Overview of Our Brain
The brain governs our body and its functions. Our brain controls everything we do whether asleep or awake as it has hundreds of different functions despite the fact that it weighs only about 3lbs. The brain has 5 important parts; cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
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The cerebrum is the largest part of our brain and makes up about 85 percent of our brain’s weight. The cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum. It resembles a mushroom cap over a stalk and is the center where thinking and memories are stored. The cortex also controls the voluntary muscles. It also processes the senses touch, light and sound. The left side primarily governs logical, objective and analytical thinking like speaking, reading, writing and problem solving. The right side controls the abstract, intuitive and subjective functions, such as imagination, appreciation and creativity. These two halves however are connected by a band of nerve fibers known as the corpus callosum which allows the two halves to communicate to each other. The cerebrum contains the information that makes us “us”. It houses our intelligence, personality, speech, emotion and memory in addition to our ability to think and move.
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The cerebellum is the second largest part of the brain and is situated beneath the back of the cerebrum. The cerebellum receives impulses from the skeletal systems and joints which allows the brain to trace the body’s positions. This allows us to move fluently while the body makes adjustments in order to keep us upright. Although it is only one eighth of the size of the cerebrum, the cerebellum controls our balance, movement and coordination.
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The brain stem lies beneath the cerebrum but in front of the cerebellum and connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord. The brain stem plays major roles in respiration, digestion and circulation.
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The pituitary gland is attached to the base of the brain. This gland is so small that it measures about the size of a pea! Its’ main function is to produce and release hormones into the body. This gland is especially at work during puberty. Additionally, the pituitary gland controls hormones that regulate the metabolism
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The hypothalamus controls the body’s’ temperature. The hypothalamus will regulate your body by causing it to sweat when it is too hot or shiver when it gets cold. It is also responsible for regulating our pulse, thirst appetite and sleep patterns.
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