The brain is part of the central nervous system (CNS) in vertebrates and is located in the head, within the cranial cavity. It serves as the central control center of the body.
Macroanatomy
The human brain has an approximately oval shape when viewed from above, and its tissue appears greyish-yellow. Externally, the undivided brain can be separated into three main sections: the prominently bulging cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the hindbrain, which transitions into the spinal cord.
The cerebrum is divided into two equal halves, called hemispheres, by a central groove known as the longitudinal fissure. The surface of the cerebrum is characterized by cerebral convolutions (gyri) and intervening grooves (sulci), which together form a distinct pattern. Within the gyri and sulci lie various functional centers of the brain, such as the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe and the visual cortex in the occipital lobe.
The average weight of the brain ranges between 1,300 and 1,600 grams.
Brain parts
The medulla oblongata, pons and mesencephalon are summarised as the brain stem (encephalic trunk).
Author: Joshua Soeder, DocCheck, created with BioRender.com; adapted from "Anatomy of the brain" licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
