The Brain and The Nervous Sytem
-Brain Stem
At the base of the brain, the brain stem connects to the spinal cord and is made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
-Thalamus
Located in the central part of the brain, the thalamus processes and coordinates sensory messages, such as touch, received from the body.
-Brain
The brain is like a computer that controls the body's functions, and the nervous system is like a network that relays messages to parts of the body.
-Cerebellum
The cerebellum helps coordinate and fine‑tune movement and balance.
-Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe, located behind the forehead, does much of the work of complex thinking, like planning, imagining, making decisions, and reasoning.
-Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus regulates functions like thirst, appetite, and sleep patterns. It also regulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.
-Cerebrum
The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum has two hemispheres (or halves). The cerebrum controls voluntary movement, speech, intelligence, memory, emotion, and sensory processing.
-Midbrain
The midbrain acts like a complex switchboard, allowing the brain to communicate with the rest of the nervous system.
-Occipital Lobe
The occipital lobe, in the rear of the brain, processes light and other visual information from the eyes.
-Parietal Lobe
The parietal lobe, located behind the frontal lobe, processes messages related to touch, taste, and temperature.
-Pons
The pons relay messages from the cerebrum to the cerebellum and spinal cord.
-Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe, found near the ears, processes hearing and is involved in memory retrieval.
-Medulla Oblongata
This portion of the brain stem is located just above the spinal cord. It regulates vital functions, such as heartbeat and breathing.
-Spinal Cord
This portion of the central nervous system runs down the inside of the spinal column, connecting the brain with nerves going to the rest of the body.
-Pituitary Gland
This tiny gland produces hormones involved in regulating growth, puberty, metabolism, water and mineral balance, the body's response to stress, and more.