Anatomy of the Brain

Your brain controls your body. You can move, see, talk, and feel because of your brain. And it's your brain that makes you able to think, show emotions, and make judgments. Your brain is protected by your skull, tissue, and fluid.

Functions of the brain

Each part of the brain plays a certain role. Some skills and traits occur in more than one section. The brain has large sections on each side of your head called cerebral hemispheres. These control movement, language, behavior, and sensation. The right side controls the left side of the body. And the left side controls the body’s right side. Parts of each hemisphere have very specific tasks. These include understanding words and controlling emotions. The cerebellum is mostly responsible for organizing how you move. The brain stem controls many of the movements of our head, including the eyes and face, and swallowing. But it also controls many actions vital to life, such as breathing. Many of the connections between the brain and the rest of the body must pass through the brain stem.

Protecting the brain

Three layers of tissue called meninges help protect the brain. The outer covering of tissue is called the dura mater. It lines the inside of the skull. The second layer is the arachnoid mater. The third layer is the pia mater. It hugs the surface of the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fills the space between the tissues that cover the brain. It cushions and supports the brain. Spaces inside the brain called ventricles make the CSF. Arteries and veins carry blood to and from the brain. Without a fresh supply of blood, brain tissue quickly dies.