CEREBELLUM

Latin for “little brain,” the cerebellum sits in the back of the brain near the brainstem and is responsible for coordinating all voluntary movement.

 

CORPUS CALLOSUM

Latin for “tough body,” this is a C-shaped nerve bundle that runs through the midline of the brain and connects its two hemispheres.

 

FRONTAL LOBE

This paired lobe controls our cognitive skills, including emotional expression, memory, language, and problem solving. It’s like the control center of our personality and our ability to communicate.

 

MEDULLA OBLONGATA

This long, thin structure is part of the brainstem and controls our involuntary functions like sneezing. It also plays a critical role in our respiratory and cardiac systems.

 

OCCIPITAL LOBE

This pair of lobes is our visual processing center, helping us understand what we see.

 

PARIETAL LOBE

This pair of lobes conduct two important sensory functions:  1. Integrating information to form a single perception, and 2. Helping us function productively in the space around us.

 

PITUITARY GLAND

This pea-sized gland sits at the base of the brain and secretes hormones that control growth, blood pressure, energy management, metabolism, and more.

 

PONS

“Bridge” in Latin, the pons is the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. It helps to regulate breathing and is involved in controlling sleep cycles.

 

SPINAL CORD

A long, thin, tubular structure made of nerve tissue, the spinal cord begins at the medulla and ends in the lumbar region of the spinal column. Its three jobs are to 

transmit sensory signals to the brain, transmit motor signals from the brain, and control spinal reflexes.

 

TEMPORAL LOBE

These lobes sit at ear level on both sides of the brain are responsible for creating and preserving both conscious and long-term memory. The lobes also are involved in hearing and turning sound into meaning.