Wire Frame Gallery

Brain

Brain. Computer artwork of a human brain in a male wire-frame head. The brain is the nerve centre controlling bodily function and thought. It interprets nerve signals received from the rest of the body and initiates the appropriate responses. Most of the visible surface consists of the folds of the cerebral cortex, the region responsible for intelligent thought, language, conscious movement and memory. The cerebral cortex partially covers two structures at the rear base of the brain. The cerebellum (left of ear) controls balance, posture and muscular co-ordination. The rod-like brainstem (right of cerebellum) controls vital subconscious functions, including breathing and blood pressure

© PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cholesterol

Cholesterol. Surface maps (wire-frame and colour-coded) of the electrostatic potential around a cholesterol molecule (C27. H46.O). Orange areas are due to carbon atoms, yellow areas due to hydrogen atoms, and the red area (lower left) is due to the oxygen atom. Cholesterol is a lipid, a fat-like substance, though chemically it is a sterol, a type of alcohol. It is an important cell chemical, and plays a crucial role in the synthesis of bile salts and hormones, and in transporting fats in the bloodstream. High blood levels of cholesterol are thought to raise the risk of atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls. This is a major cause of heart attack and stroke

© PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY