Why is the brain the most complex organ in the body?

Close

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://answers.encyclopedia.com/question/why-brain-most-complex-organ-body-394637.html" >Why is the brain the most complex organ in the body?</a>

E-mail this answer

Link to this answer

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It is responsible for what people say, do and think. The brain and its partner, the spinal cord, complete the central nervous system. They work together in sync to keep our processes working, but the brain is the organ in charge. The human brain is located within the structure of the skull and is fully grown in size by age six. An average adult brain weighs approximately three pounds and is heavier than the six year old brain. This is due to the growth of the cells in the brain. The number of cells does not change but the size of those cells do grow as we head toward adulthood.

The brain is composed of three main sections, the fore brain, the mid brain and the hind brain Each section has its own set of duties, some much more complex than others.

The fore brain comprises about 70% of the neurons in the central nervous system and it is further divided into the cerebrum, thalamus and the hypothalamus. The cerebrum is the largest part of a human brain and bears the responsibility for both actions and thoughts. Within the cerebrum are the four lobes of the brain; frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal. The cerebrum is a wrinkled mass of tissue that, if spread out, could be as large as a pillowcase. The 'folding' allows for the expansion of the brain and aids in efficiency. The cerebrum is separated into the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. Right handed people are considered to be left brain dominant and the left hemisphere is responsible for language, logic and math skills. The reverse is that left handed people are right brain dominant and are more artistically inclined as the right hemisphere is responsible tor spatial abilities, music and visual imagery. Studies have shown that when damage occurs to one hemisphere it is sometimes possible for the opposite hemisphere to compensate for some of the loss. The thalamus and hypothalamus are part of the limbic system. According to evolutionary age the limbic system is older than the cerebrum. It is buried deeper in the brains structure and is sometimes referred to as the emotional brain. The hypothalamus is in charge of our survival function, feeding, fighting, fleeing and the need to reproduce.

The mid brain is located between the fore brain and the hind brain The midbrain is the center of motor activity in the brain. Any damage to this portion of the brain is likely to result in some type of motor deficit. The mid brain is also responsible for auditory and visual processes and eye movement. The mid brain houses the reticular formation which controls sleep cycles.

The hindbrain contains the cerebellum, the pons and the medulla and attaches to the spinal cord. The cerebellum helps maintain your sense of equilibrium and coordination. Alcohol affects this portion of the brain first. The pons is, essentially a relay station between the brain and the spinal cord. It is involved in the regulation of respiration. The medulla is responsible for autonomic (involuntary) functions such as breathing and heart rate.

The brain, with all of its parts working in conjunction with each other, is nothing short of amazing. It is our primary organ of life. It is a strong, intelligent and surprisingly resilient organ with a complexity matched by the brain of no other animal.

Answer verified with
Get more facts and information about brain from World Encyclopedia at Encyclopedia.com.