The brain is the human body’s control system, and is part of the central nervous system (CNS). It connects to the spine and controls personality, movement, breathing, and other crucial processes that keep people alive. It is the most complex organ in the body.
An average adult brain weighs 3 pounds and is composed of 60% fat, with water, protein, carbohydrates, and salt accounting for the other 40%. The brain is an organ made up of neural tissue. It is not a muscle.
The brain is made up of three main parts, which are the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. Each of these has a unique function and is made up of several parts as well.
Keep reading to learn more about the different parts of the brain, the processes they control, and how they all work together. This article also looks at some ways of maintaining a healthy brain.
The brain is the command center that controls the nervous system. When people damage different parts of the brain, they may notice changes in their personality, movement, vision, sleep, and other important bodily functions.
A traumatic brain injury or stroke are some conditions that cause brain death. A person can technically be alive after brain death, but they will never regain consciousness. To sustain life, doctors place the person on artificial life support to keep the heart and lungs working. The heart has a separate electrical systemTrusted Source from the brain, which is why it still beats for a short while after brain activity stops.
Doctors will carry out many tests before reaching a diagnosis of brain death. Brain death is a traumatic experience for everyone involved. It can be particularly difficult to come to terms with the diagnosis, especially if a person can see their loved one breathing and showing signs of life.
The cerebrum is responsible for personality. If a person experiences trauma to the cerebrum, in particular the frontal lobe, their friends and family may notice changes in their demeanor, mood, and emotions.
The brain sends chemical and electrical signals throughout the body to regulate different biological functions and sense environmental changes. The brain communicates with the majority of the body through the spinal cord.
The temporal lobe contains the Wernicke area, which is responsible for understanding language. It also processes memories and emotions and plays a major part in hearing and visual perception.
The cerebral cortex is made of grey matter, which is where the brain processes information. It also has ridges (gyri) and folds (sulci).
The right side of the cerebral cortex, or hemisphere, controls the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body. Each hemisphere communicates with the other through the corpus callosum, which is a bridge of white matter.