THE BRAIN...
THE BRAIN
Brain is a complex coordinating centre in the body.
The brain is located inside the skull, at the top of spinal cord. It is protected by a bony box in the skull is called Cranium.
The brain is surrounded/protected by three membranes called Meninges.
The space between the three membranes is filled with a cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the brain from mechanical shocks.
The brain is divided into three parts.
1. Forebrain
It consists mainly of cerebrum.
2. Midbrain
It does not have any further divisions.
3. Hindbrain
It consists of three centres called Pons, Cerebellum and Medulla (see the above figure).
Functions of cerebrum:-
The cerebrum is the main thinking part of the brain.
It is the site of our faculties like:- learning, reasoning, intelligence, personality and memory.
All our thoughts, sensation,action and movements are controlled by the cerebrum.
The cerebrum has different areas for performing different functions.
Association areas in cerebrum which control thinking and memory and also store information and experiences.
Sensory areas information is received from the sense organs like eyes , ears, nose, tongue and skin, and "sensation" or "feeling".
Functions of midbrain:-
It controls reflex movements of the head, neck and trunk in response to visual and auditory stimuli.
It also controls the reflex movements of the eye muscles, changes in pupil size and shape of the eye lens.
Functions of the parts of the hindbrain:-
The pons takes part in regulating respiration.
The cerebellum help in maintaining posture and alance of the body.
The cerebellum co-ordinates body movements such as walking, dancing, riding a bicycle and picking up a pencil,etc.
Medulla controls various involuntary actions such as heart beat, breathing, blood pressure and peristaltic movements of alimentary canal. And also controls:- swallowing, coughing, sneezing, secretion of saliva and vomiting.
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