Brain Structures & Their Functions
The brain forms part of the central nervous system together with the spinal cord. The nervous system is the center of all communication and decision making. There are two parts of the nervous system: the central, and the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system as a whole is in charge of every part of our daily lives. Breathing, blinking, reaching to grab your phone, these are all motions brought on by our nervous system. Sensory nerves are the group of nerves responsible for gathering information from the body, and passing it along to the spinal cord which sends that message to the brain. The brain will then combine the message, and produce a response. The spinal cord acts as a superhighway of messages. It’s made up of a collection of nerves that go up and down the spine sending messages back and forth to the brain. The brain is composed of three sections: the hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain. The hindbrain includes the cerebellum, the ponds, and the medulla. The midbrain includes the tegmentum and the tectum. Lastly, the forebrain includes the cerebrum, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.
The hindbrain is an area of the brain that coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal cord. It controls the most basic functions of life such as respiration, and our motor skills. There are three structures that make up the hindbrain: the medulla, the cerebellum, and the pons.
The medulla is located just above the spinal cord. It controls autonomic functions such as breathing, sneezing, and swallowing. Behind the medulla is the cerebellum. It’s a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills such as movement and balance.
The cerebellum is also known as the “little brain,” because it looks like a small replica of the brain. People with damage to the cerebellum have a hard time shifting