Brain Dissection Anaylsis

In this lab we dissected a sheep's brain. We removed the membrane surrounding the brain and then marked the different sections with pins. Then we split the hemispheres of the brain and cut into them to see the white and gray matter sections. The white matter is lighter in color because it has large amounts of myelinated nerve fibers, while the gray matter is darker because it has more cell bodies with un-myelinated nerve fibers. The dissection really helped to piece together the different parts of the brain, and we were able to relate the different sections to the Clay Brain lab that we had done earlier in the month that showed the different sections of the brain by using different colored Play-Doh. Below are some of the questions that we answered throughout the course of the lab, as well as pictures showing the dissection itself.

Brain (side view) with labeling pins

Drawing of picture above with labels

Brain (above) w/ he labeling pins

LABELS :

White - Anterior Side of brain

Yellow - Cerebrum

Green - Cerebellum

Black - Posterior Side of brain

Red - Brain Stem

Function of each of the structures shown in the picture above
Cerebrum - Responsible for complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary movements
Cerebellum - Receives information from the sensory systems, spinal cord and other parts of the brain. It regulates motor movements and coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination and speech.
Brain Stem - regulation of heart rate, breathing, sleeping and eating

Picture of white matter and gray matter 

Drawing of white and gray matter

3. What is the function of myelin in a neuron?
It increases the speed by which impulses travel down the neuron and the axon. It can also be used to protect the neuron and provide insulation.

5. Function of each of the structures shown above

Left and Right Brain with Labeling Pins

(attempted) drawing of the left/right brain 

Labeling pin for the optic nerve

 LABELS:

Yellow: Thalamus

Green: Optic Nerve

Silver: Medulla Oblongata

White: Pons

Blue: Midbrain

Red: Corpus Callosum 

Black: Hypothalamus

Thalamus - Controls motor systems in the brain that control voluntary movements and coordination. It can receive input from the retina which it then relays to the brain through the optic nerve. It is also involved in hearing, touch, and sleep/wakefulness.
Optic Nerve- The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by neurons in the retina (back of the eye)
Medulla Oblongata - Located in the hindbrain, it helps regulate breathing, heart and blood vessel function, digestion, sneezing, and swallowing (involuntary functions)
Pons - Controls several automatic functions and helps bridge the cerebrum and the cerebellum, the lower part of the pons controls things like breathing intensity and has also been associated with sleep cycles
Midbrain - Connects the forebrain and the hindbrain and enables brain to integrate sensory information (from eyes and ears etc.)
Corpus Callosum - Connects the two hemispheres of the brain (right and left) and integrates sensory, motor and cognitive functions on one side of the brain to the other
Hypothalamus - Production of many of the body's essential hormones, houses the pituitary gland and others and helps bridge together the endocrine system and the brain via the pituitary gland, aids in autonomic and endocrine functions