Anatomy and Physiology Blog: Brain Dissection

In this dissection we observed the brain. We first looked at the exterior and identified the major structures. We saw the cerebrum which controls higher brain function, thought and action. We observed the Cerebellum which is more toward the anterior and coordinates and regulates muscular activities. And finally the brain stem, which transports information and signals too and from the brain to the rest of the nervous system. Then we cut through the Corpus callous which holds together the two hemispheres of the brain to see interior structures. We observed what we studied in the eye dissection: the optic nerve. This is the nerve that processes light and signals from the eye. We located the medulla oblongata which controls functions like breathing, swallowing and digestion. It is the center for respiration and circulation. We then found the pons which is near the medulla oblongata on the brain stem. This structure is responsible for managing things like hearing, taste and balance. The hypothalamus was harder to locate but we knew it was the structure where many hormones are created and released into the body. Lastly we saw the midbrain which is the area of the brain that controls temperature regulation, vision and the sleep cycle. These structures and more were discussed in our lectures but it was interesting to visualize all the lobes and actually see the structures we learned about. Finally we cut into the cerebellum and observed the whit and grey matter inside. The grey matter is composed mostly of nerve cell bodies that are not myelinated while white matter is myelinated. White matter affects how the brain learns and functions while the grey matter is involved with processing and cognition. Myelinated fibers in the white matter allow for faster cell/nerve communication and makes signals travel faster than unmyelinated fibers.