Neuroanatomy Reference
A guide to the principal structures of the brain and the vital functions they govern.
Fig. 1 — Principal regions of the human brain
Key Structures
01
The largest lobe, situated at the front of the cerebrum. It governs executive functions including reasoning, planning, decision-making, and impulse control. Broca's area, located here, is essential for speech production. The motor cortex coordinates voluntary movement.
02
Located behind the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe processes sensory information from the body — touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. It also integrates spatial awareness and assists in navigation and the manipulation of objects.
03
Positioned on the sides of the brain, the temporal lobes are chiefly responsible for auditory processing and the comprehension of language (Wernicke's area). They also play a central role in the formation of long-term memory and the recognition of faces and objects.
04
Occupying the rearmost region of the cerebrum, the occipital lobe is the brain's primary visual processing centre. It interprets signals from the retinas, enabling recognition of colour, shape, motion, and depth perception.
05
Situated at the base of the brain, the cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement, balance, and fine motor control. Though it does not initiate movement, it refines and calibrates motor signals from the cortex, ensuring precision and fluidity of motion.
06
Connecting the brain to the spinal cord, the brain stem comprises the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It governs fundamental life-sustaining functions: breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, sleep cycles, and swallowing reflexes.
07
A paired structure deep within the brain, the thalamus acts as the principal relay station for sensory and motor signals travelling to and from the cerebral cortex. It also plays a role in regulating consciousness and alertness.
08
Named for its seahorse-like shape and tucked within the temporal lobe, the hippocampus is indispensable for the consolidation of new memories and spatial navigation. Damage to this structure causes profound amnesia for new events.
09
An almond-shaped cluster adjoining the hippocampus, the amygdala is the brain's emotional processing hub. It is particularly involved in fear responses, threat detection, and the emotional colouring of memories, playing a key role in anxiety and the fight-or-flight reaction.
10
A small but critical region below the thalamus, the hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. It regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, circadian rhythms, and the stress response.