External structure (lobes and fissures) of the cerebral hemispheres
Lobes play the critical role of movement (voluntary), activity and other cognitive functions (frontal lobe), as well as processing information of touch, taste, movement, temperature (parietal lobe), and the occipital lobe serving the function of vision. Fissures (Gyri and Sulci) play a critical role of increasing the surface area of the cerebral cortex, resulting to increase in the number of neurons tasked with the role of processing information (Masliah, 2017). (Refer to image 1.0)
Ventral aspect
Ventral aspect refers to tracts containing axons whose role is to project motor neurons into the ventral and lateral columns of the spinal cord. The grey matter of the spinal cord is contained in the neural cell bodies found in the ventral aspect, which are usually wider than the dorsal columns.
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Meninges
The meninges are three layers of protective tissue, namely pia, dura, and arachnoid mater, which are tasked with the role of protecting the central nervous system. It forms a protective barrier that safeguards the CNS, especially the sensitive parts contained within the CNS. Meninges has another important function, which is to produce the cerebrospinal fluid. It is a clear fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord and by filling the cerebral ventricles. They also prevent shock by acting as shock absorbers. As both the brain and the spinal cord need nourishment to function the cerebrospinal fluid also assists in this case. It helps circulate nourishment in these two organs, and get rid of waste products resulting from the said nutrients.
Cranial nerves
Cranial nerves are directly emergent nerves from the brain, different from spinal nerves that emerge from the spinal cord. Their function is to relay brain information to parts of the body (region around neck and head). Their functions include supply of smell, facial motor innervation. Refer to the image 1.1 to locate them.
Internal structures (i.e., cerebrum, diencephalon, midbrain, brain stem, and cerebellum)
The function of the internal structure of the brain is to coordinate aspects of posture, movement, and balance. It also serves the role as a relay center for information, connecting the cerebrum and the cerebellum to the spinal cord (Ohtaki and Shioda, 2015).
Briefly, identify and describe the components and structures associated with simple reflex arcs?
Receptor. Responds to various stimuli in the external and internal environment, through pulse initiation via local depolarization (Tracey, 2016).
Sensory Neuron. Transmits the afferent impulse, and serves as the receptor to CNS axon termination.
Integration Center. Directs the sensory impulse into a motor impulse. (Monosynaptic or polysynaptic region in CNS).
Motor Neuron. Relays efferent impulses received from the integration center to the effector.
Effector. Refers to muscles and glands that make the movement, completing the activity (Straka, Fritzsch and Glover, 2014).
References
Masliah, E. (2017). Anatomical Networks: Structure and Function of the Nervous System. In Neuroimmune Pharmacology (pp. 81-92). Springer International Publishing.
Ohtaki, H., & Shioda, S. (2015). Anatomy of Adult Central Nervous System: Structure and Function of the Brain and Spinal Cord. In Neuroanesthesia and Cerebrospinal Protection (pp. 3-22). Springer Japan.
Straka, H., Fritzsch, B., & Glover, J. C. (2014). Connecting Ears to Eye Muscles: Evolution of a ‘Simple'Reflex Arc. Brain, behavior and evolution , 83 (2), 162-175.
Tracey, K. J. (2016). Reflexes in immunity. Cell , 164 (3), 343-344.
