Control and Communication

• The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain.
• The cerebrum has two connecting cerebral hemispheres.
• Medulla - Controls breathing rate and heart rate.
• Cerebellum - Controls balance and muscular coordination.
• Cerebrum (cerebral cortex) - Controls mental processes, conscious thought and intelligence.
• Each cerebral hemisphere has discrete areas that perform specific functions.

  
  

  The left cerebral hemisphere has sensory and motor strips in the centre - these areas are mirrored in the right hemisphere.
• Each sensory area receives information from the sense organs (receptors)
• Information is passed onto other areas of the brain to be analysed and acted on.
• The size of the sensory area allocated to is in proportion to the relative number of receptor cells present in the body part.
• Each motor area consists of motor neurons.
• Impulses come into the motor area - motor neurons send out impulses to move skeletal muscles.
• The size of motor area allocated is in proportion to the relative number of motor endings in it.
• The human nervous system is composed of 3 parts:

  
  

  • The brain
  • The spinal cord
  • The associated nerves
• The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
• The CNS is connected to all parts of the body by neurons.
• Neurons transmit information to and from all parts of the body and systems.
• The brain has overall control to make parts work together as a whole.