Running head: THE BRAIN 1

The Brain

Tiffany Nicole Cooper

University of Phoenix

PSY

240

Jwaundace Belcher

January 07, 2011

 The Brain

Today I am going to talk about an amazing organ that acts as a control center by

receiving, interpreting, and directing sensory information throughout the body. We all know it as

our brain. The brain is divided into three major parts including; the forebrain, the midbrain, and

the hindbrain. The subjects we are going to discuss today are all different parts of the brain

which include; Myelencephalon, Metencephalon, Mesencephalon, Diencephalon, and the

Telencephalon.

Beginning with the Myelencephalon, which is the most inferior portion of the brainstem,

this part has many functions that we find vital to live. Its functions include autonomic functions,

breathing, conduction pathway for nerve tracks, digestion, sneezing, swallowing, and heart rate.

According to Rice University (2000) “[An interesting part of the Myelencephalon from a

psychological perspective is the reticular formation. It is a complex network of about 100 tiny

nuclei that occupies the central core of the brain stem from the posterior boundary of the

Myelencephalon to the anterior boundary of the midbrain.]”

The next part of the brain that I am going to discuss is the Metencephalon, which is

located below the posterior portion of the cerebrum and the medulla oblongata. It is a division of

the hindbrain. Its major functions include; arousal, balance, cardiac reflexes, circulation, fine

muscle movement, muscle tone maintenance, and sleep. According to Rice University (2000)

“[The Metencephalon houses many ascending and descending tracts and part of the reticular

formation. These structures create a bulge, called the Pons, on the brain stem's ventral surface.”]

The Pons is the bridge to the cerebellum.

 The Mesencephalon is the portion of the brain of the brainstem that connects to both the

hindbrain and the forebrain. The Mesencephalon has two divisions- the tectum and the

tegmentum. The tectum or “roof” is the surface of the midbrain. The tegmentum is the division of

the Mesencephalon ventral to the tectum. Major functions of the Mesencephalon include;

controlling responses to sight, eye movement, pupil dilation, body movement, and hearing. The

Mesencephalon is generally an unimportant structure in the study language and the brain.

The Diencephalon is located between the cerebral hemispheres and above the midbrain. It

is divided into two different parts; the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The thalamus is the large,

two-lobed structure that constitutes the top of the brain stem. The hypothalamus lies under the

thalamus, and plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors. The

Diencephalon has many functions including; chewing, equilibrium, eye movement (vision),

facial sensation, hearing, phonation, respiration, salivation (swallowing), and smell/ taste.

The Telencephalon is the anterior portion of the brain, rostral to the midbrain. Its major

functions include; the determining of intelligence, determines personality, interpretation of the

sensory impulses, motor functions, planning, and organization, sense of smell, and touch

sensation. The Telencephalon is the largest of the divisions of the human brain, and it is what sub

serves language. According to Rice University (2000), “[Of the sub-cortical and interior portions

of the Telencephalon, the basal ganglia, which partially surround the diencephalon, participate

in motor functions, including articulation of speech, and the hippocampus and the amygdaloidal

nucleus, which lie deep within the lower part of the cortex, are very important in emotional

expression.]” The hippocampus is responsible for remembering one’s own events in history and

other kinds of what are known as declarative memory, and it is a very important part of
Semology.

A good way to draw boundaries and divide the brain into three parts show as following:

1. The Forebrain: the Telencephalon and the Diencephalon

2. The Midbrain: the Mesencephalon

3. The Hindbrain: the Metencephalon and the Myelencephalon

In conclusion, we have learned about different parts of our most important organ that we

all have. Without our brains, we would not be able to function, unlike the scarecrow in “The

Wizard of Oz.” He was able to function without his brain, but in reality without a brain, your

body would not work. We have discussed five different parts of the brain including;

Myelencephalon, Metencephalon, Mesencephalon, Diencephalon, and the Telencephalon. We

have learned that all the different parts of the brain have their functions in our bodies. I know

that I, for one, am glad that all my brains and their functions are in tack!
References:

1. Rice University. (2000). Langbrain. Retrieved from

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lngbrain/cglidden/myelen.html

2. About.com. (2011). Divisions of the brain. Retrieved from

http://biology.about.com/library/organs/brain/blmetenceph.htm