The human brain and its protection
The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system. The forebrain thinks, the midbrain and hindbrain run involuntary actions, and the cerebellum keeps balance.
Central vs peripheral nervous system
Parts of the brain and their jobs
| Part | Region | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrum | Forebrain | Main thinking part. Areas receive impulses for sight, hearing, smell and touch; other areas link this information; some areas control voluntary muscles |
| Hunger centre | Forebrain (a separate part) | Gives the feeling of being full after a meal |
| Hypothalamus | Forebrain | Controls the pituitary gland through releasing hormones |
| Midbrain | Midbrain | With the hindbrain, controls many involuntary actions |
| Pons | Hindbrain | Shown as a part of the hindbrain in your textbook's diagram; its job is not described |
| Medulla | Hindbrain | Controls involuntary actions: blood pressure, salivation, vomiting |
| Cerebellum | Hindbrain | Keeps posture and balance; makes voluntary actions precise, e.g. walking straight, riding a bicycle, picking up a pencil |
Cerebrum vs cerebellum
How the brain and spinal cord are protected
- The brain sits inside a bony box, the skull (cranium).
- Inside the skull, the brain lies in a fluid-filled balloon that absorbs shocks.
- The spinal cord runs inside the vertebral column (backbone).
How to draw the human brain
- Draw a large, folded dome for the cerebrum, filling most of the space.
- Under the middle of the cerebrum, draw a small region, the hypothalamus, with the pea-sized pituitary gland hanging below it.
- Behind it, draw the small midbrain, between the forebrain and the hindbrain.
- Below the midbrain, draw the rounded pons, then the medulla, which narrows into the spinal cord.
- At the back, under the cerebrum, draw the small, wrinkled cerebellum.
- Label each part, and group them as forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.
Wearing a helmet on a scooter or bike protects the skull and the brain inside it in a fall. A cyclist weaving through a crowded market stays upright thanks to the cerebellum.
2 marks: “Name the part of the brain that maintains posture and balance. Give one more job of this part.” Cerebellum. It also makes voluntary actions precise, such as picking up a pencil or riding a bicycle.
2 marks: “How are the brain and the spinal cord protected?” The brain lies in the bony skull, inside a fluid-filled balloon that absorbs shocks; the spinal cord lies inside the vertebral column.
5 marks: “Draw a labelled diagram of the human brain. Write the jobs of the forebrain, the medulla and the cerebellum.” Labelled cerebrum, hypothalamus, pituitary, midbrain, pons, medulla, cerebellum, spinal cord; forebrain: thinking, senses, voluntary actions, hunger; medulla: blood pressure, salivation, vomiting; cerebellum: posture, balance, precision.
Cerebrum is clever (thinking); cere-BELL-um rings the balance bell; medulla does the must-do jobs (blood pressure, salivation, vomiting).