More About the Brain and Spinal Cord

The Brain and Spinal Cord are a major part of your nervous system.

The average human brain weighs about 1,400 grams (3 lb). When the brain is removed from the skull, it looks a bit like a large pinkish-gray walnut. The spinal cord is a thick white cord of brain cells that runs down the backbone.

Injury to either of these parts of your body can be very dangerous, and can change your life forever.

 

The Brain

The brain is very important part of the body because it controls a lot of the functions of the body. There are three main parts of the brain:

The Cerebrum;

The Cerebellum; and

The Brainstem

 

Click on the three parts to view more information about them

 

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is also a very important part of the body because it carries all the message from the brain to all the different parts of your body. Any damage to this part of the body would mean that your brain will not be able to control some of the parts of your body. You might not be able to walk or play.

 

 

 

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The Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It helps you talk, hear, feel, see, smell, and taste. It also controls the movements of other parts of the body. As you can see in the picture, this part of the brain can very easily be injured because of its location. It is protected by a layer of bone which is only about as thick as your pencil. If this part of the brain is injured, you might not be able to do most of the things that this part of the brain controls.

 

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The Cerebellum also controls movement of different parts of the body and controls your balance. This part is located on the lower side of the back of the head. It can be injured if you fall backwards, or are hit from behind. Injury or damage to the cerebellum can cause you to lose control of your arms, legs, and other moving parts of your body.

 

 

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The Brainstem controls the most important functions of the body needed to keep you alive. It controls your breathing, the pumping of your heart, and other important functions. Injury or damage to this part of the brain can be very harmful, because you would not be able to breathe and your heart would not beat.

 

 

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