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The Brain
The brain is a soft, spongy mass of tissue.
It is protected by the bones of the skull and three thin membranes called meninges.
Watery fluid called cerebrospinal
fluid cushions the brain. This fluid flows through
spaces between the meninges and through spaces within the
brain called ventricles.
A network of nerves carries messages back and forth between
the brain and the rest of the body. Some nerves go directly
from the brain to the eyes, ears, and other parts of the
head. Other nerves run through the spinal cord to connect
the brain with the other parts of the body. Within the brain
and spinal cord, glial
cells surround nerve
cells and hold them in place.
The brain directs the things we choose to do (like walking
and talking) and the things our body does without thinking
(like breathing). The brain is also in charge of our senses
(sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), memory, emotions,
and personality.
The three major parts of the brain control different activities:
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Cerebrum—The cerebrum uses information from our senses to tell us what is going on around us and tells our body how to respond. It controls reading, thinking, learning, speech, and emotions.
The cerebrum is divided into the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the muscles on the left side of the body. The left hemisphere controls the muscles on the right side of the body.
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Cerebellum—The cerebellum controls balance for walking and standing, and other complex actions.
- Brain
Stem—The brain stem connects the brain with the spinal cord. It controls breathing, body temperature, blood pressure, and other basic body functions.
Risk Factors
When you're told that you have a brain tumor, it's natural to wonder what may have caused your disease. But no one knows the exact causes of brain tumors. Doctors seldom know why one person develops a brain tumor and another doesn't.
Researchers are studying whether people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop a brain tumor. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for brain tumors:
- Ionizing radiation: Ionizing radiation from high dose x-rays (such as radiation therapy from a large machine aimed at the head) and other sources can cause cell damage that leads to a tumor. People exposed to ionizing radiation may have an increased risk of a brain tumor, such as meningioma or glioma.
- Family history: It is rare for brain tumors to run in a family. Only a very small number of families have several members with brain tumors.
Researchers are studying whether using cell phones, having had a head injury, or having been exposed to certain chemicals at work or to magnetic fields are important risk factors. Studies have not shown consistent links between these possible risk factors and brain tumors, but additional research is needed.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a brain tumor depend on tumor size, type, and location. Symptoms may be caused when a tumor presses on a nerve or harms a part of the brain. Also, they may be caused when a tumor blocks the fluid that flows through and around the brain, or when the brain swells because of the buildup of fluid.
These are the most common symptoms of brain tumors:
- Headaches (usually worse in the morning)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in speech, vision, or hearing
- Problems balancing or walking
- Changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate
- Problems with memory
- Muscle jerking or twitching (seizures or convulsions)
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Most often, these symptoms are not due to a brain tumor. Another health problem could cause them. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated.
To read the rest of this informative article about
brain tumors from the National Cancer Institute, please click
here: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/brain/page1
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