The brain is the most important organ, under its control are all functions in the human body. It's hard to imagine how this is possible. Smell, sight, taste buds, hearing and many other functions under the control of an organ weighing about 1.5 kg.
With the development of modern pharmacology, people are accustomed to buying this or that pill at the first symptoms and self-medicating. Fortunately, the situation in our country is changing and now not every drug can be bought in a pharmacy without a prescription, which encourages citizens to seek qualified help from a doctor. So, in order to know your body and understand what is happening to it and when it is necessary to run to the doctor, this article has been written. It's about the occipital lobe of the brain.
General information
The occipital lobe is located as if in a triangle, the apex of which is the parietal lobe, and the sides of the temporal lobes of the brain. The cerebellum is located under the occipital lobe. Has a variable structure.
The structure includes:
- Primary visual cortex
- Sensory associative cortex
Functions of the occipital lobe of the brain
The occipital lobe is responsible for the visual perception of information, its operational storage. And in general, everything that is projected by the retina of the eye, everything is recognized and folded into a certain picture precisely in the occipital lobe. In absolutely healthy people, this share works independently and flawlessly, however, with injuries and some diseases, irreparable consequences can occur. Sometimes, complete blindness.
Light signals irritating the retina, through nerve endings, transmit information to the occipital lobe. Then the nerves transmit information to diencephalon, another sector of the brain. And he, in turn, sends information to the primary visual cortex, it is called sensory. From the primary sensory cortex, nerve signals are sent to neighboring areas and they are called the sensory associative cortex. The main function of the occipital lobe is to send signals from the primary visual cortex to the visual associative cortex. The regions described together analyze perceived visual information and store visual memories in memory.
Injury to the occiput, namely the occipital lobe, leads to serious consequences. Such as blindness, loss of perception.
This happens when the primary visual cortex is damaged, on the surface of which the field of view is located. Complete damage to the primary cortex occurs in three cases, with an injury to the occiput, with the development of a tumor on the surface of the brain, very rarely with congenital anomalies.
However, focal lesions do not lead to complete loss of vision. For example, picking up a familiar object, a person can say that he is touching, but if this same object is depicted in the picture, then describing its shape, he will not say what color it is. In medical terms, this is called visual agnosia.
Sometimes focal lesions can be localized and returned to vision and perception. But it is worth noting that children have more chances of partial recovery than those people whose brains are already formed and not growing. Treatment is usually performed surgically.
Occipital pain
The causes of pain, maybe a lot, here are some of them
- Nervous strain and stress, with prolonged tension, the muscles of the neck and back spasm and pain appears in the back of the head. To make it easier, try to distract yourself. Stretch your neck, breathe calmly and deeply. If the pain does not go away within a few days, then urgently see a doctor. It is possible that the reason is not stress at all.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine gives sharp pains shooting in the back of the head. Specialized gymnastics can help here, which will be advised by a neurologist. Perhaps a chiropractor can help. Only it is worth contacting only those specialists who not only call themselves such, but also have a neurologist diploma.
- Blood pressure surges give widespread pain with a bloating sensation. Pressure control prolongs life, do not be lazy to take care of your health. Contact a neurologist and you will be selected either gymnastic exercises or drugs that you cannot do without at the first stage of treatment.
- Increased intracranial pressure, characterized by pain in the eyes pressing from the inside. Pain in the occipital lobe is localized. There is only one solution, to the doctor.
Sometimes women (more often) over 55 years old have disorders, problems with orientation in space, not recognizing people, urgently consult a doctor. Because many of this disorder is attributed to old age, but it is possible atrophy of the back of the cerebral cortex. Unfortunately, the causes of this disease have not been identified.
The symptoms are:
- difficulty recognizing objects;
- inability to perform routine activities;
- double vision;
- inability to read;
- no difference between right and left.
It cannot be cured, but the sooner atrophy is detected. The faster it can be slowed down. For this, the patient undergoes an MRI scan to confirm atrophy. CT (computed tomography) is a layer-by-layer examination of the brain to identify the stage of atrophy.
For prevention, you need to abandon all types of substances that reduce the blood supply to the brain. Such as smoking, alcohol, drugs.
It is also beneficial to accept nootropic drugs course method.
The disease is similar to Alzheimer's, but the difference is that it is the visual block that is damaged in the first place, when other functions are normal.
In conclusion, it must be said that any changes or pains in your condition cannot be ignored. After all, it is precisely this passive attitude towards one's body that leads to irreversible consequences, such as strokes, Alzheimer's, or atrophy. Be more attentive to your health and if it is impossible to cure this or that disease, you can localize it and slow it down.
After all, the brain is the most important basic organ, without which it is impossible to do a single action.
Be attentive to your body, and health will not leave you for many years.
