1. Activity 2.1.2: Build a Brain Review
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrates and can be very complex.
WOW!
The brain contains roughly 100 billion neurons with up to 10,000 synaptic connections each that allow us to transmit information from the brain to all parts of the body!
Pull out your brain region graphic organizer and check your work!

2. Cerebrum Cerebrum is Latin for Brain
In humans, the cerebrum is the most superior region of the Central Nervous System and makes up the majority of what most people think of “the brain”. It is made up of 4 specific lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.
Frontal Lobe:
Located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere, positioned anterior to the parietal lobes and above and anterior to the temporal lobes.
Responsible for higher mental functions such as using judgment, considering consequences, having acceptable social responses, and determining similarities.

3. Cerebrum (cont.) Parietal Lobe:
Positioned superior to the occipital lobe and posterior to the frontal lobe.
Functions include integrating sensory information from various parts of the body, knowledge of numbers, and manipulation of objects.
Occipital Lobe:
Positioned in the rearmost portion of the skull, smallest of the four lobes in the human cerebral cortex.
The most important functional aspect is that it contains the primary visual cortex.
Temporal Lobe:
Positioned anterior the occipital lobes.
Functions include auditory processing, processing speech, and formation of the long-term memory (hippocampus).

4. Cerebellum 2nd Largest part of the brain
Located at the base of the skull, below the occipital lobe of the cerebrum and above the midbrain.
Primarily responsible for balance and coordination.
Plays an important role in sensory and motor functions of the muscles
The cerebellum uses constant feedback from the body and conducts changes or fine tunes motor movements.

5. Brain Stem
Brain Stem – Lower part of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord.
Provides a passageway for sensory and motor nerves from the brain to the spinal cord and the rest of the body
Brain stem is made up of 3 parts
Midbrain – Also known as the Mesencephalon
Midbrain is the superior part of the brain stem
Controls visual and auditory systems as well as eye movements

6. Brain Stem (cont.)
Pons – Located in the brain stem between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata
The primary function of the pons is to relay sensory information between the cerebrum and the cerebellum.
Medulla Oblongata – Lowest section of the midbrain that connects directly to the spinal cord
Deals with autonomic functions such as breathing and blood pressure and it also helps control heart rate.

7. Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord – Long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue that extends from the brain and continues down the dorsal aspect of the torso.
Extends from the midbrain down to somewhere between Thoracic 12 to Lumbar 3 in adulthood
Contains a number of nerve roots and bundles that forms what appears to be a horse’s tail often referred to as the Cauda Equina.

8. Blogspot [Internet]. Unknown publisher location [Date updated: NA; Date Accessed: 2009, June 17]. Avaliable at:
National Geographic [Internet]. Washington DC [Date updated: 2009; Date Accessed: 2009, June 17]. Available at: