The Cerebrum and Brain Lobes

• The brain is composed of specialized areas that function together.

Brain Parts

• The three main parts of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.

Cerebrum

• The cerebrum, is the largest part of the brain, it is divided into 4 main parts.
• The cerebral cortex is the surface of the cerebrum with a thickness of 2 to 6 millimeters (mm).
• A bump on the cortex is a gyrus.
• A groove is a sulcus.
• The frontal lobe handles problem solving, planning, and motor control.
• The temporal lobe supports memory, hearing, and language understanding.
• The occipital lobe houses the brain's visual processing system.
• The parietal lobe manages sensation and body position.
• The cerebrum consists of two halves called hemispheres.
• The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body.
• The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
• The right hemisphere is responsible for nonverbal information, holds your personality, and fosters creativity.
• The left hemisphere handles language, and is more logical and analytical.
• The hemispheres are connected via the corpus callosum, a bundle of fibers that allows them to share information and work in unison.

Cerebellum

• The cerebellum is located toward the back and bottom of the brain which translates to "Little Brain" from Latin.
• It coordinates motor movement.

Brain Stem

• The brain stem includes the medulla, pons, and midbrain.
• It regulates autonomic processes like breathing, heart rate, and digestion.
• Autonomic processes occur automatically without conscious thought.
• The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord.
• It carries nerve messages between the brain and body.
• Together, the brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system (CNS).

Other Brain Components

• The hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain, has several parts and regulates body temperature, mood, and motivation.
• The thalamus is like a switchboard that relays sensory information from the body to the cerebral cortex and helps coordinate movement.
• The limbic system governs instincts and moods.
• The hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, is important for memory and learning.
• The midbrain is a small part of the central nervous system that helps with vision, hearing, eye movement, and body movement.
• The basil ganglia structures coordinate movement.
• The brain accounts for 2% of body weight but uses 20% of the body's oxygen and blood flow.
• Blood vessels nourish the brain with oxygen and remove waste.
• Brain cells begin to die after 3-5 minutes without oxygen.