuries are notoriously difficult to treat because spinal nerves do not regenerate, although ongoing research suggests that stem cell transplants may be able to act as a bridge to reconnect severed nerves.