Neurologist
What is a Neurologist?
Have you ever heard of a neurologist?
A neurologist is a special kind of doctor, one who works specifically at the brain and how the brain works -- a doctor who looks at the anatomy, function, and other parts of the brain. A neurologist works on curing diseases, such as dementia or Alzheimer's, as well as working on people who have hurt their brain (such as when you get in an accident and are not wearing a helmet).
Neurologists work with people who have either injured their brain or who have had an issue from birth that has injured their brain.
Neurologists often work with athletes, like football players or hockey players, who often get concussions. a concussion is an injury to the brain which causes swelling or bleeding. Concussions can make people feel dizzy, tired, or sick. Concussions can also cause memory loss or mood changes.
Neurologists study how the body protects the brain; there are two parts of the body which protect the brain -- the skull and spinal fluid.
Components of the Brain
Spinal Fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid is the liquid around your brain and spinal cord. If a doctor thinks you have an illness that affects your nervous system, she might take a sample for testing.
The fluid is made by a group of cells, called the choroid plexus, that are deep inside your brain. Your body has about 150 milliliters of fluid -- roughly two-thirds of a cup.
As the colorless fluid goes around your brain and spinal cord, it cushions those organs, picks up needed supplies from your blood, and gets rid of waste products from brain cells.
Sometimes cerebrospinal fluid can have things in it that shouldn't be there, like bacteria or viruses that can attack your brain. With some illnesses, what's in that fluid can help your doctor figure out what's going on.
The Brain
The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body.
It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses.
The brain is made up of many specialized areas that work together:
• The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells. Thinking and voluntary movements begin in the cortex.
• The brain stem is between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain. Basic functions like breathing and sleep are controlled here.
• The basal ganglia are a cluster of structures in the center of the brain. The basal ganglia coordinate messages between multiple other brain areas.
• The cerebellum is at the base and the back of the brain. The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance.
The brain is also divided into several lobes:
• The frontal lobes are responsible for problem solving and judgment and motor function.
• The parietal lobes manage sensation, handwriting, and body position.
• The temporal lobes are involved with memory and hearing.
• The occipital lobes contain the brain's visual processing system.
The brain is surrounded by a layer of tissue called the meninges. The skull (cranium) helps protect the brain from injury.
You should notice that the brain has folds; these folds are called convolution or gyrus. These folds allow for more surface area; the more surface area a brain has, the more neurons the brain has. The more neurons a brain has, the more functions a brain has and the higher function the brain is capable of.
When we look at these two pictures, we can clearly see that the human brain has massive amounts of convolutions while the mouse brain has very few convolutions. Because of this (as well as the size of the brain), the mouse is incapable of many forms of higher thought.
In the above picture, you can see the brain from a variety of animals; what can you tell from the various brains?