The brain
Nan Stalker in Pain Control, 2018
This chapter describes the topic of the structure and function of the brain, looks at the different parts of the brain, and discusses the membranes which cover the brain—the meninges—and the cerebrospinal fluid which protects the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is a complex organ. Early in its development its cavity becomes divided by constrictures into three parts—forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. The five main parts of the brain are: cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, medulla oblongata and pons Varolii. The cerebrum contains many important nerve centres, which make it not only the largest but also the most highly developed part of the brain. Motor fibres run from the motor centres of the cortex out through the base of the brain into the spinal cord, carrying impulses from the brain. The midbrain consists of two thick stalk-like bands of thick matter which pass out from the base of the cerebrum and run into the pons Varolii.
Neuroanatomical and Neurochemical Bases of Motor Control
Michael P. Caligiuri, Linton A. Mohammed in The Neuroscience of Handwriting, 2012
Numerous writings can be found in the literature on brain function throughout antiquity. Much of this literature is nicely summarized in a very readable treatise by Stanley Finger (1994). e idea that di“erent parts of the brain subserved di“erent functions may be traced to the writings of the Roman physician Galen (AD 130-200). Galen’s anatomical work with various animals showed that the cerebrum was so¢er than the cerebellum, leading to his conclusion that motor and sensory pathways were separate. He further reasoned that, unlike the motor nerves, sensory nerves needed to be pliable to retain the sensory information for long periods of time. Galen thus asserted that the sensory nerves went to the cerebrum while the motor nerves went to the cerebellum because the former was so¢er than the latter.
Cerebral infarction
Richard Appleton, Andrew Nicolson, David Smith, David Chadwick, James MacKenzie in Atlas of Epilepsy, 2006
Figure 4.139 Primary CNS lymphoma. T2-weighted MRI axial image shows hyperdense mass straddling the midline posterior to the third ventricle in the region of the splenium of the corpus callosum. Note the perilesional white matter edema. This is typical of classical primary central nervous system lymphoma Figure 4.140 Primary cerebral lymphoma. Coronal section of cerebrum immediately posterior to the corpus callosum splenium shows an ill-defined diffusely infiltrating tumor adjacent to the right lateral ventricle. Primary cerebral lymphomas are often multiple, periventricular and ill-defined malformation, especially if they have bled or been treated surgically (Table 4.12).
Postnatal Changes in Activities of Acetylcholinesterase and Cholinesterase in the Brain of a Methylazoxymethanol-induced Microencephalic Rat
Published in Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, 1978
Yukio Nagata, Yukio Nakamura, Tadashi Watanabe
Activities of AChE and ChE per g wet weight of the cerebrum were higher in the cerebrum of the MAM-induced microencephalic rats that were the offspring of the mother rats injected on the 15th day of pregnancy with MAM-acetate than in the normal rats cerebrum. They increased for 30 days after birth and were maintained constant thereafter. The activity of AChE more increased in the cerebral subcortex than in other regions. With the increase in dose of the drug administered to mother rats, the cerebral weight of their offspring decreased gradually whereas AChE activity per g wet weight of their cerebrum increased. These findings support existence of plasticity in the cerebrum.
Mercury Concentration in Organs of Contemporary Japanese
Published in Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 1989
Naoto Matsuo, Tsuguyoshi Suzuki, Hirokatsu Akagi
Concentrations of inorganic mercury (IHg), methylmercury (MeHg), and total mercury (THg) were determined for autopsy samples from 46 Japanese subjects. Two laboratories (Labs A and B) participated in Hg analyses: Lab A for THg and IHg and Lab B for THg and MeHg. Total mercury concentration values were in good agreement between the two laboratories: the averages were several hundreds of ng/g in kidney cortex, kidney medulla, and liver, and were several tens of ng/g in cerebrum, cerebellum, heart, and spleen. Inorganic mercury accumulated more in kidney and liver: its percentage THg was 81–84% in the kidney, 67% in the liver, 25% in the heart, 22% in the spleen, 20% in the cerebrum, and 14% in the cerebellum. Methylmercury levels in tissues were uniform through all organs except the liver. Approximately 80% was in the form of MeHg in the cerebrum, cerebellum, heart, and spleen, whereas the values were 33%, 15%, and 11% in the liver, kidney medulla, and kidney cortex, respectively. Age was a significant factor in increased IHg concentrations in the cerebrum and heart, decreased values of %MeHg in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and heart, and increased values of %IHg in the cerebrum and heart.
Effects of lithium on membrane fluidity and lipid profile in brain membranes of aluminum-treated rats
Published in Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 2009
Punita Bhalla, Praveen Nair, M.L. Garg, D.K. Dhawan
The effects of lithium (Li) supplementation on lipid profile and fluidity of cerebrum and cerebellum membranes in aluminum (Al)-treated rats were investigated. A significant decrease in the levels of total lipids and cholesterol was observed in both the regions following Al exposure, which however were significantly increased following Li supplementation. Further, glycolipids and gangliosides contents were significantly decreased in cerebrum, but increased in cerebellum following Al treatment. Interestingly, Li supplementation reversed the trends and regulated the levels of glycolipids and gangliosides. Al treatment also elevated conjugated diene formation and phospholipid levels in both cerebrum and cerebellum membranes, which however were decreased upon Li supplementation. The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio however was decreased after Al treatment and Li supplementation was able to enhance the ratio in both cerebrum and cerebellum. Further, Al treatment significantly increased the fluorescence polarization, anisotropy and order parameter, which however were normalized following Li supplementation. The levels of Al were also found to be significantly elevated in cerebrum and cerebellum after Al treatment and normalized in cerebellum following Li treatment. Therefore, the present study shows the potential of Li in regulating the changes produced by Al on membrane composition and fluidity in rat brain.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Basal Ganglia
- Brain
- Hippocampus
- Embryo
- Dorsum
- Central Nervous System
- Cerebral Cortex