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The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord. Your brain and spinal cord serve as the main "processing center" for the entire nervous system, and control all the workings of your body.

It processes the incoming information from within the body, and outside the body by way of the sensory nerves of sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Commands are then sent back throughout the body. The brain also stores and processes language, communication, emotions, thoughts, dreams, and memories. In other words, the brain is where all thinking and decision-making takes place.

Frontal Lobe It is the Front part of the brain; involved in planning, organizing, problem solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of "higher cognitive functions" including behavior and emotions.

It is located in the back of the brain which processes visual information. Not only is the occipital lobe mainly responsible for visual reception, it also contains association areas that help in the visual recognition of shapes and colors. Damage to this lobe can cause visual deficits.
Occipital Lobe

The parietal lobes are the senior executive of the physical- Parietal Lobe body-in-space and maintains one's personal image of the body, both physical and visual. The parietal lobes receives distinct sensory impressions from the entire body and can feel "pain" or a bug crawling on one's arm, leg, or face.

Temporal Lobe

The lobe of the cerebral hemisphere located down on the side just forward of the occipital lobe. The temporal lobe contains the auditory cortex which is responsible for hearing.

Cerebellum The portion of the brain which is located at the back which helps coordinate movement balance and muscle coordination. Damage may result in ataxia which is a problem of muscle coordination. This can interfere with a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and to perform other self care tasks.

Brainstem - The lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord. Neurological functions located in the brainstem include those necessary for survival like breathing, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and for arousal/being awake and alert. Most of the cranial nerves come from the brainstem. The brainstem is the pathway for all fiber tracts passing up and down from peripheral nerves and spinal cord to the highest parts of the brain.

Brainstem is composed of the following: Medulla Oblongata - The medulla oblongata functions primarily as a relay station for the crossing of motor tracts between the spinal cord and the brain. It also contains the respiratory, vasomotor and cardiac centers, as well as many mechanisms for controlling reflex activities such as coughing, gagging, swallowing and vomiting. Midbrain - The midbrain serves as the nerve pathway of the cerebral hemispheres and contains auditory and visual reflex centers. Click Here To Return To Diagram Pons - The pons is a bridge-like structure which links different parts of the brain and serves as a relay station from the medulla to the higher cortical structures of the brain. It contains the respiratory center

The Spinal Cord Is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. It extends from the brain about 18 inches down the bony spinal column, which serves as its protection. The spinal cord is a tube made up of nerve fibers. Electrical impulses travel through the nerves and allow the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.