The brain is composed of more
than a thousand million neurons. Specific groups
of them, working in concert, provide us with
the capacity to reason, to experience feelings,
and to understand the world. They also give us
the capacity to remember numerous pieces of information.
The 3 major components of the brain are the
cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
The cerebrum is divided into is left and right
hemispheres, each composed of a frontal, temporal,
parietal, and occipital lobes. The cerebral cortex
(gray matter) is the outside portion of the cerebrum
and provides us with functions associated with
conscious thought. The grooves and folds increase
the cerebrum’s surface area, allowing us
to have a tremendous amount of gray matter inside
of the skull. Deep to the gray matter is the
cerebral "white matter". The white matter provides
for the communication between the cortex and
lower central nervous system centers.
The cerebellum is located near the base of the
head. It creates automatic programs so we can
make complex movements without thinking.
The brain stem connects the brain with the spinal
cord and is composed of 3 structures: the midbrain,
pons, and medulla oblongata. The brain stem provides
us with automatic functions that are necessary
for survival.
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