MCBN 00813Neuroanatomy: Structure and Function of the Vertebrate Nervous System

Catalog

The goal of this course is to provide a broad but comprehensive overview of the structures and function of the vertebrate central nervous system. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the vocabulary and understanding of nervous system function needed to dive into the diverse and rich neuroscience literature whether it be examining brain circuits involved in behavior, understanding the pathology of various conditions and diseases, or perhaps placing their study of a specific biological mechanisms into a broader context for a grant proposal. The course will be broken into three sections. The first section will focus on the types of cells that make up brain structures and pathways and the structures involved in somatosensory and motor systems. The second section will cover cranial nerves and various sensory systems. The third section will cover integrative systems that regulate numerous systems involved in homeostasis, physiological response to stress, motivation, emotion, and learning and memory. Throughout much of the course hands-on exploration of brain structures through microscopy of stained tissue and dissection of preserved brain tissue (human and sheep) will augment and reinforce topics covered in lectures.