The Brain
Great scientists have worked on the gross anatomy of the brain for centuries, including the British genius Willis and the Italian giant Rolando. The Austrian Meynert tried to work out the functional anatomy, which is much more difficult. Discoveries are still yet to be made functional anatomy, although there are many theories. Virchow of Germany thought that diseases should be studied on a cellular level, which requires the microscope. He advocated "cellular pathology", which is now called histology.
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The cerebral cortex is C. The cerebellum is cb. Also the medulla oblongata is shown.
This drawing illustrates what can happen to a patient with anorexia nervosa if the patient is untreated. She can die from malnutrition.
In severe cases the patient should probably be hospitalized because otherwise she may deliberately vomit to lose weight or take laxatives to lose weight.
This eating disorder is an obsession with dieting.
This is a sagittal section of the brain. It shows the septum, which was considered by Heath to be the site of pathology in schizophrenia. There are other theories, but Heath's work was confirmed by other investigators. Heath was from Tulane University in New Orleans.
This is a sagittal section of the brain showing midline structures.
This is a sagittal section of the midline of the brain. Shown here are the septum pellucidum as well as cisternae of the cerebrospinal fluid.
This is Jean Martin Charcot of 19th century France. He was possibly the first neurologist. The first psychiatrist may have been Phillipe Pinel of France. He was born in 1755 and died in 1826. The pineal gland in the brain was named after him. Pinel believed that mental disease was in the brain. He thought that a study of the brain would reveal the answeres. Pinel is shown on the Medicine Worldwide page. Charcot is shown here honored on a French stamp.
This is the diencephalon, which has been reported to be abnormal in schizophrenia by Freeman and others. Freeman found fat deposits.
The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal chord.
This shows the basal ganglia, which are near the lateral ventricles. One theory has the basal ganglia as being the sites of the damage in schizophrenia. Another theory blames the frontal lobes. Both theories may be correct as both areas contain dopamine.
This is a sample from Arthur's Medical Clipart, an excellent website.