The Brain

The Brain

There are five major structures of the brain. Each structure has its own function in the human body. These five structures include the myelencephalon, metencephalon, mesencephalon, diencephalon, and telencephalon. These structures are housed in the forebrain, midbrain, and the hindbrain. Each structure plays a major role in the human body. Once we recognize the divisions of the brain, then understanding the five structures will make sense.

First let’s talk about the myelencephalon (also known as the medulla oblongata). The myelencephalon is located in the hindbrain and is rectangular in shape. This structure is the most inferior portion of the brainstem. The structure is made up of many tracts carrying signals between the body and the brain (Pinel, 2009). The myelencephalons network consists of 100 minuscule nuclei that fill the central core of the brain stem from the posterior boundary of the myelencephalon to the anterior boundary of the midbrain (Pinel, 2009). This particular structure plays a role in respiratory reflexes, various cardiac, movement, sleep, human arousal, attention, circulatory and the maintenance of muscle tone.

The metencephalon is also found in the hindbrain just like the myelencephalon. The pons and the cerebellum (also called the little brain), which is located right above the medulla oblongata, are the two main functions of the metencephalon. A person’s motor skills may be affected if this part of the brain is damaged in any way. This also includes the ability to adapt to changing conditions and movement control. This structure is connected to cognitive abilities; which demonstrate that it controls more than just sensorimotor control.

The mesencephalon is the only one of the five structures that is located in the midbrain. The tegmentum and the tectum are the two divisions of the mesencephalon. The tectum affects visual and auditory functions of the human body. The posterior pair is the inferior colliculi...