The brain is made up of the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem. It’s situated within the cranial cavity, occupying all of its area and, along with the spinal cord and nerves, makes up the nervous system. It’s surrounded by membranes referred to as meninges, whose perform is to guard the brain and spinal cord in opposition to mechanical shocks.
Regions and functions of the human brain
Brain Region |
Substructures |
Primary Functions |
Frontal Lobe | Prefrontal Cortex, Motor Cortex, Broca’s Area | Decision-making, problem-solving, planning, voluntary movement, and speech production (Broca’s Area). |
Parietal Lobe | Somatosensory Cortex | Processing sensory information (touch, temperature, pain), spatial awareness, and navigation. |
Temporal Lobe | Hippocampus, Amygdala, Wernicke’s Area | Memory formation (Hippocampus), emotional processing (Amygdala), and understanding language (Wernicke’s Area). |
Occipital Lobe | Primary Visual Cortex | Visual processing, including color, shape, and motion recognition. |
Cerebellum | None (subdivided into lobes and zones) | Coordination of movement, balance, posture, and fine motor skills. |
Brainstem | Midbrain, Pons, Medulla Oblongata | Basic life functions: heart rate, breathing, sleep cycles, and reflexes. |
Limbic System | Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Hippocampus | Emotions, memory, motivation, and hormone regulation. |
Corpus Callosum | None | Connects the left and right hemispheres, enabling communication between them. |
Basal Ganglia | Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus | Motor control, procedural learning, and habits. |
Brain
The biggest a part of the brain is the telencephalon, which is a part of the cerebrum. It constitutes nearly 90% of the brain mass and has a attribute surface marked by grooves and indentations that kind the cerebral convolutions.
There’s a very deep groove that marks the division of the brain into two halves referred to as the cerebral hemispheres. The fitting hemisphere connects to the left hemisphere by means of the corpus callosum, which is made up of quite a few nerve fibers.
The outermost area of the brain has an extra grayish coloration, forming the cerebral cortex (also referred to as grey matter) and internally the coloration is extra whitish (white matter).
As well as, there are delimited areas within the cortex of the hemispheres which can be referred to as lobes and are liable for coordinating particular features, equivalent to memory, reasoning and listening to. There are 4: frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and occipital lobe.
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Hypothalamus
Linked to the cerebral cortex, these small structures are situated on the base of the brain. The thalamus consists of many cell our bodies, identical to the grey matter of the cerebral hemispheres. It’s liable for receiving sensory messages and transmitting them to the cortex. It is usually concerned in regulating the state of consideration and consciousness.
The hypothalamus is as small as a pea and is situated just under the thalamus. It regulates body temperature and water ranges, enjoying a vital function in homeostasis. It additionally participates within the expression of feelings and sexual behavior , linking the nervous system to the endocrine system.
Study more concerning the Nervous System.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum lies between the cerebrum and the brain stem, linked to the thalamus and spinal cord by means of many nerve fibers.
This organ is internally made up of white matter (extensions of neurons) and lined by the cerebellar cortex made up of cell our bodies (grey matter).
The functions of the cerebellum are associated to sensory and motor integration. It participates within the actions of the pinnacle, eyes and limbs, coordinating the complete movement of the body. As well as, the cerebellum controls stability throughout strolling and can also be liable for posture.
Study more concerning the Spinal cord.
Brainstem
The brain stem includes the medulla oblongata, the pons and the midbrain.
It incorporates many neurons cell our bodies and cranial nerve extensions associated to sensory, motor and autonomic responses of the pinnacle and neck. By the cranial nerves, the brain receives info and controls features of constructions of the pinnacle and neck primarily.
There’s a reticular formation made up of a community of neurons, that are concerned within the regulation of cardiac and respiratory actions.
A harm to any area of the brain stem is commonly very harmful, relying on the realm affected it may well rupture fibers associated to consciousness, notion and cognition. If the harm impacts the important cardiac and respiratory facilities it results in irreversible cardiac and respiratory arrest, and is subsequently deadly.
Midbrain
The midbrain connects the pons and cerebellum with the telencephalon. It’s the shortest section of the brain stem. It receives info relating to the muscle tissues and participates within the management of muscle contractions and body posture.
Bulb
The medulla oblongata or medulla begins simply above the primary pair of cervical spinal nerves and runs right into a groove. That is the place the important facilities that management respiratory and heartbeat are situated.
Bridge
The pons is situated between the medulla oblongata and the midbrain. There’s a transverse sulcus that marks the separation between the medulla oblongata and the pons. The pons is later lined by the cerebellum. The pons is said to the cerebellar features of motion and stability.
To achieve more data, see additionally:
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Limbic System
- Exercises on the Nervous System
- Exercises on the Central Nervous System