THE BRAIN

UNFOLDED
V.VYTHEESHWARAN
BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home
© BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI
 WHATS UP FOR TODAY???

• Nervous system – A bird’s eye view

• Brain – An overview of the anatomy

• Ventricles of the brain – A special focus

• Cerebrospinal fluid – The lifeline of the CNS

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home
 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
• The nervous system is unique in the vast
complexity of thought processes and control
actions it can perform.
• Receives literally millions of bits of information
each minute from different sensory nerves and
sensory organs and then integrates all these to
determine responses to be made by the body.
• The nerves are made up millions of minute
components known as neurons.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 A LONG JOURNEY

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 CLASSIFICATION
OF NERVE
FIBRES

Adapted from
Medical Physiology-
Guyton & Hall

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THE BRAIN – ANATOMY
• Consists of 3 major
regions – Cerebrum,
Cerebellum and
medulla oblongata.
• Divided into 4 lobes:
Frontal lobe, Parietal
lobe, Occipital lobe,
and Temporal lobe

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THE BRAIN
AN INSIDE STORY

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 VENTRICLES OF THE BRAIN

• The ventricles of the

brain are hollow
chambers filled with
cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF), which
supports the tissues
of the brain.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 VENTRICLES OF THE BRAIN
• There are 4 ventricles in
the brain; 2 Lateral
ventricles, third ventricle &
fourth ventricle.
• Other important
components are the
Choroid plexus, Foramen
of Monro, Aqueductus
sylvius, Foramen of
Luschka and Foramen of
Magende

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 LATERAL VENTRICLES
• The lateral ventricles are two curved
shaped cavities located within the
cerebrum.
• Separated by a thin medial partition
(septum pellucidum).
• Protects the Brain From Trauma.
• Provides Pathway for the Circulation of
Cerebrospinal Fluid.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 LATERAL VENTRICLE

2. Posterior horn of lateral ventricle

3. Anterior horn of lateral ventricle
4. Thalamus
5. Head of caudate nucleus
6. Genu of corpus callosum
7. Choroid plexus
8. Tela choroidea
9. Septum pellucidum
10. Vermis of cerebellum

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THIRD VENTRICLE
• The third ventricle is a narrow cavity
located between the two hemispheres of
the diencephalon.
• Serves as a route for transportation of
CSF from the lateral ventricle to the fourth
ventricle.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 FORAMEN OF MONRO
• Intraventricular foramen
• Lateral ventricles Communication between
lateral ventricles and the third ventricle.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 FOURTH VENTRICLE
• The fourth ventricle is a diamond shaped
cavity located behind the pons and
medulla oblongata.
• Extends into medulla oblongata.
• Becomes continuous with central canal of
the spinal cord.
• Protects the Brain From Trauma.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 AQUEDUCTUS SYLVIUS

• It is an interventricular aqueduct, also

known as the mesencephalic aqueduct.
• The Aqueduct Sylvius is a canal that is
located between the third ventricle and the
fourth ventricle.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 CSF – WHO AM I???
• Clear tissue fluid that forms a protective
cushion around and within the CNS.
• It is stored within the central canal of the
spinal cord and in the brain’s ventricles,
which are interconnecting chambers that
also produce cerebrospinal fluid.
• Normally, any excess cerebrospinal fluid
drains away into the cardiovascular
system.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THE BIRTH OF CSF
• Formed in the choroid plexus.
• CSF secreted into ventricles.
• Remove waste products from CSF
• Adjust composition of CSF
• Produces about 500 ml of CSF/day

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 CHOROID PLEXUS
• A cluster of specialized
capillaries enclosed by
specialized cells that line the
brain ventricles.
• The choroid plexus is located
behind the pons and medulla
oblongata.
• Produces Cerebrospinal Fluid.
• Barrier Between Blood and
Cerebrospinal Fluid.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THE JOURNEY OF CSF

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 WHY CSF???

• Cushions delicate neural structures.

• Supports brain.
• Transports
• Nutrients
• Chemical messengers
• Waste products.

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 WAKE UP FOLKS!!!!

ITS QUESTIONS TIME

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

 THANK YOU!!!

BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI http://biochemistryforu.googlepages.com/home

© BIOCHEMISTRY FOR U, CHENNAI