Anatomy of the Brain Health Article

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls our physical functions and behavior, such as talking, walking, and chewing. It also controls our breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.

The brain sits in the bony skull, while the spinal cord is surrounded by the vertebral column. These structures offer protection against the traumas of everyday life.

The brain is the center of how we feel (emotion), how we think (thought), how we remember (memory), and how we talk (speech). It is made up of these 3 main parts.

• Cerebrum

• Cerebellum

• Brain stem

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, and fills most of the upper skull. The cerebrum gets information from our senses and tells us how to react. It is divided into 2 halves, called cerebral hemispheres. The nerves that carry impulses from the hemispheres cross over in the midline. So the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body. The left side of the cerebrum also controls emotions, speech, and our ability to read, think, and learn.

The cerebellum is positioned under the cerebrum at the back of the skull. It controls complex movements such as walking and talking. It also gives us our sense of balance.

The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord. This part of the brain controls many of our involuntary actions and feelings, such as hunger and thirst. It also controls our breathing, body temperature, and blood pressure. The cranial nerves--which are nerves used to move facial muscles, feel sensations on the face, see, hear, and swallow--also start from the brain stem.

The brain is protected by 3 membranes, called meninges, and the skull. A cushion of cerebrospinal fluid exists in and around the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is produced in the four hollow parts of the brain, called ventricles. The cerebrospinal fluid continuously moves through the ventricles and in the spaces between the meninges. As it does, it carries nutrients to the brain and carries waste away from it.

The spinal cord is made up of long bundles of nerves, called axons. These nerve bundles carry signals from all parts of the body to and from the brain. The spinal cord is protected by the bones of the spine, and also has meninges and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding it.

Spinal cord nerves branch off and travel through the entire body to relay signals and commands from the brain.