Kandace's Anatomy Blog: Sheep Brain!!!

Oh Mr. Ludwig! Don't we all just love dissecting sheep brains during PINK WEEK! YAY! Go Tigers!

Anatomy of the Brain:

The human brain along with other mammals brains are very detailed and intricate do to the fact that it is so complex. The brain is truly an amazing organ and it acts basically as a control center for the body. The brain receives, interprets, and directs sensory information to the parts of the body that require the information. I have just recently learned that there are three major divisions of the brain. These regions are the fore brain, mid brain, and hind brain.

The brain carries out many important functions. With the brains abilities, it seemingly gives the explanations to the questions we all ask about the world around us. Our five senses play a major roll in these explanations as well. Sight, smell, hearing, touching, and taste all play a roll in how the brain receives messages. The messages your senses send to the brain occur constantly with multiple messages at the same time. Our brains are constantly working and analyzing information and with the help from our senses these messages are put together in a way that we understand what is happening. The brain receives many messages at one time. The brain although analyzes everything it selects only those that are important to the situation at hand. Our brain controls our thoughts, memory and speech, the movements of our arms and legs and the function of many organs within our body. It also determines how we respond to stressful situations, by regulating our heart and breathing rate. The brain is an organized structure that although is divided into many parts, learns to work together as one to function properly.

Brain Divisions
The Fore brain:

This particular region of the brain is responsible for many different functions, such as receiving and processing sensory information, thinking, perceiving, producing and understanding language. Although there are 3 divisions of the brain there are two divisions that make up the fore brain, They are the the diencephalon and the telencephalon.

The diencephalon: This part of the fore brain is made up of structures that are responsible for functions of the body like motor control, relaying sensory information, and controlling autonomic functions.

The telencephalon: This part of the fore brain contains the largest part of the brain in general. The cerebral cortex resides in the telencephalon. Most of the actual information processing in the brain takes place in the cerebral cortex. And for those who aren't familiar about what the cerebral cortex is, its the outer layer that covers the cerebrum and the cerebral. This area is also divided into two, the left and right hemispheres.

The Mid Brain:

Together both the mid brain and hind brain make up the brainstem. The mid brain is a portion of the brainstem that connects the hind brain and the fore brain. The mid brain is involved in auditory and visual reactions.
The Hind Brain: This particular part of the brain stretches from the spinal cord. It is composed of two elements, metencephalon and myelencephalon.

Mentencephalon: This structure in the hind brain is a type of shelter for the parts it contains, which are the pons and cerebellum. These regions lend a helping hand in balance and equilibrium, movement coordination, and the conduction of sensory information.

Myelencephalon: This structure is made up of the medulla oblangata which controls autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Oh the LOBES!

-The parietial lobe is a structure within the brain that is involved in the reception and processing of sensory information in the body.

-The frontal lobe is a structure that is involved with decision making, problem solving, and planning.
-The occipital lobe participates in vision particularly.
-The temporal lobe is involved with memory, emotion, hearing, and language

Brain Fun Fact!

-The average Brain weighs 3 pounds!