The hindbrain

The cerebellum:

The cerebellum lies dorsally behind the optic lobes and its surface is thrown into many folds. It's a lot smaller than the cerebrum at only one eighth of its size but it's a very important part of the brain. The cerebellum plays an important part in controlling muscular co-ordination, and especially in maintaining body balance. Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright, keep your balance, and move around.



The medulla oblongata:


The nedulla oblongata sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. Its posterior or lower ends narrows gradually into the spinal cord. The medulla oblongata controls involuntary actions such as the heart beat, peristalsis, the rate of respiratory movements and the contraction and dilation of blood vessels.



The pons:          

Pons are a part of the hindbrain. It is located above medulla oblongata. It is involved in motor control and sensory analysis such as, information from the ear first enters the brain in the pons. It has parts that are important for the level of consciousness and for sleep. Some structures within the pons are linked to the cerebellum, thus are involved in movement and postur.

The pons contains nuclei that relay signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum, along with nuclei that deal primarily with sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation, and posture.
Within the pons is the pneumotaxic center, a nucleus in the pons that regulates the change from inspiration to expiration.
The pons also contains the sleep paralysis center of the brain as well as generating the dreams of REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement :normal stage of sleep characterized by the rapid movement of the eyes.)

The midbrain

The midbrain sits between the forebrain and the hindbrain and is approximately 2 cm long. It forms a major part of the brainstem; the name given to the part of the brain which connects the spinal cord spinal cord and the forebrain. The dorsal surface of the midbrain forms the tectum, meaning 'roof'. The ventral surface is characterised by two large fibre bundles, the cerebral peduncles, containing axons that travel between the cerebral cortex, the brainstem and the spinal cord. The cerebral peduncles divide the brain into two halves. Each half is further divided into an anterior and posterior part by a band of grey matter, the substantia nigra. These structures form important connections between the cerebral cortex,the brainstem and spinal cord to control sensory processes and visual reflexes,e.g. movement of eyeballs.

The forebrain

The cerebrum:

The cerebrum of the brain is made up of two cerebral hemispheres.These hemispheres are the largest parts in the mammalian brain.They are concerned with intelligence,memory,learning and overall control of all voluntary actions (actions produced by conscious choice of an organism).In humans they are also concerned with emotions.Intelligence and the ability to learn depend on the surface area and the degree of development of these hemispheres.In the higher vertebrates,especially in humans,the cerebral hemispheres are very well developed and greatly enlarged.The surface area of the brain of humans is further enlarged by the presence of many deep fissures or grooves in the cerebral hemispheres.

(The larger the cerebral hemispheres are,the larger their surfaces,so they can hold more nerve cells--resulting in a more intelligent animal.In higher vertebrates,especially in humans only the cerebral hemispheres are visible when the brain is viewed from above.

A similar brain development,with the brain surface enlarged by grooves and fissures,is seen in other large and intelligent mammals such as dolphins.)

The Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland:

                                                     

The floor of the cerebral hemispheres is called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is an important region concerned with the regulation of body temperature and blood osmotic pressure, appetite, sleep and emotions.  The hypothalamus is the site of emotions and the effect emotions can have on the body. Love for example is nothing more than a temporary disorder of the hypothalamus and is easily curable. It also controls the pituitary gland.

                                                                 

The pituitary gland (small bean-shaped, reddish-gray organ) is attached to the hypothalamus that sends signals to other glands and organs, like the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes. It directs them to produce certain hormones.It produces many important hormones including the anti-drastic hormone (ADH).

 

The red bean-shaped organ is the pituitary gland and the rest is the hypothalamus.

Structure

A mammalian brain can be divided into three parts:

1-The forebrain which includes the cerebrum,the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

2-The midbrain.

3-The hindbrain which consists of the cerebellum,the medulla oblongata and pons.

                                          

Introduction-About Brain

The brain is the boss of our body.It actually controls and runs our body,even when we are asleep.It has the charge of the voluntary and involuntary actions of our body.It gives us the power to think, plan, speak, imagine etc.It is truly an amazing organ.