Cerebrum

The cerebrum constitutes the largest part of the human brain. It is also known
as the cortex and is responsible for performing a great number of important
brain functions, including action and thought processing. The cerebrum is
further subdivided into four different sections that have their own respective
functions and are termed as lobes. The names of these lobes are; frontal lobe,
occipital lobe, parietal lobe and temporal lobe.

 Frontal Lobe: The frontal lobe is tasked with the duty of performing
functions like expressive language, reasoning, higher level cognition
and motor skills. It is positioned at the front portion of the brain. Any
damage to it can lead to changes of socialization, attention, sexual
habits, etc.

 Parietal Lobe: The parietal lobe is responsible for processing the

information sent to the brain by the tactile senses like pain, pressure
and touch. It is placed in the center of the brain. Any damage to it can
cause problems with language, ability of controlling eye gaze and verbal
memory.

 Occipital Lobe: The occipital lobe is tasked with the duty of interpreting
the information being sent to the brain by the eyes. It is positioned at the
back of the brain. If it is damaged, your visual ability will be affected, like
unable to recognize colors, words and objects.

 Temporal Lobe: The temporal lobe is responsible for forming memories

and processing the sounds being recorded by the ears. It is placed at
the bottom of the brain. Any damage to it can cause problem with
language skills, speech perception and memory.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is known as the little brain and resembles the cerebrum for it
has a highly folded surface and distributed in 2 hemispheres. This part of the
brain is responsible for performing functions like balance, posture and
coordination of movement. Even though the cerebellum is smaller in size, it
contains more neurons than the entire brain itself. The cerebellum is located
at the back of the brain stem and on top of the pons.

3
Limbic System
The limbic system lies inside the cerebrum. It is also sometimes called the
emotional brain because it takes charge of our emotional response. The
thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus are the four
different sections that make up the limbic system.

 Thalamus: Thalamus is a substantial piece of gray matter that lies deep

inside the forebrain. It performs motor and sensory functions. All
sensory information, except olfaction, sent to the brain enters the
thalamus and from there is sent to the overlying cortex by neurons.

 Hypothalamus: Hypothalamus is associated with functions like

circadian rhythms, homeostasis, hunger, emotions and thirst. Besides
these functions, it is also responsible for controlling the pituitary glands
which is responsible for producing hormones. The hypothalamus is
located ventral to the thalamus and is a component of the diencephalon.

 Amygdala: The amygdala, as a part of the telencephalon, is positioned

in the temporal lobe and is associated with fear, memory and emotion. It
is present just under the front and medial sections of the temporal lobe.

 Hippocampus: The hippocampus helps in learning and memory

building. It is where short term memories are converted into permanent
ones. Moreover, the hippocampus also helps in recalling the spatial
 relationships about us in the world. It is located in the basal medial
section of the temporal lobe.
Brain Stem

When we talk about parts of the brain and their functions, brain stem should
never be overlooked. The brain stem is located underneath the limbic system.
This section of the brain is tasked with the duty of supervising important tasks
such as blood pressure, breathing and heartbeat. Moreover, the brain stem
organizes reflexes and coordinates the fine movement of the face and limbs. It
is composed by midbrain, pons and medulla.

 Midbrain: The midbrain is located at the mouth of the brain stem and is
made up of the tegmentum and the tectum. It controls functions like
body movement, hearing, vision and eye movement. The cerebral
peduncle is located at the anterior portion of the midbrain. It is basically
a large bundle of axons that play an important part in transferring
messages and controlling voluntary motor function.

 Pons: Pons is responsible for performing sensory analysis and

controlling motor function and the information coming to the brain from
the ears enters the pons first. It is responsible for sleep and maintaining
levels of consciousness. Some parts of it are linked to the cerebellum
and thus are associated with posture and movement.

 Medulla: The medulla is located in between the spinal cord and the
pons. It is the tail-end of the brain stem and is tasked with the duty of
controlling vital body functions like heart rate and breathing.
Term Function(s) Structure(s)
Axon A nerve fibre: a single process
extending from the cell body of a
neurone and carrying nerve impulses
away from it.

Dendrite Carries nerve impulses from adjacent
neurons into the cell body.
One of the shorter branching
processes of the cell body of a
neurone. All dendrites have synaptic
knobs at the ends, which are the
"connections" to adjoining nerves.

Mixed Nerves Contain both motor and sensory nerve

fibres running to/from a particular
region of the body.
(Examples include most large nerves
such as the brachial nerves, and all
the spinal nerves.)

Motor Neurone = Transmitting impulses (electrical See Figure (1) in the diagram above.
"Efferent Neurone" signals for communication within the
body) from the Central Nervous
System (which is sometimes referred
to by the abreviation: CNS, and) which
consists of the brain and spinal cord,
to muscles & glands elsewhere in the
body.

Myelin Sheath Three key functions of Myelin Sheath A complex material formed of protein
are: and phospholipid (fat) that is laid down
as a sheath around the axons of
 Protection of the nerve fibre. certain neurons.
 Insulation of the nerve fibre.
 Increases the rate of
transmission of nerve
impulses.

Nerve A nerve is a bundle containing 100s to See the diagrams above.

1000s of axons (thread-like Figures (1), (2) and (3).
conductors) plus the associated
connective tissue and blood vessels.

Neurilemma The sheath of the axon of a nerve

fibre. The neurilemma of a medullated
fibre contains myelin laid down by
Schwann cells.

Neurone A cell specialized to transmit electrical
nerve impulses and so carry
information from one part of the body
to another.
"Neurone" = "Nerve Cell"
Each neurone has an enlarged portion
the
cell body (perikaryon), containing the
nucleus; from the body extend several
processes (dendrites) through which
impulses enter from their branches. A
longer process, the nerve fibre (axon),
 extends outwards and carries impulses
away from the cell body. This is
normally unbranched except at the
nerve ending.
The point of contact of one neurone
with another is known as a synapse.

Nodes of Ranvier Key functions of Nodes of Ranvier Gaps that occur at regular intervals in
include: the myelin sheath of medullated nerve
fibres, between adjacent Schwann
 Allowing nutrients and waste cells.
products to enter/leave the
neurone.
 Allowing nerve impulses to
move along the neurone
through a process of
de-polarisation and re-
polarisation of the nerve
membrane.

Relay Neurone Located within the Central Nervous See Figure (3) in the diagram above.
System (CNS), relay neurons transmit
the electrical impulses generated by
the stimuli to other nerves.

Schwann Cells Schwann cells are the cells that lay Each Schwann cell protects one length
down the protective myelin sheath of axon, around which it twists as it
around the axon of medullated nerve grows - enveloping the axon.
fibers.

Sensory Neurone Transmit impulses inwards from sense See Figure (2) in the diagram above.
organs to the Central Nervous System
(CNS).

Synapse Reaching a synapse, an impulse The minute gap across which nerve
causes the release of a impulses pass from one neurone to the
neurotransmitter, which diffuses next, at the end of a nerve fibre.
across the gap and triggers an
electrical impulse in the next neurone.
(Some brain cells have more than
15,000 synapses.)