When looking at the left hemisphere of the model’s brain, the thalamus is in dark blue next to the ganglia and in front of the pineal gland. The thalamus serves as the last relay site where axons synapse before sensory signals are sent to the cerebrum. Additionally, the thalamus regulates motor functions and consciousness due to its role in sensory information regulation. The basal ganglia (in light green) are collections of nuclei found on both sides of the …show more content…
In terms of the spinal cord, however, white matter is found on the outside where it can link the CNS and the PNS more efficiently. Cerebrospinal fluid also plays an important role in protection and proficient functioning of the brain and spinal cord. This cerebrospinal fluid surrounds and cushions the brain while also regulating the blood flow. This fluid is important in the function of the brain because it also provides a flow to the blood, meaning that wastes from the brain can be brought to the veins and nutrients can be brought to the brain. Additionally, this fluid can bring hormones to other parts of the brain where they may not have been able to travel but are needed to regulate normal function. In the spinal cord, this cerebrospinal fluid is contained within the central canal that provides the spinal cord with nutrients and cushions it to prevent damage. The cerebrospinal fluid runs the whole length of the spinal cord and branches into the ventricles that are found in the brain. The spinal cord is also dependent on the nerves that run throughout the entire body and facilitate the movement of signals to and from the