Phylogenetic Evolution of the Human Central Nervous System

The human central nervous system, and more specifically the human brain, is a fascinating organ that leads us to understand, interact, and communicate with our environment in the most efficient way. It has taken nature millions of years to create such a precise device. This task has not been easy, as there have been countless trial-and-error tests to find an almost perfect formula. The embryological development of the brain of a human embryo is capable of summarizing some of these changes in only 9 months. Therefore, studying the changes in shape, size, and appearance the nervous system undergoes during its development has helped us to better understand, divide, and subdivide the structures that compose it. A precise knowledge of the anatomy of the human brain is essential for the neurosurgeon, as it will be a fundamental part of the mental process prior to surgical planning. Therefore, this chapter outlines the most fundamental milestones during the evolution of the central nervous system within species, as well as introduces more detailed characteristics in the development of the human nervous system itself, along with an application of such an understanding in daily neurosurgical practice.