Brain: Parts & functions (Fore, mid & hind) | Control & Coordination | Biology | Khan Academy

A walnut serves as a visual metaphor to explain the structure of the brain. The illustration begins with a top view, revealing two distinct hemispheres akin to the walnut’s halves. Slicing the walnut to expose its inner side mirrors the inner surface of a brain hemisphere, clarifying the concept of internal brain structure.

The brain is organized into three main parts: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The large forebrain governs voluntary functions such as decision-making, planning, and conscious movements that define human intelligence. The midbrain and hindbrain, forming the brainstem, manage involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion that occur automatically. This structural differentiation highlights how our intellectual abilities are centered in the forebrain while the brainstem sustains essential life processes.

Forebrain Structural Blueprint The forebrain splits into two distinct regions: a vast, folded outer layer known as the cerebrum and an inner area housing key components. Within the inner region, three critical parts emerge: the thalamus, the hypothalamus, and a small pituitary gland. Their precise anatomical arrangement lays the groundwork for the brain’s higher functions.

Integrated Control through Sensing and Emotion The forebrain governs voluntary actions and complex thinking processes, uniting learning, speech, and language into one command center. It processes sensory data, converting signals from the eyes and ears into meaningful perceptions. This network also binds memory with emotional responses, orchestrating feelings from love and joy to fear and hunger, thereby creating a seamless experience of the world.

Hindbrain Anatomy: Pons, Medulla, and Cerebellum Focusing on the brainstem reveals distinct regions that form the hindbrain: the pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. The pons, meaning 'bridge' in Latin, connects the midbrain to the vital lower structures. The medulla oblongata and the cerebellum distinctly outline the hindbrain’s architecture, with the cerebellum clearly separated from the larger cerebrum.

Involuntary Life Processes and Motor Coordination The medulla oblongata regulates essential life-sustaining functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and reflexes like coughing and sneezing. The cerebellum maintains balance and coordinates movements necessary for everyday tasks, ensuring smooth physical execution. It also preserves motor memory, enabling practiced activities like riding a bicycle or typing to occur automatically.