The Central Nervous System Structure and Function

by Brodal, Per

• ISBN13: 9780195055184
• ISBN10: 0195055187
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1992-10-29
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This is a superb textbook of neuroanatomy written primarily for students of medicine. In addition to providing beautifully clear descriptions of brain structures, it incorporates modern neuroscience in the discussion of their functions. This cohesive work fosters understanding of the intimate relationship between the structure and function of the nervous system as a basis for constructive clinical thinking. The two-color line drawings--based on the author's extensive experience of teaching undergraduate students--make it much easier to understand complex structural and functional relationships. This is a complete rewriting by Per Brodal of a short textbook written by his father, Alf Brodal, that went through four editions in Norwegian. Most illustrations are new.

Author Biography

Per Brodal, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Anatomy and Dean of Education in the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo. Dr. Brodal has been working on experimental neuroanatomy, especially the motor system, for over 20 years

Table of Contents

A Brief Survey	p. xi
Studying the Structures and Function of the Nervous System	p. xiii
Animal Experiments Crucial for Progress	p. xiii
Ethics and Animal Experiments	p. xiv
Sources of Error in All Methods	p. xiv
Revising Scientific Truths from Time to Time	p. xv
Main Features of Structure and Function
Cellular Elements of Nervous Tissue	p. 3
Structure of the Neuron	p. 3
Coupling of Neurons: Pathways for Signals	p. 10
The Cytoskeleton and Axonal Transport	p. 15
Glial Cells	p. 17
Functional Properties of Neurons	p. 26
Basis of Excitability and Impulse Propagation	p. 26
Synaptic Transmission	p. 35
Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors	p. 47
Parts of the Nervous System	p. 66
The Spinal Cord	p. 66
The Brain Stem	p. 74
The Cerebrum	p. 83
The Cerebellum	p. 88
The Coverings of the Brain	p. 89
The Cerebral Ventricles and the Cerebrospinal Fluid	p. 90
The Blood Supply of the Central Nervous System	p. 94
Development, Aging, and Plasticity of the Nervous System	p. 103
Development of the Nervous System	p. 103
The Nervous System and Aging	p. 122
Restitution of Function	p. 125
Sensory Systems
Sensory Receptors in General	p. 135
Sensory Units and Their Receptive Fields	p. 135
Transduction: The Translation of Stimuli to Action Potentials	p. 135
Receptor Properties	p. 137
Classification on the Basis of Receptor Properties	p. 137
Receptors and Subjective Sensory Experience	p. 138
The Somatosensory System	p. 139
Exteroceptors: Cutaneous Sensation	p. 139
Proprioceptors: Deep Sensation	p. 145
The Sensory Fibers and the Dorsal Roots	p. 155
The Central Somatosensory Pathways	p. 161
The Somatosensory Cortical Regions	p. 172
Pain	p. 175
The Visual System	p. 183
The Eyeball and the Refracting Media	p. 183
The Retina	p. 185
Organization of the Visual Pathways	p. 194
The Visual Cortex and the Final Processing of Visual Information	p. 200
The Auditory System	p. 208
The Cochlea	p. 208
The Auditory Pathways	p. 215
The Auditory Cortex	p. 219
The Sense of Equilibrium	p. 221
Structure and Function of the Vestibular Apparatus	p. 221
Connections of the Vestibular Nuclei	p. 224
Vestibular Reflexes	p. 226
Receptors and Reflexes of Importance for Body Balance	p. 228
Cortical Processing of Vestibular Signals	p. 231
Olfaction and Taste	p. 233
The Olfactory System	p. 233
The Sense of Taste	p. 237
Motor Systems
The Peripheral Motor Neurons and Reflexes	p. 243
Motoneurons and Muscles	p. 243
Reflexes	p. 251
Muscle Tone	p. 258
Injury of Peripheral Motor Neurons and Regeneration	p. 261
The Central Motor Pathways	p. 265
The Pyramidal Tract (The Corticospinal Tract)	p. 265
Other Descending Pathways to the Spinal Cord	p. 271
Control of Automatic Movements	p. 274
Motor Cortical Areas and Control of Voluntary Movements	p. 276
Symptoms Caused by Interruptions of Central Motor Pathways (Upper Motor Neurons)	p. 281
The Basal Ganglia	p. 286
Structure and Connections of the Basal Ganglia	p. 286
The Ventral Striatum	p. 296
Functions of the Basal Ganglia	p. 297
Diseases of the Basal Ganglia	p. 299
The Cerebellum	p. 303
Subdivisions and Afferent Connections of the Cerebellum	p. 303
The Cerebellar Cortex and the Mossy and Climbing Fibers	p. 309
Efferent Connections of the Cerebellum	p. 312
Cerebellar Functions and Symptoms in Disease	p. 315
Control of Eye Movements	p. 321
The Eye Muscles and Movements of the Eyes	p. 321
Central Control of Eye Movements	p. 323
The Brain Stem and the Cranial Nerves
Reticular Formation	p. 333
Structure and Connections of the Reticular Formation	p. 333
Functions of the Reticular Formation	p. 340
Consciousness	p. 342
Sleep	p. 345
The Cranial Nerves	p. 349
General Organization of the Cranial Nerves	p. 349
The Hypoglossal Nerve	p. 353
The Accessory Nerve	p. 354
The Vagus Nerve	p. 355
The Glossopharyngeal Nerve	p. 358
The Vestibulocochlear Nerve	p. 359
The Facial and Intermediate Nerves	p. 359
The Trigeminal Nerve	p. 361
The Abducens, Trochlear, and Oculomotor Nerves	p. 364
The Autonomic Nervous System
The Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System	p. 371
General Organization of the Autonomic System	p. 371
Peripheral Parts of the Sympathetic System	p. 374
Peripheral Parts of the Parasympathetic System	p. 380
The Enteric Nervous System	p. 382
Functional Aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System	p. 382
Neurotransmitters in the Autonomic Nervous System	p. 386
Sensory Innervation of Visceral Organs and Visceral Reflexes	p. 389
The Central Autonomic System: Hypothalamus	p. 397
Centers in the Brain Stem for Coordination of Behavior	p. 397
Structure and Connections of the Hypothalamus	p. 398
The Hypothalamus and the Endocrine System	p. 402
Functional Aspects	p. 405
The Hypothalamus and the Immune System	p. 410
The Hypothalamus and Mental Functions	p. 411
Limbic Structures and the Cerebral Cortex
The Limbic Structures: Emotions and Memory	p. 417
The Amygdala and Emotions	p. 417
Cortical Control of Autonomic Functions and Emotions	p. 421
Neuronal Groups in the Basal Parts of the Hemispheres: The Basal Forebrain	p. 423
The Hippocampal Formation: Learning and Memory	p. 425
The Cerebral Cortex	p. 435
Structure of the Cerebral Cortex	p. 435
Connections of the Cerebral Cortex	p. 443
Functions of the Neocortex	p. 448
Language Functions and "Speech Areas" of the Cerebral Cortex	p. 457
The Division of Tasks between the Hemispheres	p. 458
Literature	p. 465
Index	p. 497
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.