Brain Anatomy

Anatomy of the Brain
The brain is the center of activity for the nervous system of the body and like a 24 hour surveillance camera; the brain is always on duty.  Compactly packaged within the protective shell of the skull, the brain is a powerhouse of activity where billions of brain cells interact to maintain all of our vital body functions.  The human brain is typically viewed in 4 separate parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brain stem.  The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and has an inner core of white matter, as well as an outer cortex of gray matter.  The cerebellum is located at the base of the cerebrum and is also attached to the brain stem.  The cerebellum plays a very important role in the control of movement, coordination of voluntary muscular activity, and maintaining balance.  The diencephalon is the section of the brain that comprises the thalamus and the hypothalamus, both of which have very important functions.  The primary function of the thalamus is to relay nerve impulses to different areas of the brain, whereas the primary function of the hypothalamus is to regulated things such as hormone production and body temperature.  The brain stem is the 4th part of the brain mention and its primary responsibility is to regulate vital functions of the body, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Related Injuries
- Compression
- Brain Contusion
- Hematoma

Related Surgeries
- Skull Fracture Repair

Related Articles
- Long Term Effects of Concussions

Referenced Material
Anatomica’s Body Atlas. (2002). San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press (pg. 184, 195)