Overview of Brain Anatomy and Functions

Gyrus

A ridge on the surface of the brain.

Sulcus

A groove on the surface of the brain.

Fissure

A deep groove that separates major brain regions.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain, responsible for higher brain functions.

Diencephalon

The part of the brain that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movements.

Brainstem

The part of the brain that controls basic life functions.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for rational thoughts, decisions, some language, and personality.

Parietal Lobe

Responsible for sensory (touch) interpretation.

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for auditory interpretation.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual interpretation.

Insula

Responsible for taste interpretation.

Primary Cortical Areas

Areas that directly decode sensory stimuli.

Association Cortical Areas

Areas that associate sensory stimuli with memories.

Longitudinal Fissure

The deep groove that separates the two cerebral hemispheres.

Lateral Sulcus

The groove that separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

Central Sulcus

The groove that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Transverse Fissure

The groove that separates the cerebellum from the cerebrum.

Precentral Gyrus

The gyrus located anterior to the central sulcus, involved in motor control.

Postcentral Gyrus

The gyrus located posterior to the central sulcus, involved in sensory processing.

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, involved in high-level functions.

White Matter

Myelinated axons in the brain.

Cerebral Nuclei

Collections of cell bodies in the CNS, also known as basal nuclei.

Gray Matter

Unmyelinated nervous tissue in the brain.

Thalamus

A structure in the diencephalon that relays sensory information.

Hypothalamus

A structure in the diencephalon that regulates autonomic and endocrine functions.

Epithalamus

A part of the diencephalon that includes the pineal gland.

Pons

A part of the brainstem that connects different parts of the brain.

Limbic System

A set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory.

Primary motor cortex

Area of the cerebrum responsible for the physical generation of speech.

Primary somatosensory cortex

Cortical area that processes sensory information from the body.

Primary auditory cortex

Cortical area that processes auditory information.

Primary visual cortex

Cortical area that processes visual information.

Primary olfactory cortex

Cortical area that processes smell.

Primary gustatory cortex

Cortical area that processes taste.

Motor speech area (Broca area)

Cerebral area responsible for the physical generation of speech.

Wernicke area

Cerebral area involved in the construction of language.

Damage to Broca area

Results in lack of speech including inability to repeat words.

Damage to Wernicke area

Leads to fluent aphasia where phrases lack meaning.

Diencephalon

Composed of the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland.

Thalamus

Paired structure that serves as a rest stop for incoming sensory information, editing, amplifying, or diminishing it.

Hypothalamus

Homeostasis center that directly controls endocrine function and influences autonomic function.

Homeostasis

Stable, dynamic internal conditions such as temperature.

Endocrine system

System of hormones that control functions throughout the body.

Autonomic nervous system

Pertaining to involuntary functions of the body.

Pineal gland

Secretes melatonin, a hormone involved in sleep and wake cycles.

Brainstem

Involved in basic life-sustaining activities such as heart rate and breath rate.

Pons

Structure that processes sensory information from one side of the body to the opposite side.

Cerebellum

Controls long-term patterned motor activities such as walking and dancing.

Proprioception

Understanding of where the body is in space.

Limbic system

Collection of deep brain structures that regulate emotions, memories, and emotional responses to sensory stimuli.

Amygdala

Fear center that processes fear and coordinates appropriate nervous system responses.

Hippocampus

Structure that forms, consolidates, and retrieves memories.