Page 227 - Critical Care Nursing Demystified

212 CRITICAL CARE NURSING DeMYSTIFIED

TABLE 5–1 Components of the Brain
Location Function
Cerebrum Divided into left and Hemispheres work together to
(largest right hemispheres. Con- produce the coordinated functions
portion) nected by band of white of written and verbal communica-
matter called corpus cal- tion as well as thoughts that need
losum. Each hemisphere to be appropriately communicated.
of the cerebrum has four Frontal (thoughts and emotions),
lobes: frontal, parietal, parietal (movement, sensation, and
temporal, and occipital. speech), temporal (hearing), and
occipital (balance and sight)
Cortex Most superficial layer of Responsible for all levels of higher
the cerebrum mental functioning such as judg-
ment, memory, language, creativity,
and abstract thinking. Interprets all
sensations and governs all volun-
tary motor activities.
Basal ganglia Cell bodies in the Circuitry for basic and subcon-
peripheral nervous sys- scious body movements such as
tem that work with lower muscle tone and coordination for
brain parts walking and balance. Lesions of
the basal ganglia can produce Downloaded by [ Faculty of Nursing, Chiangmai University 5.62.158.117] at [07/18/16]. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings, LLC. Not to be redistributed or modified in any way without permission.
clinical ataxic abnormalities such
as Parkinsonʼs disease and Hun-
tingtonʼs chorea.
Diencephalon Lowest structure of the Thalamus functions as a sensory
cerebrum. Lies below the motor relay center for sight,
cerebral hemispheres, sound, touch, and pain. The thal-
directly above the brain- amus is also involved with the
stem. Paired on each RAS. RAS is responsible for wake-
side of the 3rd ventricle. fulness, consciousness, and
Crucial areas of the attention. Hypothalamus controls
diencephalon include the the regulation of body tempera-
thalamus, reticular acti- ture, appetite, sleep, and water
vating system (RAS), via the antidiuretic hormone
hypothalamus, pituitary (ADH). Pituitary controls hormonal
gland, and the 1st and secretions.
2nd cranial nerves.
Midbrain Connects the pons and Contains centers for hearing and
cerebellum with the visual nerve stimulation. Relays
cerebral hemispheres impulses in response to these
stimuli. Involved in voluntary
motor movement of body and
flexor muscle tone.