The neuroanatomy is the science that is dedicated to the study of nervous system anatomy, that is to say, its structure and its organization.
The study of neuroanatomy starts from the division of the nervous system into two main types, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Neuroanatomy of the central nervous system
The central nervous system includes the structures of the nervous system where the vast majority of information processing activities are carried out, these are lined by a series of membranes called meninges that produce cerebrospinal fluid, this allows them to cover everything the space formed by the bone structures in which they are contained, which have the function of providing protection.
In this way, the brain, cerebellum, and brainstem are located within the skull, while the spinal cord is located within the spinal canal that is located within the spinal column.
Brain. It is the most important structure of the central nervous system. It is made up of two parts o hemispheres that are joined together by a structure called hard bodyThis in turn is made up of millions of connections that go from one hemisphere to the other.
Inside you can identify two types of tissues, which by their color are called gray matter and white matter with the naked eye. The gray matter It is located covering the surface of the brain and arranged in the form of conglomerates called nuclei inside, it is made up of the bodies of neurons.
The white matter surrounds the gray matter, it is made up of the projections of neurons that communicate with each other. From the point of view of its functioning, the brain is divided into segments called lobes, the frontal lobes that regulate speech, behavior, personality, thoughts and attention; the parietal lobes that integrate the sensory and sensitive information of the body; the temporal lobes that regulate language and memory and the occipital lobes that integrate visual information.
In the depth of the brain there are structures called basal ganglia that regulate the movements and motor control of the body, the thalamus which is the central one where all the information processed by the brain arrives and especially the pathways that transmit pain information , as well as the hypothalamus, which is the entity that integrates the nervous system with the endocrine system, from where the information that regulates the production of the different hormones, as well as the body temperature, starts.
Cerebellum. Located in the back and lower part of the brain, this structure regulates the coordination of movements and balance. It is formed by two hemispheres joined together by a vermis, which give rise to three lobes, the anterior lobe, the middle lobe and the flocculonodular lobe. As in the brain, the cortex or outer layer is made up of gray matter, while inside it is located the white matter and clusters of gray matter known as intracerebellar nuclei.
Brainstem or brainstem. It is a structure that is located below the brain and in front of the cerebellum, it is made up of three parts that from top to bottom include the medulla oblongata, the pons and the midbrain. In this segment are located the nuclei of the neurons that make up the twelve cranial nerves, which are a group of nerves that regulate the sense organs, eye movements, sensitivity and mobility of the face and neck, as well as parasympathetic function. (vagus nerve). The centers that regulate respiration and the state of consciousness are located in the brain stem.
Neuroanatomy of the peripheral nervous system
The peripheral nervous system is made up of the extensions of neurons that are located in the central nervous system and in the dorsal root ganglia, that is, by their axons and / or dendrites. These processes constitute the peripheral nerves that are of two types, the cranial nerves originated in the brain stem and spinal nerves originated in the spinal cord.
The peripheral nerves can transmit three types of information: motor that allows the execution of movements, sensory that allows the brain to know the spatial location of any body structure (proprioception) as well as perceive sensations such as pain, changes in temperature and touch, and , finally, information from the autonomic system that regulates the functioning of organs and structures that occur automatically and cannot be controlled by the will (such as breathing, blood pressure, bowel movements, etc.)
Photos: Fotolia - Sebastian Kaulitzki / bigmouse108
