01 / CEREBRUM
Cerebrum
The cerebrum contains two hemispheres and the cerebral cortex. It contributes to many complex sensory, motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions.
Lesson 02 / The Brain
The Brain
Explore the major regions of the brain and begin connecting its anatomy to the many functions it helps coordinate.
A highly organized organ
The brain is a major part of the central nervous system. It contains interconnected regions involved in sensation, movement, communication, cognition, memory, emotion, and regulation of important bodily processes.
Seeing the brain in three dimensions
A sagittal view makes it easier to see how structures that are difficult to identify from the outside sit within the brain.
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02 / CEREBELLUM
Cerebellum
The cerebellum contributes to coordination, balance, precision, and timing of movement.
03 / BRAINSTEM
Brainstem
The brainstem connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord and contains important pathways and nuclei.
04 / CORTEX
Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex forms the outer layer of the cerebrum and is organized into major lobes.
KEY IDEA
The brain works as a connected network.
Individual structures have specialized roles, but many functions depend on communication between multiple regions.
The four major lobes
The cerebral cortex is conventionally divided into four major lobes. Their functions overlap and depend on communication with other regions.
Frontal
Motor control and many higher-order functions.
Parietal
Sensory processing and integration.
Temporal
Auditory processing, memory, and language-related functions.
Occipital
Major cortical areas involved in visual processing.
Protecting the brain
The brain is protected by the skull, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid. The blood-brain barrier also contributes to the controlled environment surrounding nervous tissue.
Brain anatomy is highly interconnected. Learning the
location and general role of major structures gives you
a framework for understanding more detailed neuroscience.
A way to remember it
Think about the brain at three levels: the large anatomical regions, the specialized cortical areas, and the networks connecting them. You will encounter this same idea repeatedly as you study the nervous system.
REMEMBER
Anatomy gives you the map.
Once you know where structures are located, it becomes much easier to understand how information can move between them.
Sources & References
Scientific references and image attribution
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