Neuroanatomy Project - Research Paper Example

The basic major components of CNC are the brainstem, cerebrum, cerebellum and diencephalon in the brain, and the spinal cord, while the PNS consists of the nerve fibers extending into the body parts and organs. Their location in the body and their protection are further clarified in this paper. Each part serves a unique function, which upon damage would result to a specific body disorder. Keywords: Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Nerve Fibers, Neurons, Environment, Stimuli, Response Basic Neuroanatomical Structures When a person is pinched, they admit to feeling pain, or when a sharp object is brought close to the body, there is that feeling followed by a particular reaction, probably a scream or evasion.

Well, everyone has nerves and when active, would sense a feeling (of touch, hit, pinch etc) then immediately act to respond. In general, all these are facilitated by the nervous system, which consists of a complex network of nerves cells (neurons). The nervous system is split into two: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but all coordinate in body functions. CNS and Structures Location CNS which is made of the spinal cord and the brain functions to evaluate and make sense of incoming sensory input and produce a response (Alters, 2000).

The Brain is a critical part that controls the functioning of body organs; it is located inside the human head. For protection from the environmental or physical interferences, the components of the brain are encased by the skull, which is a part of the human skeleton. The brain is composed of various major parts, the cerebrum, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and diencephalon, which are all compressed inside the human head and lie next to each other. The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain and is divided into the right and the left hemispheres; they are connected by the corpus callosum organ that enables the transfer of information or communication between the two halves (Alters, 2000).

It is further shielded by the meninges membrane next to the skull. The cerebellum lies at the rear, specifically below the cerebrum, and next to the brainstem. Diencephalon and medulla oblongata are usually said to be the third central part of the brain for they reside at the central part. Medulla oblongata is what is commonly known as the brain stem and it lies beneath the Diencephalon (consist of thalamus and hypothalamus). Corpus collosum surrounds the Diencephalon structure (see the figure. 1). Figure 1.

Illustration of the basic human brain structures. Adapted from “Parts of the Brain” by Mastin, 2010. Copy right 2010 by Mastin. The spinal cord is a long truck like structure that starts up at the neck, connecting with the brain stem, and runs down at the midpoints of the human rear. It is protected by the vertebrae, bony spinal columns. There are 31 segments of human vertebrae, 12 at the thoracic, 8 at the cervical, 5 each at the sacral and lumber, and the last 1at the coccygeal (“Spinal cord,” n.d.).

(See figure. 2). The Spinal cord consists of two major parts; the white and gray which hold the axons and the nerve cells respectively. From the spinal cord stems out the spinal nerves or root stems into the rest of the body organs. The meninges layers and the cerebral spinal fluid protect the spinal nerve tissues from external harm caused on the vertebrae. Functions of the CNS The role of the spinal cord is equivalent to meditation between the brain and the rest of