Anatomy and physiology

The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. It is
made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections
called synapses. The brain is a spongy organ made up of nerve and supportive tissues.
It is located in the head and is protected by a bony covering called the skull. The base,
or lower part, of the brain is connected to the spinal cord. Together, the brain and spinal
cord are known as the central nervous system (CNS). The spinal cord contains nerves
that send information to and from the brain. The CNS works with the peripheral nervous
system (PNS). The PNS is made up of nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to
relay messages from the brain to different parts of the body.
Structure and function of the brain
The brain is the bodys control center. It constantly receives and interprets nerve
signals from the body and responds based on this information. Different parts of the
brain control movement, speech, emotions, consciousness and internal body functions,
such as heart rate, breathing and body temperature.
The brain has 3 main parts: cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem.

Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It is divided into 2 parts (halves) called the
left and right cerebral hemispheres. The 2 hemispheres are connected by a bridge of
nerve fibres called the corpus callosum.
The right half of the cerebrum (right hemisphere) controls the left side of the body. The
left half of the cerebrum (left hemisphere) controls the right side of the body.
The outer surface of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex or grey matter. It is the
area of the brain where nerve cells make connections, called synapses, that control
brain activity. The inner area of the cerebrum contains the insulated (myelinated) bodies
of the nerve cells (axons) that relay information between the brain and spinal cord. This
inner area is called the white matter because the insulation around the axons gives it a
whitish appearance.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is the next largest part of the brain. It is located under the cerebrum at
the back of the brain. It is divided into 2 parts or hemispheres and has grey and white
matter, much like the cerebrum.
The cerebellum is responsible for:
movement
posture

balance

reflexes

complex actions (walking, talking)

collecting sensory information from the body

Brain stem
The brain stem is a bundle of nerve tissue at the base of the brain. It connects the
cerebrum to the spinal cord and sends messages between different parts of the body
and the brain.
The brain stem has 3 areas:
midbrain
pons

medulla oblongata

The brain stem controls:

breathing
body temperature

blood pressure

heart rate

hunger and thirst

The cerebrum is further divided into 4 sections called lobes. These include the frontal
(front), parietal (top), temporal (side) and occipital (back) lobes.

The frontal lobes are responsible for problem solving and judgment and motor
function.
The parietal lobes manage sensation, handwriting, and body position.
The temporal lobes are involved with memory and hearing.
The occipital lobes contain the brain's visual processing system.

Cranial nerves and their functions

Number
I
II
III

Name
olfactory
optic
oculomotor

IV
V

trochlear
trigeminal

eye movement downward and inward

facial sensation
chewing

VI
VII

abducens
facial

outward eye movement

facial expression
closing of the eyelid
taste in the front part of the tongue

VIII

acoustic

IX

Function
smell
vision and light detection by the pupil
eye movement upward, downward or inward
narrowing and widening of the pupil
lifting of the eyelid

hearing
balance

glossopharyngeal swallowing
gag reflex
speech

vagus

swallowing
gag reflex
speech (vocal cords)
control of muscles in internal organs

XI

accessory

neck turning
shoulder shrugging

XII

hypoglossal

tongue movement