The Central Nervous System Structure and Function

by Brodal, Per

• ISBN13: 9780195165609
• ISBN10: 0195165608
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-10-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

A major goal of this well-established textbook is to provide knowledge and understanding of neuroscience as a basis for clinical thinking. The strong emphasis on linking basic sciences with their clinical application has implications for the choices of which topics to treat in depth and which to treat more summarily - making this different from most other neuroscience textbooks. For example, topics of great practical importance like the cranial nerves, the autonomic nervous system, and pain are treated in depth. The book provides clear descriptions of brain structures and relates them to their functional properties by incorporating data ranging from molecular biology to clinical neurology and psychiatry. The focus is on fostering understanding of how the brain works rather than on the memorization of many details. Critical thinking is encouraged by providing information about the scientific basis for many "facts," and pointing out where the evidence is insufficient to r

Author Biography

Per Brodal is Professor of Anatomy and Dean of Education in the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo.

Table of Contents

A Brief Survey	xi
Studying the Structures and Function of the Nervous System	xiii
Animal Experiments Crucial for Progress	xiii
Ethics and Animal Experiments	xiv
Sources of Error in All Methods	xiv
Revising Scientific Truths from Time to Time	xv
I MAIN FEATURES OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cellular Elements of Nervous Tissue	3	(23)
Structure of the Neuron	3	(7)
Coupling of Neurons: Pathways for Signals	10	(5)
The Cytoskeleton and Axonal Transport	15	(2)
Glial Cells	17	(9)
Functional Properties of Neurons	26	(40)
Basis of Excitability and Impulse Propagation	26	(9)
Synaptic Transmission	35	(12)
Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors	47	(19)
Parts of the Nervous System	66	(37)
The Spinal Cord	66	(8)
The Brain Stem	74	(9)
The Cerebrum	83	(5)
The Cerebellum	88	(1)
The Coverings of the Brain	89	(1)
The Cerebral Ventricles and the Cerebrospinal Fluid	90	(4)
The Blood Supply of the Central Nervous System	94	(9)
Development, Aging, and Plasticity of the Nervous System	103	(32)
Development of the Nervous System	103	(19)
The Nervous System and Aging	122	(3)
Restitution of Function	125	(10)
II SENSORY SYSTEMS
Sensory Receptors in General	135	(4)
Sensory Units and Their Receptive Fields	135	(1)
Transduction: The Translation of Stimuli to Action Potentials	135	(2)
Receptor Properties	137	(1)
Classification on the Basis of Receptor Properties	137	(1)
Receptors and Subjective Sensory Experience	138	(1)
The Somatosensory System	139	(44)
Exteroceptors: Cutaneous Sensation	139	(6)
Proprioceptors: Deep Sensation	145	(10)
The Sensory Fibers and the Dorsal Roots	155	(6)
The Central Somatosensory Pathways	161	(11)
The Somatosensory Cortical Regions	172	(3)
Pain	175	(8)
The Visual System	183	(25)
The Eyeball and the Refracting Media	183	(2)
The Retina	185	(9)
Organization of the Visual Pathways	194	(6)
The Visual Cortex and the Final Processing of Visual Information	200	(8)
The Auditory System	208	(13)
The Cochlea	208	(7)
The Auditory Pathways	215	(4)
The Auditory Cortex	219	(2)
The Sense of Equilibrium	221	(12)
Structure and Function of the Vestibular Apparatus	221	(3)
Connections of the Vestibular Nuclei	224	(2)
Vestibular Reflexes	226	(2)
Receptors and Reflexes of Importance for Body Balance	228	(3)
Cortical Processing of Vestibular Signals	231	(2)
Olfaction and Taste	233	(10)
The Olfactory System	233	(4)
The Sense of Taste	237	(6)
III MOTOR SYSTEMS
The Peripheral Motor Neurons and Reflexes	243	(22)
Motoneurons and Muscles	243	(8)
Reflexes	251	(7)
Muscle Tone	258	(3)
Injury of Peripheral Motor Neurons and Regeneration	261	(4)
The Central Motor Pathways	265	(21)
The Pyramidal Tract (The Corticospinal Tract)	265	(6)
Other Descending Pathways to the Spinal Cord	271	(3)
Control of Automatic Movements	274	(2)
Motor Cortical Areas and Control of Voluntary Movements	276	(5)
Symptoms Caused by Interruptions of Central Motor Pathways (Upper Motor Neurons)	281	(5)
The Basal Ganglia	286	(17)
Structure and Connections of the Basal Ganglia	286	(10)
The Ventral Striatum	296	(1)
Functions of the Basal Ganglia	297	(2)
Diseases of the Basal Ganglia	299	(4)
The Cerebellum	303	(18)
Subdivisions and Afferent Connections of the Cerebellum	303	(6)
The Cerebellar Cortex and the Mossy and Climbing Fibers	309	(3)
Efferent Connections of the Cerebellum	312	(3)
Cerebellar Functions and Symptoms in Disease	315	(6)
Control of Eye Movements	321	(12)
The Eye Muscles and Movements of the Eyes	321	(2)
Central Control of Eye Movements	323	(10)
IV THE BRAIN STEM AND THE CRANIAL NERVES
Reticular Formation	333	(16)
Structure and Connections of the Reticular Formation	333	(7)
Functions of the Reticular Formation	340	(2)
Consciousness	342	(3)
Sleep	345	(4)
The Cranial Nerves	349	(22)
General Organization of the Cranial Nerves	349	(4)
The Hypoglossal Nerve	353	(1)
The Accessory Nerve	354	(1)
The Vagus Nerve	355	(3)
The Glossopharyngeal Nerve	358	(1)
The Vestibulocochlear Nerve	359	(1)
The Facial and Intermediate Nerves	359	(2)
The Trigeminal Nerve	361	(3)
The Abducens, Trochlear, and Oculomotor Nerves	364	(7)
V THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System	371	(26)
General Organization of the Autonomic System	371	(3)
Peripheral Parts of the Sympathetic System	374	(6)
Peripheral Parts of the Parasympathetic System	380	(2)
The Enteric Nervous System	382	(1)
Functional Aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System	382	(4)
Neurotransmitters in the Autonomic Nervous System	386	(3)
Sensory Innervation of Visceral Organs and Visceral Reflexes	389	(8)
The Central Autonomic System: Hypothalamus	397	(20)
Centers in the Brain Stem for Coordination of Behavior	397	(1)
Structure and Connections of the Hypothalamus	398	(4)
The Hypothalamus and the Endocrine System	402	(3)
Functional Aspects	405	(5)
The Hypothalamus and the Immune System	410	(1)
The Hypothalamus and Mental Functions	411	(6)
VI LIMBIC STRUCTURES AND THE CEREBRAL CORTEX
The Limbic Structures: Emotions and Memory	417	(18)
The Amygdala and Emotions	417	(4)
Cortical Control of Autonomic Functions and Emotions	421	(2)
Neuronal Groups in the Basal Parts of the Hemispheres: The Basal Forebrain	423	(2)
The Hippocampal Formation: Learning and Memory	425	(10)
The Cerebral Cortex	435	(30)
Structure of the Cerebral Cortex	435	(8)
Connections of the Cerebral Cortex	443	(5)
Functions of the Neocortex	448	(9)
Language Functions and ``Speech Areas'' of the Cerebral Cortex	457	(1)
The Division of Tasks between the Hemispheres	458	(7)
Literature	465	(32)
Index	497