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.