The brain, a miraculous three-pound organ, is responsible for all bodily processes, interprets data from the outside world, and embodies the mind and soul. The brain controls a wide range of functions, including memory, creativity, emotion, and intelligence. The brain is made up of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem and is protected inside the skull.
Our five senses—sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing—all convey information to the brain, frequently several at once. It puts the signals together in a way that makes sense to us and can help us remember that information.
Glial cells also referred to as neuroglia or glia, and neurons are the two types of cells that make up the brain. The neuron is in charge of transmitting and receiving nerve signals or impulses. Non-neuronal glial cells nurture and nourish neurons, uphold homeostasis, build myelin, and aid in signal transmission in the nervous system. Glial cells outnumber neurons in the human brain by a ratio of roughly 50 to 1.
The majority of cells in initial brain tumours are glial cells. When a person is diagnosed with a brain tumour, a biopsy may be done, in which tissue is removed from the tumour for identification purposes by a pathologist. Pathologists identify the type of cells that are present in this brain tissue, and brain tumours are named based on this association. The type of brain tumour and cells involved impact patient prognosis and treatment.
The Meninges
The bone cap known as the cranium contains the brain. The skull shields the brain from harm. The skull is the collective name for the bones that guard the face, including the cranium. The meninges, which are composed of three layers of tissue and cover and protect the brain and spinal cord, are located between the skull and the brain. The dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater are the layers, going inward from the outermost.
Dura Mater: The dura mater is a two-layer, white, nonelastic film or membrane that covers the brain. The periosteum is the term for the epidermis. The dura, an inner layer, lines the interior of the entire skull and forms tiny folds or compartments where the brain is secured and protected. The falx and the tentorium are the names of the two distinct folds of the dura in the brain. The tentorium divides the upper from the lower half of the brain, while the falx divides the right from the left.
Arachnoid: The arachnoid is the second layer of the meninges. The entire brain is covered by this delicate, paper-thin membrane. The subdural space is the region that is between the dura and the arachnoid membranes. Variable-sized blood veins and delicate, elastic tissue make up the arachnoid.
Pia Mater: The meningeal layer that is closest to the brain’s surface is referred to as the pia mater. Numerous blood veins in the pia mater extend far beneath the surface of the brain. The pia follows the folds of the brain and covers the full surface of the brain. The pia receives its blood vessels from the primary arteries supplying the brain. The subarachnoid space is the region between the arachnoid and the pia. The cerebrospinal fluid flows in this region.
Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobes, the largest of the four lobes, have a variety of roles in the body. These include linguistic, cognitive, behavioural, and motor skills like voluntary movement. The primary motor cortex, also known as the precentral gyrus, contains the regions that cause movement in various body parts. Memory, intelligence, focus, temperament, and personality are all significantly influenced by the prefrontal cortex.
An area next to the primary motor cortex is called the premotor cortex. It directs a person’s sense of orientation as well as eye and head motions. The frontal lobe’s Broca region, which is crucial for language creation, is often on the left side.
Hypothalamus
A little organ called the hypothalamus has nerve connections that communicate with the pituitary gland. The autonomic nervous system sends information to the hypothalamus, which processes it. It plays a part in regulating activities including eating, sleeping, and sexual activity as well as influencing body temperature, emotions, hormone secretion, and movement. The hypothalamus’ downward extension and a second component that rises from the roof of the mouth together form the pituitary gland.
Parietal Lobe
These lobes simultaneously evaluate messages from various parts of the brain, including the visual, auditory, motor, sensory, and memory systems. A person’s memory and any fresh sensory information they acquire give items significance.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary fossa, also known as the sella turcica, is where the pituitary gland is located near the base of the brain, behind the nose. Due to its ability to regulate the release of hormones, the pituitary is frequently referred to as the “master gland.” The following are under the direction and coordination of the pituitary:
Expansion and development
The purpose of different body organs (i.e. kidneys, breasts and uterus)
The purpose of additional glands (i.e. thyroid, gonads, and adrenal glands)
Temporal Lobe
These lobes, which can be separated into two sections, are situated at roughly ear level on each side of the brain. Each hemisphere has two parts: one is on the bottom (ventral) and the other is on the side (lateral). Visual memory is controlled by a region on the right side, which aids in object and face recognition.
The left side of the brain has a region that is engaged in verbal memory and aids in language understanding and recollection. Humans can decipher the feelings and responses of others thanks to the temporal lobe at the back of the brain.
Occipital Lobe
Humans can receive and analyse visual information thanks to the lobes at the back of the brain. They affect how people perceive colour and shape. While the left occipital lobe performs the same task for the right visual space, the right occipital lobe processes visual information from the left visual area.
Cerebellum
Under the occipital lobes in the back of the brain is where the cerebellum is situated. The tentorium separates it from the cerebrum (the fold of the dura). The cerebellum fine-tunes motor activity or movements, such as the delicate finger movements used in surgery or picture painting.
By regulating muscle tone and limb position, it aids in maintaining posture, balance, and equilibrium. The cerebellum plays a crucial role in one’s capacity for quick, repeated behaviours like playing video games. Right-sided anomalies in the cerebellum result in symptoms on that body side.
Cerebrum
The cerebrum, which forms the major portion of the brain, is divided into two major parts: the right and left cerebral hemispheres. The cerebrum is a term often used to describe the entire brain. A fissure or groove that separates the two hemispheres is called the great longitudinal fissure.
The two sides of the brain are joined at the bottom by the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum connects the two halves of the brain and delivers messages from one half of the brain to the other. The surface of the cerebrum contains billions of neurons and glia that together form the cerebral cortex.
Hippocampus
A sophisticated brain structure located deep within the temporal lobe is the hippocampus. It plays a significant part in memory and learning. It is a malleable and delicate structure that is susceptible to various stimuli. According to studies, it is also impacted by several neurological and mental problems.
Brainstem
In front of the cerebellum and attached to the spinal cord, the brainstem is the bottom portion of the brain. The medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain make up this structure. It acts as a relay station, sending and receiving messages between the cerebral cortex and numerous bodily regions. Here are many basic or primitive functions that are necessary for survival.
The pons is associated with coordinating eye and face motions, facial sensibility, hearing, and balance, whereas the midbrain plays a significant role in ocular motion. The medulla oblongata regulates swallowing, breathing, blood pressure, and heartbeats.
The pons and the brainstem carry signals from the cortex to the spinal cord and to nerves that branch off of the spinal cord. “Brain death” will result from the destruction of certain brain areas. Humans cannot exist without these vital processes.
The medulla, midbrain, pons, and a portion of the thalamus all contain the reticular activating system. It affects sleep cycles, regulates wakefulness levels, and allows people to pay attention to their surroundings.
Written By - Aasis Kaur
Edited By- Rumela Gupta
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