The brain is made of many layers of tissue. There is a vast network of connections from one area of the brain to the other. The brain can be divided based on what functions it performs or what structure it is made of.
Corpus Callosum
The outermost and largest structure of the brain is the cortex, or wrinkled gray and deeper white matter. Deep to the cortex is corpus callosum. This bundle of fibers connects one half of the brain to the other. Information from the right half of the body is sent to the left side of the brain and vice versa. The corpus callosum's main job is to transfer the information across the hemispheres.
Ventricles
Just below the corpus callosum is the lateral ventricle. The lateral ventricle is a portion of a hallow chamber that courses throughout the inside of the brain. The Lundbeck Institute states the ventricles are responsible for making cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the brain and spine. The CSF moves nutrients around to all parts of the brain and spinal cord and provides extra shock absorption between the brain and the skull.
Thalamus
Sitting atop of the brain stem and just below the ventricles is the thalamus. According to "The Human Body Book," the thalamus is made of two egg shaped lobes, side by side, and is often called the "heart" of the brain. The thalamus is a major relay station for the brain. Information from the body is sent through the thalamus onto the upper parts of the brain. Also the thalamus works to regulate hormones and blood pressure. Stemming in front of and just below the thalamus is the hypothalamus and pituitary. Both of these structures help with hormone feedback and regulation.
Brain Stem
"The Human Body Book" explains that the brain stem is below the ventricle and is made up of several different parts. From top to bottom they are: the midbrain, the pons and the medulla.
The midbrain is another connecting piece that information flows through. It connects to the cortex, the cerebellum, the thalamus and the basil ganglia, which is a network of nerves that control movement in the body.
The pons is just below the midbrain and the medulla is below the pons. Together, the pons and the medulla are responsible for controlling breathing, and keeping the brain alert and active through the reticular activating system.
References
- Lundbeck Institute: Brain Explorer
- Head Injury: Brain Map
- "The Human Body Book;" Steve Parker; 2007
