Anatomy of the Brain - Health Encyclopedia (2024)

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What is the central nervous system (CNS)?

The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is an important organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger, and every process that regulates our body. The brain determines your personality and how you interact with the environment, including other people. This defines who you are.

What are the different parts of the brain?

Anatomy of the Brain - Health Encyclopedia (1)Anatomy of the Brain - Health Encyclopedia (2)

The brain can be divided into the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum:

  • Cerebrum. This is the front of the brain. It is made up of the right and left hemispheres, which are joined by the corpus callosum. The cerebrum controls: initiation of movement, coordination of movement, temperature, touch, vision, hearing, judgment, reasoning, problem solving, emotions, and learning. The cerebrum is responsible for communication (speaking and writing), memory, abstract thought, and appreciation for music and art.

  • Brainstem. This is the middle of the brain. It includes the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla. The brainstem controls movement of the eyes, face, and mouth. It also relays sensory messages (such as hot, pain, and loud) and controls respirations, consciousness, cardiac function, involuntary muscle movements, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and swallowing.

  • Cerebellum. This is the back of the brain. It coordinates voluntary muscle movements and helps to maintain posture, balance, and equilibrium.

More specifically, other parts of the brain include the following:

  • Pons. A deep part of the brain, located in the brainstem, the pons contains many of the control areas for eye and face movements.

  • Medulla. The lowest part of the brainstem, the medulla is the most vital part of the entire brain and contains important control centers for the heart and lungs.

  • Spinal cord. A large bundle of nerve fibers located in the back that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back, the spinal cord carries messages to and from the brain and the rest of the body.

  • Frontal lobe. The largest section of the brain located in the front of the head, the frontal lobe is involved in personality characteristics and movement. Recognition of smell often involves parts of the frontal lobe.

  • Parietal lobe. The middle part of the brain, the parietal lobe helps a person to identify objects and understand spatial relationships (where one's body is compared to objects around the person). The parietal lobe is also involved in interpreting pain and touch in the body.

  • Occipital lobe. This is the back part of the brain that is involved with vision.

  • Temporal lobe. The sides of the brain, these temporal lobes are involved in short-term memory, speech, musical rhythm, and some degree of smell recognition. The temporal lobes are also important in understanding sound and voice.

Medical Reviewers:

  • Anne Fetterman RN BSN
  • Joseph Campellone MD
  • Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Anatomy of the Brain -  Health Encyclopedia (2024)

FAQs

Does your brain fully develop at 25? ›

This is because the brain's frontal lobe, especially the prefrontal cortex, isn't fully mature until around age 25. The development of the pre-frontal cortex of the frontal lobe allows us to process the pros and cons of a decision before it is made. “It lets us to do things most animals cannot,” explains Dr.

What is the anatomy of the brain Britannica? ›

It consists of three distinct regions: the hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain. Although the brain of higher vertebrates undergoes considerable modification during embryonic development, these three regions are still discernible.

What is the most important organ in the brain? ›

The Brainstem: Middle of the Brain

It is the body's main control panel and is responsible for conveying messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

What is the general information about the brain? ›

What is the brain? The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body.

Can you rewire your brain after 25? ›

Scientists once thought that the brain was locked in place after puberty. But new technology shows that our brain continues to rewire itself and never stops changing as we age.

Does your brain decline after 25? ›

Recent research from University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) shows that our brain declines later than previously thought. Instead of after our 25th year of life, it happens when we are between the ages of 30 and 40.

What color is the brain? ›

‍The human brain color physically is white, black, and red-pinkish while it is alive and pulsating. Images of pink brains are relative to their actual state. The brains seen in movies exhibit white, gray, and yellow shadows because they are disconnected from the blood and oxygen flow.

What part of the brain controls memory? ›

Most available evidence suggests that the functions of memory are carried out by the hippocampus and other related structures in the temporal lobe.

What part of the brain controls emotions? ›

The limbic system of the human brain controls emotions. While researchers don't know all the structures within it, some key parts include the amygdala, hippocampus, limbic cortex, and hypothalamus.

What part of the brain is responsible for stress? ›

Brain areas implicated in the stress response include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Neurochemical systems, including Cortisol and norepinephrine, play a critical role in the stress response.

What part of the brain controls thinking? ›

The frontal lobe, located behind the forehead, does much of the work of complex thinking, like planning, imagining, making decisions, and reasoning.

What is brain fog? ›

Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.

What part of the brain is responsible for smell? ›

The Olfactory Cortex is the portion of the cerebral cortex concerned with the sense of smell. It is part of the Cerebrum. It is a structurally distinct cortical region on the ventral surface of the forebrain, composed of several areas. It includes the piriform lobe and the hippocampal formation.

What protects the brain? ›

The brain is protected by the bones of the skull and by a covering of three thin membranes called meninges. The brain is also cushioned and protected by cerebrospinal fluid. This watery fluid is produced by special cells in the four hollow spaces in the brain, called ventricles.

What is the most complex thing in the universe? ›

The brain is the most complicated object in the universe. It contains more than 89 billion neurons, each connected to around 7,000 other neurons that send between ten and 100 signals every second. The development of AI was based on the brain and the concept of neurons working together.

Is your brain still developing at 30? ›

In other words, our 20s are still considered formative years. This paper from researchers at the Mayo Clinic demonstrates that brain development continues beyond the teenage years and doesn't stop until around age 30.

Do people with ADHD have a smaller prefrontal cortex? ›

Many of the characteristics of ADHD involve difficulty with day-to-day tasks such as time management, organization, problem-solving, and emotional control. A region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is especially important in regulating these skills, and it has been shown to be smaller in children with ADHD.

How to mature your brain? ›

6 simple steps to keep your mind sharp at any age
  1. staying physically active.
  2. getting enough sleep.
  3. not smoking.
  4. having good social connections.
  5. limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day.
  6. eating a Mediterranean style diet.
May 26, 2020

What is the development of the human brain by age? ›

90% of Brain Growth Happens Before Kindergarten

Incredibly, it doubles in size in the first year. It keeps growing to about 80% of adult size by age 3 and 90% – nearly full grown – by age 5. The brain is the command center of the human body.

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