CENTRAL

NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Master of Body Coordination
CENTAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
OVERVIEW:

The central nervous system (CNS) is a part of the nervous

system that is divided into parts consisting of the brain
and the spinal cord. The primary function of the CNS is
to process the information received from the peripheral
nervous system. The central nervous system has been
thoroughly studied by anatomists and physiologists, but
it still holds many secrets; it controls our thoughts,
movements, emotions, and desires. It also controls our
breathing, heart rate, the release of some hormones, body
temperature, and much more.
CENTRAL
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
This serves as the control
center of the body,
consisting of the brain and
the spinal cord.
Both the brain and the spinal
cord are encased in and
protected by bone.
FUNCTION OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The main functions are the following:
relay messages
processes information
compares and analyses information
- In order for the brain to perform its functions, it must have a constant supply of
food and oxygen.
- If the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off even for a few minutes, the brain will
usually suffer enormous damage and such damage may result in death.
- The central nervous system does not come in contact with the environment.
TWO MAIN PARTS OF CNS
1. Brain
2. Spinal Cord
BRAIN
The brain is the main switching unit of the
central nervous system.
The brain is a highly organized organ that
contains approximately 35 billion neurons
and has a mass of 1.4 kilograms.
The brain is also wrapped in three layers of
connective tissue known as the meninges.
four major regions—cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and
cerebellum
 Development and
regions of the human brain
In the developing brain, the cerebral
hemispheres, initially smooth, are forced to grow
posteriorly and laterally over the other brain
regions by the bones of the skull.

In the adult brain, the cerebral hemispheres, now

highly convoluted, enclose the diencephalon and
the superior part of the brain stem. The left
cerebral hemisphere is drawn so that it looks
transparent, to reveal the location of the deeply
situated diencephalon and superior part of the
brain stem.
Parts of the Brain:

Cerebrum
- is the most superior part of the brain and
together are a good deal larger than the
other three brain regions combined.
- is responsible for all the voluntary
(conscious) activities of the body.
- it is the site of intelligence, learning, and
judgment.
- takes up most of the space in the cavity
that houses the brain.
Parts of the Brain:

Cerebrum
- the entire surface of the cerebrum exhibits
elevated ridges of tissue called gyri,
separated by shallow grooves called sulci.
- the cerebral hemispheres are separated by
a single deep fissure, the longitudinal
fissure. Other fissures divide each cerebral
hemisphere into a number of lobes, named
for the cranial bones that lie over them
Cerebrum two hemisphere
Divided into two hemispheres: the
left and the right hemispheres. The
hemispheres are connected in a
region known as the corpus callosum
which is located above the thalamus.
 Cerebrum two hemisphere

The function of the right hemisphere is to

control the body’s left side which is associated
with creativity and artistic while the left
hemisphere controls the body’s right sidewhich
is associated with analytical and mathematical
ability. Each hemisphere of the cerebrum is
divided into regions called lobes.
Cerebrum two hemisphere
Each hemisphere of the cerebrum is divided into regions
called lobes. These lobes are named for the skull bones that
cover them namely the frontal, parietal, occipital, and
temporal.
Surfaces of the Cerebrum
• Cerebral Cortex
- It is an extremely important part of the brain
where it is the outer surface and consists of gray
matter.
- The gray matter is composed of densely packed
nerve cell bodies that make it gray in appearance.
• Cerebral Medulla
- Consists of white matter, which is made up of
bundles of myelinated axons. The myelin gives the
white matter its white color.
Diencephalon or interbrain
-sits at the top of the brain stem and is enclosed by the cerebral
hemispheres The major structures of the diencephalon are the
thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.
• Thalamus
- it is located within the cerebrum and composed of gray matter which serves as
a switching station for sensory input.
- With the exception of smell, each sense channels its sensory nerves through
the thalamus.
- The main relay center between the brain stem and the cerebrum.
• Hypothalamus
-located above the pituitary gland and below the thalamus; controls the
pituitary gland (which controls all the endocrine glands in the body);
-Stafford
responsible forLightman.
body temperature as well as coordinating the activities
associated with motivational behaviors like hunger, thirst, fatigue, and anger.
• Epithalamus is a dorsal posterior segment of the diencephalon, which includes
the habenula and their interconnecting fibers, the habenular commissure, the
stria medullaris, and the pineal body.
- main function of the epithalamus is the secretion of melatonin by the pineal
gland.
-the epithalamus is connected with both the limbic system and the basal
ganglia.
BRAIN
The three layers of connective tissue are the following;
Pia Mater
- It is the innermost layer which covers and is bound to the
surface of the brain.
- It is a fibrous layer made up of many blood vessels, which
help to carry food and oxygen to the spinal cord.
Dura Mater
The outermost layer of which is composed of thick
connective tissue.
Arachnoid Layer
- It is the middle layer of a thin, cobweblike layer between the
pia mater and the dura mater.
.
CEREBELLUM
The second largest part of the brain which is
located at the back of the skull.
Coordinates and balances the actions of the
muscles so that the body can move gracefully
and efficiently.
People with a damaged cerebellum suffer
muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and
difficulty in performing simple tasks such as
walking and running.
The functioning of the cerebellum is
involuntary (not under conscious control), so
learning a completely new physical activity
can be very difficult.
CEREBELLUM

The name “cerebellum” comes from

Latin and means “little brain.”
It is responsible for all the voluntary
(conscious) activities of the body.
It is the site of intelligence, learning,
and judgment.
Takes up most of the space in the
cavity that houses the brain.
 CEREBELLUM
What are the common conditions and disorders that affect this body system or organ?
Any condition that can affect your brain can affect your cerebellum. Some major examples
include:
Ataxia (this is both a symptom and a group of diseases).
Congenital disorders (conditions you have at birth, such as Chiari malformation).
Immune and inflammatory conditions (an example of this is multiple sclerosis).
Genetic disorders (conditions you have at birth that you inherited from one or both
parents, such as Wilson’s disease).
Infections (these can happen because of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi).
Vitamin deficiencies and nutrition problems (such as low vitamin B12 levels).
Stroke
Cancer
Cerebellar agenesis (being born without a cerebellum at all).
 BRAINSTEM
The brain stem is about the size of a thumb in diameter and
approximately 3 inches (approximately 7.5 cm) long. Its
structures are the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
Connects the brain to the spinal cord
The brain stem not only coordinates and integrates all
incoming information, it also serves as the place of entry or
exit for ten of the twelve cranial nerves.
The brain stem has many small gray matter areas. These
nuclei produce the rigidly programmed autonomic behaviors
necessary for survival.
Some are associated with the cranial nerves and control vital
activities such as breathing and blood pressure.
MEDULLA OBLONGATA
Medulla oblongata (sometimes just called
medulla)
The lowest part of the brain stem
It contains white matter that conducts impulses
between the spinal cord and the brain.
The medulla controls involuntary functions that
include breathing, blood pressure, heart rate,
swallowing, and coughing.
The medulla also contains some of the cells of
the reticular activating system. The reticular
activating system actually helps to alert, or
awaken, the upper parts of the brain, including
the cerebral cortex. Such action keeps the brain
alert and conscious.
 PONS
just above the medulla oblongata, the brain stem
enlarges to form pons.
means bridge, and this area of the brain stem
contains mostly white matter that provides a
link between the cerebral cortex and the
cerebellum.
pons is a part of your brainstem, which links
your brain to your spinal cord. That makes your
pons a vital section of your nervous system,
providing a route for signals to travel to and
from your brain. Several neurotransmitters in
your pons facilitate brain function, particularly
sleep.
 KEY JOBS OF PONS
1. Your pons handles several important jobs on its own.
It influences your sleep cycle. Your pons sets your body’s level of alertness
when you wake up.
It manages pain signals. Your pons relays and regulates the signals that
give you the sensation of pain from anywhere in your body below your
neck.
It works with other brain structures. Your pons is a key connection point
to your cerebellum, another key part of your brain that handles balance
and movement. It also works cooperatively with other parts of your
brainstem that manage your breathing.
What are the common conditions and disorders that affect the pons?
Many of the conditions that affect your brain can affect your pons. Some conditions affect your pons
specifically. Examples include (in alphabetical order):

Brain tumors (including cancer).

Central pontine myelinolysis
Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
Congenital disorders (conditions you have at birth), including genetic disorders (conditions you inherited from
one or both parents)
Heavy metal poisoning or other toxins
Immune and inflammatory conditions (such as multiple sclerosis)
Infections (these can happen because of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi).
Locked-in syndrome from trauma or stroke
Multiple system atrophy
Olivopontocerebellar atrophy
Stroke
 RETICULAR FORMATION
Extending the entire length of the brain stem is a diffuse mass
of gray matter, the reticular formation. The neurons of the
reticular formation are involved in motor control of the
visceral organs—for example, controlling smooth muscle in
the digestive tract.

A special group of reticular formation neurons, the reticular

activating system (RAS), plays a role in consciousness and the
awake/sleep cycle.

The RAS also acts as a filter for the flood of sensory inputs
that streams up the spinal cord and brain stem daily. Weak or
repetitive signals are filtered out, but unusual or strong
impulses do reach consciousness. Damage to this area can
result in prolonged unconsciousness (coma).
 SPINAL CORD
There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves originating from
the spinal cord, distributing messages to and from
it.
Sensory neurons transmit impulses from receptors
to the spinal cord.
Motor neurons transmit impulses from the spinal
cord to effectors.
Interneurons connect motor and sensory neurons
within the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is continuous with the brain and
starts at the base of the skull.
It extends downward for about 42 to 45 centimeters
and is protected by bone, meninges, and
cerebrospinal fluid.
Gray matter in the spinal cord consists mainly of
interneurons.
The spinal cord serves as a communication link
between the brain and the peripheral nervous
system.
It carries impulses to and from the brain and
regulates reflexes. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves
originating from the spinal cord, distributing
messages to and from it.
 THREE REGIONS OF THE SPINAL
CORD:

Ventral Column- ventral (or anterior) columns, each of which

contains axon tracts related to specific functions.
Lateral Column-white matter of the spinal cord between the
posterior horn on one side and the axons from the anterior
horn on the same side; composed of many different groups of
axons, of both ascending and descending tracts, carrying motor
commands to and from the brain
Dorsal Column- The dorsal column, also known as the dorsal
column medial lemniscus (DCML) pathway, deals with the
conscious appreciation of fine touch, two-point discrimination,
conscious proprioception, and vibration sensations from the
entire body except for the head.
 Homeostatic
Imbalance

If the spinal cord is transected (cut crosswise) or

crushed, spastic paralysis results. The affected
muscles stay healthy because they are still
stimulated by spinal reflex arcs, and movement
of those muscles does occur. However,
movements are involuntary and not controllable
 Homeostatic
Imbalance

Damage to the ventral root results in flaccid

paralysis of the muscles served. In flaccid
paralysis nerve impulses do not reach the
muscles affected; thus, no voluntary movement
of those muscles is possible. The muscles begin
to atrophy because they are no longer
stimulated.
 SPINAL CORD
The gray matter of the spinal cord looks like a butterfly. The two posterior
projections are the dorsal horns, or posterior horns; the two anterior projections are
the ventral horns, or anterior horns. The gray matter surrounds the central canal of
the cord, which contains CSF. Neurons with specific functions can be located in the
gray matter.
The dorsal horns contain interneurons. The cell bodies of the sensory neurons,
whose fibers enter the cord by the dorsal root, are found in an enlarged area called
the dorsal root ganglion. If the dorsal root or its ganglion is damaged, sensation
from the body area served.
White matter of the spinal cord is composed of myelinated fiber tracts—some
running to higher centers, some traveling from the brain to the cord, and some
conducting impulses from one side of the spinal cord to the other.
 Traumatic Brain Injuries

A concussion occurs when brain injury is slight. The victim may be dizzy, “see stars,” or lose
consciousness briefly, but typically little permanent brain damage occurs.

A brain contusion results from marked tissue destruction. If the cerebral cortex is injured, the
individual may remain conscious, but severe brain stem contusions always result in a coma lasting
from hours to a lifetime due to injury to the reticular activating system.

Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding from ruptured vessels) or cerebral edema (swelling of the brain
due to inflammatory response to injury). Individuals who are initially alert and lucid following
head trauma and then begin to deteriorate neurologically are most likely hemorrhaging or
suffering the delayed consequences of edema, both of which compress vital brain tissue
 BRAIN CONTUSION

CONCUSSION INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE

 Cerebrovascular Accidents
Commonly called strokes, cerebrovascular (ser″e-bro-vas′ku-lar)
accidents (CVAs) are the fifth leading cause of death in the United
States. CVAs occur when blood circulation to a brain area is
blocked, as by a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel, and vital
brain tissue dies. After a CVA, it is often possible to determine the
area of brain damage by observing the patient’s symtoms.
 Aphasias (ah-fa′ze-ahz)
are a common result of damage to the left cerebral hemisphere, where the
language areas are located. There are many types of aphasias, but the most
common are motor aphasia, which involves damage to Broca’s area and a
loss of ability to speak, and sensory aphasia, in which a person loses the
ability to understand written or spoken language.

Temporary brain ischemia

restricted blood flow and is also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
TIAs last from 5 to 50 minutes and are characterized by symptoms such as
numbness, temporary paralysis, and impaired speech. Although these
defects are not permanent, they do constitute “red flags” that warn of
impending, more serious CVAs.
 THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING

Prepared by:
Aleñabo, Trisha Ann V.
Bordago, Rezzel P.