portion of the central nervous system contained within the cranium
cerebrum
largest portion of the brain; divided into right and left halves (cerebral hemispheres) which are connected by a bridge of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum; lobes of the cerebrum are named after the skull bones they underlie
frontal lobe
anterior section of each cerebral hemisphere; responsible for voluntary muscle movement and personality
parietal lobe
portion posterior to the frontal lobe; responsible for voluntary muscle movement and personality
temporal lobe
portion that lies below the frontal lobe; responsible for hearing, taste, and smell
occipital lobe
portion posterior to the parietal and temporal lobe; responsible for vision
cerebral cortex
outer layer of the cerebrum consisting of gray matter; responsible for higher mental functions
thalamus
diencephalon
each of two gray matter nuclei deep within the brain; responsible for relaying sensory information to the cortex
gyri
convolutions (mounds) of the cerebral hemispheres
sulci
shallow groves that separate gyri
fissures
deep grooves in the brain
cerebellum
portion of the brain located below the occipital lobes of the cerebrum; responsible for control and coordination of skeletal muscles
brainsteam
region of the brain that serves as a relay between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord; responsible for breathing, heart rate, and body temperature; the three levels are the mesencephalon (midbrain), pons, and medulla oblongata
ventricles
series of interconnected cavities within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem filled with cerebrospinal fluid