The human brain is the most complex organ in the body, and it is one of the organs of the central nervous system that controls all other parts of the body for survival. In this article, we will get to know the brain in detail, what are its parts? What are its main functions? And the most famous diseases and conditions that affect him.

What is the brain?

The brain is one of the most important parts of the central nervous system and is connected to the spinal cord. It controls personality, memory, feelings, vision, temperature, movement, breathing, hunger, digestion, and other vital processes.

The brain is made up of about 60% fat, while the other 40% is made up of water, proteins and carbohydrates. The brain weighs 3 pounds, or about 1.3 kilograms, and is composed of neurons, glial cells and blood vessels, and is located inside the bones of the skull that protect it.

What are the components of the brain and their functions?

The brain is a very complex structure, and we will simplify it for you as follows:

brain cells

The brain consists of two types of cells:

• Neurons: They are the cells responsible for sending and receiving nerve impulses and signals.
• Glial cells: They are non-neuronal cells responsible for supporting, feeding, maintaining balance, and facilitating the transmission of nerve signals to the nervous system.

Gray matter and white matter

Gray and white matters are two different areas in the central nervous system, and they differ in arrangement in both the brain and spinal cord, for example:

• In the brain: The gray matter refers to the dark outer portion, while the white matter refers to the light inner portion.
• In the spinal cord: The order varies, with the white matter being the outer part, while the gray matter being the inner part.

In general, each has a different role. According to the sources, the gray matter is responsible for processing and translating information, while the white matter is responsible for transmitting this information to other areas of the nervous system.

parts of the brain

The brain consists of three main parts: the cerebrum – which is the largest part of the brain -, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. But one of these parts has its own function, and is made up of many other parts.

Cerebrum brain

It is the largest upper part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres, and includes the cerebral cortex. This part is responsible for many processes such as movement control, emotions, thinking, problem-solving, learning, personality, etc. Cerebral cortex surrounds the brain, and it has many folds, and it is considered 50% of the weight of the brain as a whole, and it is divided into 4 lobes, and they are:

• Frontal lobe: It is the largest lobe of the brain, and is considered the area responsible for personality, decision-making, movement, and other cognitive functions.
• Temporal lobe: It is the lateral part, and it contains a region responsible for understanding language, short-term memory, some degrees of smell recognition, and recognizing objects and faces of people, and it plays a prominent role in hearing and visual perception.
• Parietal lobe: It is the middle part of the brain, which is responsible for processing what one sees and hears, and is responsible for interpreting other sensory information.
• Occipital lobe: It is the back part of the brain, which is responsible for vision.

The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body, while the left hemisphere controls the right side. Both hemispheres are connected to each other by the corpus callosum, which is a bridge of white matter.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is also called the small brain. It is located in the posterior brain below the cerebrum. It is responsible for balance, voluntary movement, and body position. It is divided into two halves, like the brain.

Brainstem

The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and contains three parts:

• Midbrain: It is responsible for important functions such as hearing and locomotion, and is responsible for formulating responses to environmental changes.
• Pons: It is the part responsible for producing tears, blinking, focusing vision, balance, and facial expressions, and cranial nerves branching out from it that connect to the face, neck, and trunk.
• Medulla: This part is responsible for regulating vital functions essential to survival such as breathing, heart rhythm, blood flow, detecting changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, and reflexive responses such as vomiting, coughing, swallowing, and sneezing.

other ingredients

• Meninges: It works to protect the brain and spinal cord, which are three layers of tissue, and they are in order from the outside to the inside; dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater.
• Cerebrospinal Fluid: It is a transparent fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to protect it. This fluid circulates through channels surrounding the central nervous system, where it is continuously absorbed and renewed. It is mainly produced from the choroid plexus, which is located inside what is known as the brain ventricles, which are hollow channels in the brain. brain.
• Pituitary Gland: It is a small gland the size of a pea and is sometimes called the “master gland” as it is the gland responsible for controlling the functions of other organs and glands, and the secretion of hormones such as growth hormone.
• Pineal Gland: It is a small gland responsible for secreting the hormone melatonin, which regulates the body’s biological clock.
• Hypothalamus: It is located under the hypothalamus above the pituitary gland, and sends chemical messages to control its functions. It also regulates body temperature, sleep pattern, controls hunger and thirst, and has a role in some aspects of memory and feelings.
• Amygdala: They are small, almond-shaped structures located in the lower hemispheres of the brain that regulate emotion and memory, which are linked to stress and the “fight or flight” response when a person receives a threat.

Common diseases affecting the brain

There are many possible conditions and diseases that may affect the brain, some of which are simple and some of which are serious, including:

• Headache: It has many types, some of which may be dangerous, but most are not, and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Stroke: It is an interruption of the supply of blood and oxygen to an area in the brain tissue, and it is caused by blood clots in most cases.
• Brain aneurysmIt is a weakness in the wall of an artery of the brain, which results in swelling of the artery wall like a balloon. This swelling may lead to artery rupture, brain hemorrhage and stroke.
• Subdural hematoma: This is bleeding into or below the dura mater that puts pressure on the brain, causing neurological problems.
• Epidural hematoma: It is bleeding between the dura and the bones of the skull, and it usually occurs after head injuries, and simple symptoms may develop very quickly into more serious symptoms such as unconsciousness and death if not treated.
• Hydrocephalus: It is an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and it may put pressure on the brain, causing damage.
• Meningitis: It is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord, usually caused by infection, and its common symptoms: neck stiffness and pain, headache, and fever.
• Traumatic brain injuries: It is permanent damage to brain tissue, which may lead to many problems such as mental weakness or mood changes.
• Parkinson’s disease: It is a deterioration and atrophy of the nerves in the central region of the brain, which results in problems in movement and coordination, and tremor of the hands is one of the early signs of this disease.
• Epilepsy: It is a common disease affecting the brain and causes frequent convulsions.
• Alzheimer’s disease: Nerves deteriorate in certain areas of the brain for unclear reasons, leading to dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.
• Brain abscess: It is caused by a bacterial infection in the brain, and treatment requires antibiotics and surgical drainage.

How to keep your brain healthy

Maintaining the health of the brain is very important as maintaining the health of the rest of the body, as this helps to avoid many problems, including chronic diseases such as diabetes. The following steps can be taken for better brain health:

1. Quit Smoking.
2. Avoid alcohol.
3. Avoid risk factors or treatment for high blood pressure.
4. Maintaining normal cholesterol levels in the blood.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Controlling blood sugar levels.
7. Maintaining a social life.
8. Follow a healthy diet and exercise.
9. Head protection such as wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.