Question

What are the different parts of the brain?

Answer 1

Forebrain:

1. It is also called the prosencephalon.
2. It has three parts mainly called the olfactory lobes, cerebrum, and diencephalon.
3. The olfactory lobes receive the sense of smell and are poorly developed in man.
4. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and also the most important part.
5. The cerebrum is divided into four parts namely- the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe.
6. It controls mental abilities like thinking, reasoning, learning, memory, and intelligence.
7. It controls reflexes such as laughing and weeping and also controls will, emotions and speech.
8. Diencephalon lies between the cerebrum and mesencephalon.
9. It acts as a center for sensory impulses except for smell.
10. It is a reflex center for muscular and glandular-related activities.
11. It is also the perceiving center for extreme sensations such as heat, cold, pain, etc.

Midbrain:

1. It is known as mesencephalon.
2. It has two parts mainly crura cerebri and corpora quadrigemina.
3. Crura cerebri is responsible for controlling muscle tone and relaying both sensory and motor impulses between the forebrain and hindbrain.
4. Corpora quadrigemina controls visual reflexes and also works in analyzing and relaying sensory information coming from the ears to the cerebrum.

Hindbrain:

1. The other name for hindbrain is rhombencephalon.
2. It has three parts mainly the cerebellum, pons Varolii, and medulla oblongata.
3. The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain.
4. It regulates and coordinates the contraction of skeletal muscles.
5. It maintains equilibrium and correct posture and makes body movements smooth, steady, and coordinated.
6. Pons Varolii is responsible for transmitting impulses from one side of the cerebellum to the other and from the medulla to the higher centers.
7. It also controls breathing.
8. The medulla oblongata contains vital centers such as respiratory, cardiac, gastric, and reflex centers such as swallowing, vomiting, choking, salivary, etc.

Figure showing structure of human brain: